TheSamba.com :: View topic - replace the front side panel or try to dolly out the dents

Fri May 02, 2025 10:48 am

I'm restoring a '66 beetle. It got hit in the front at some point or points. The repair job(s) looks to be of a mediocre quality. Both front side panels still have kinks and the hood fitment is poor.

Wolfsburg West sells replacement front side panels.

Do I try to hammer and dolly out the kinks or cut them out and use the replacement panels?

Your thoughts please.

Fri May 02, 2025 11:11 am

keegs wrote: Do I try to hammer and dolly out the kinks or cut them out and use the replacement panels?
Two questions first. One...how bad are the original panels? And second...what's your skill level with metal working?

Photos of the areas in question would be a big help...

Fri May 02, 2025 12:45 pm

Yes pics would help. Maybe a front clip might be the way to go?

Fri May 02, 2025 3:01 pm

Those replacement panels won’t fit without trimming, hammering, and dollying anyway. If the current metal is not badly rusted, keep it and work with it.

Fri May 02, 2025 4:44 pm

keegs wrote: I'm restoring a '66 beetle. It got hit in the front at some point or points. The repair job(s) looks to be of a mediocre quality. Both front side panels still have kinks and the hood fitment is poor.

Bad fitment means that the whole front end is still bent. You will need to pull the damage out of the panels all at once with chains, trees and a come a long or find a frame shop to do so.

Fri May 02, 2025 5:33 pm

you do whatever you know best.
I can weld a new panel in cleanly much easier than shrinking high spots and making it smooth again. But a good body guy would smooth it faster than I could replace it.
Some guys are good at neither approach, which is why so many cars are full of mud :shock:

Sun May 04, 2025 8:32 am

Eric&Barb wrote: keegs wrote: I'm restoring a '66 beetle. It got hit in the front at some point or points. The repair job(s) looks to be of a mediocre quality. Both front side panels still have kinks and the hood fitment is poor.

Bad fitment means that the whole front end is still bent. You will need to pull the damage out of the panels all at once with chains, trees and a come a long or find a frame shop to do so.

I think I agree... and I probably should have mentioned it in my original post.

I was able to pull some of the damage out using a come-along attached to the bumper brackets but was having difficulty applying enough force. I'm looking at a fair bit of work but I'm going to rig up a porta power between each of the front bumper brackets and the front beam. I think this will be a bit more stable and give me better control as I apply force. I'm already dealing with a lot of hamburger so I may have to use all or some of the replacement front side panels to make it look pretty.