Best way to fix Dings, Dents and Creases

[Bulli Klinik]

I had nearly the exact same damage on my Bus. Here's how I fixed it: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=80

I think a good PDR guy and low expectations would be your best bet. If you can't find anyone and your willing to remove the interior and bring it down, I could get it very close without painting or just a little touch up of the seam. That's a difficult area to metal finish unless you have very long arms.

The most important aspect of that repair is to make sure that the displaced seam sealer is replaced and that it's sealed up behind the panel as well.

I actually have some Aswan Brown leftover from painting my bike:

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PM me about quality metal-work on your vehicle.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[Wellington]

dim1897
that for sure can be repaired with minimal body filler.
The next shop you approach, explain to them that you will remove the interior giving full access to the rear of that panel. Likely the first body shop you went to say its a Westfalia, cabinets in the way, too much work, by the time he gives you a quote, he sees you gasping for air. Body shops want $$$ which they get from insurance claims.

[dlm1897]

[Scubavw]

I bet you can find a body man that will pull that out.
I am no expert but it looks like it can be pulled.
The crease on the seam might be the problem.

[dlm1897]

New Vanagon owner with a fresh dent. I'm sick to my stomach over here. Any advice on getting this out? Stopped by a local body shop to ask if it could be pulled out and they said no, and recommended bondo. Any help would be appreciated!

[Butcher]

Very informative link. Thank you!

[Bulli Klinik]

Key to metal bumping.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7wfPfQU-fbhS3dURHpPRWloc28/edit

Getting the 95% is easy. It's the last 5% that takes 95% of the time.

_________________
PM me about quality metal-work on your vehicle.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[Tbob]

Listen to Mike (Bulli Klinik). Work the dent at the body crease, and most if not all the rest of the dent will come out. As he said, nothing worse than trying to fiix something that a well intentioned owner has made worse. Because it is dented at a crease, I don't think any of the air bladder deals will work. A skrinking disk is used after the paint is already sanded off, and if I understand it right, you are trying to fix without repaint. If you have the time to research, there is a dreat book called "The Key to Metal Bumping, by Frank T. Sargent". It is available from Eastwood IIRC. Although an old book, and it goes into more detail about how to repair all kinds of dents, the first principles he gives should help you in your quest.
It may be that a good paintless dent guy may be the best answer. As much as I am a serious DIY guy, and I know that I could get 95 % of those dents out, to make it almost invisible takes skill and experience that I do not have. If you have not done much bodywork, that may be asking too much. Then again, you may be a bodywork savant.
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1969 Deluxe, owned since 1973
1973 Westfalia, owned since 1983
1980 Westfalia, watercooled conversion
1985 Westfalia, stock!
1986 Westfakia, Audi I-4 conversion
A couple of trucks and a couple of Jeeps

[figborg]

[Bulli Klinik]

If you want it to come out nice, take it to a PDR guy with experience.

If you want to push the dent out, do it yourself.

Nothing worse than having to work out a simple dent that the owner stretched with good intentions.

If you're going to do it, just work the crease near the swage at the belt-line. The valley is locking up the metal above it. Get that out and you should hardly have to touch the upper section.
_________________
PM me about quality metal-work on your vehicle.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[figborg]

[elizer]

Figborg your dent has a crease in the middle that heat/canned air method most likely will not work

[Ahwahnee]

[figborg]

I didn't get a chance to work on this dent during the winter but I will do something about it now. I have been watching a lot of videos of hot water/hair drier around the dent then immediately dry ice or upside down can of gas dust remover (for dry ice effect). This expansion/contraction method seems to work at times depending of location of dent (mine may be too close to an edge). I will also use a plunger if upside down gas duster fails.

Last resort, I'll go to the local dent doctor.


Link


I will avoid a heat gun though, will use just a hair drier around dent.
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-- PF
Providence, RI
1986.5 Westy camper (G year code, grey interior), 2WD, manual transmission, Subaru conversion by Vanaru. Spoiled rotten.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=662374

[bobbyblack]

The suggested method of a (yes, get a new one) plumbing plunger is a good one, indeed! There is some fineness needed on that as well tho... you don't just squish the plunger on there and pull it out... you got to get something to tap at the outer edge of the dent as you gently put pressure on the metal. I've had great luck using a plunger and a body hammer with a rounded face, -- put some thin spongy tape on that face -- pull gently on the plunger and tap lightly around the edge. It will start coming up. One other thing tho: plungers come in "sink size" too, much smaller. Very convenient!

https://www.amazon.com/Martin-168G-Finishing-Hamme...ody+hammer
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[peterT3syncro]

Some good tips here
One other useful tip is if you end up with a raised surface - I call this a positive bump - a depression is a negative
To lower/ flatten a positive bump I have had great success with a shrinking disc.
Amazing at how it quickly and effortlessly reduces a bump.
Brought mine here - Australia
But you can get them there in the US
Just brilliant
Peter
http://www.metalmantools.com.au/shop/prod/shrinking-disc.html
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Peter

Type 3 Syncro Kombi, EJ22 Subaru

[PDXWesty]

I would second utilizing a Paintless dent removal service. I just had a dent removed from an Audi fender you would have sworn couldn’t be fixed. 30 minutes of skilled work and you can’t even tell it was ever there. $200. I couldn’t recommend it more. Google some people in your area and check out there photos. You’ll be amazed. You could try it yourself but if you want really good results, I would trust someone that has experience doing it.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[candyman]

Its totalled sorry.


Seriously tho, dave is right. That is an easily accessible area to work with. Gentle massaging of the metal. Metal has a memory so it will go back atleast close to original position. Patience is the key

[the joker]

i have had good results using a new old fashion plunger, but the dents where on a mid door dent with no deep creases, pulled it right out

[figborg]