body work quality question! How bad is too bad?

[deltabrent]

Hey. So I'm starting in on the rear drivers wheel well on my 62 bus. I'm curious how bad that seam can be before it's too bad. Mine has some heat warpage and isn't too pretty. There was a big dent on this corner originally and I think it's contributing.

My #1 thought is cutting some relief cuts in the sheet metal once I'm done to take in the buckling and then sealing them back up? Would that work? I'm 100% accepting the fact that there will be some filler in there too.

Wondering what people think about relief cuts to take in bumps mostly though.

[srfndoc]

You might get a quicker answer posting in the body/paint forum.
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[Clara]

how long is a piece of string?

[Eric&Barb]

Any time you cut and weld you have a good chance to warp more metal. Time to invest in a shrinking disc.


Link

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[SkooobaSteve]

If you try relief cuts then you have to weld them back up. Once again you run the risk of getting it to hot. The shrinking disc works wonders once you learn how to use it. Best thing to do is take your time and really be carefull to not get it to hot when welding.
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Jonathan
Romans 6:13
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[deltabrent]

I will look into the shrinking disk. Thanks. I might try a relief cut or 2. Just small ones to help set in a few bumps. If it does not work then I will keep experimenting.

[ryans65]

can you post a picture or two of the affected area?

[deltabrent]

I will try and snap some pics next time I get to the garage. Life gets in the way!

[Braukuche]

You need a high speed device to make the shrinking disc work, and they ain't cheap. If you are doing a lot of bodywork I would suggest a Harbor Freight stud welder, which is very useful tool, especially for pulling out dents, but also for shrinking. You use it to create a hot spot and then hit it with compressed air, easy to manage and works well. With a bus you will use plastic fillers unless you want To replace all the sheet metal. You just want to keep it as minimal as possible to avoid cracking.
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1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now

[marklaken]

Its hard to tell from your description what the actual problem is. Shrinking disc/shrinking hammers/torch will all help if you are trying to solve an oil-canning issue in the sheet metal, but they won't do much if your issue is at a deformed seam (where two panels are welded together). You may need to cut the seam, then shrink/shape, then reweld the seam. Pictures would be really helpful.
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Mark Laken
Fort Collins, CO