Deck lid bend ( ideas ? )

[yel-mel]

I was going to post in the paint/body section, but thought Thing people may have more info.
My deck lid is bent at the right side hinge. The lid functions great but I want to fix the distorted metal. I can do bodywork and weld but this one is a bit puzzling to me & I am not sure how to approach . The hinge seems to be spot welded on the back side but not visible on the inside of the deck lid. Removing the hinge is going to leave a hell of a mess imo. The hinge area is not a good place to use any body filler as well. I am trying to keep all original parts on the car or I would just buy another lid.

Any ideas are welcomed.

[Semper_Dad]

I know nothing about bodywork so take anything I say with a grain of salt.

Appears the deck lid is made of 2 parts; an inner frame and outer cover. Consequentially, I believe there are two layers of sheet metal behind that hinge.

Perhaps you could drill some holes in the inner frame just behind the hinges and beat it out.

Or,... weld, studs and slidehammer it out.

The again,.......there's aways bondo
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[KAmes]

The guy doing my finish body work and paint removed my hinges to repair some damage. I didn't know he was going to do this but maybe it was the only way. We drilled and tapped the hinge and bolted it from the inside. There is filler under the hinge, although not ideal just showing it can be done.

Looking at yours, what if you cut/break/chisel the hinge off. Then cut the damage out of the door a little bigger than the hinge, make a patch that wraps around the edge, plug weld or just weld the hinge to the patch then weld in the patch and finish. I'm not a bodywork guy either by the way .

[Joe 20]

Post it on the paint and body section too. I think it is made up of two sections also, and agree bondo would be under stress there. You may consider the cost of repairing yours to the cost of a replacement. I’d rather have replacement part than a poorly repaired original. I too am not a qualified person to really answer your question. Good luck!
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[TDCTDI]

Get a 8”-12” piece of angle iron to span the bent section on the back side, put a piece of fabric in between to avoid marring the paint, then place a thin piece of wood, the width of the hinge, again with a pad in between, then use a C-clamp to force the hinge back into the same plane as the rest of the lip. Go slowly as to not over bend the lid. You can also lightly work the surrounding metal with a hammer & dolly or block of wood.


Kinda a lighter version of this…

[yel-mel]

Great info guys.
TDCTDI - I like that idea ! I think if anything it will greatly improve it if
it is worked slowly.
Kames - I will try your idea of drilling it out if the bending method does
work