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moparman21

Well-known member
i need to straighten the front fenders on the dart..i can take them in for a project for autos and possilby the metal shaping class..now can i take the fenders off and straighten them there or do they need to stay on the car to avoid warpage?

thanx
 
That would really depend on how badly they're damaged. They'll be more stable to work on if they're on the car, but access to certain areas will be limited.
Have you done some metal work before? I could spend hours with a hammer and dolly and file, but unfortunately no one seems willing to pay for such skills.
 
Restoman is right-the less filler you use the better. Personally I dont like turning bolts unless you have to. Leave them on if you can.
 
Didn't they do something like that in the movie Animal House?
Turn the Lincoln into a shop project? :)
 
lol

no me and my dad have never done any bodywork..see ive got nothing going for that metals class cept an engine dolly for the 440..working for about an hour a day in that class id say a week project (id make it a week long)..then ive got metals 2 in a couple of weeks and i need something to do

the class has all the hammers and dollys we need (so do we in a box somewhere) and i need to learn somewhere because weve gotta do the back ones also..the front driver side needs a patch in the lower corner and the other looks rust free (no bubbling or any of that) and then both have some dents and waves where someone brushed against stuff

if needed i could make a frame that i just bolt them to if needed, that would keep the stiff and where theyre supposed to be..hmmm

thanx guys
 
Go for it, there's only two things that can happen:

1 - you learn how to stretch/shrink metal into the shape you want,
or
2 - you'll find out how much a fender costs for your car

Either way, time spent banging on stuff with a hammer is always quality time. :)
 
I agree and am looking forward to doing that myself.

That's how I've approached this entire project. "I'm going to learn something at every step of the way."

I completely stripped the car down myself. I've never done that before.
I learned that I shouldn't do my own work on the frame rails. Luckily, I figured that out before I tried it.

I'm going to learn how to paint next.... [smilie=e:

I think the only thing I (sort of) regret is not doing the bodywork myself. I wanted to do that, but it made more sense to have it done while the frame rails were being taken care of. I don't regret having it done in the sense that it's definitely done right and I don't have to worry about it.
 
Hammers & dollies are fun, I jumped right in there & tried everyting so far, i was lucky enough to have a mentor, (saved my butt more than once) but it's fun & I'm learning, car 2 might be a 5 footer!
Charger man has been getting some lessons from a real pro, reworking the metal so very little putty if any is needed, I'm trying to get in on it, but so far haven't met the guy, heat shrinking is the next lesson! Hope I can see it in person, but I'll at least get a full rundown! Rich.
 
Hail dents are fun, heat with acetylene cutting tip until its the right color and whack with a ball peen. A wet rag does good for heat shrinking-a wetter rag works faster.
 
"Either way, time spent banging on stuff with a hammer is always quality time."
Click to expand...
[smilie=b: ranks right up there with "blowin' cheet up"

Can I have this when my old sig wears out?
 
imo its always better to learn on something that doesnt matter first so you can learn from your mistakes and move onto your own project...if it was me i would hit a wrecking yard and buy a cheep mangled fender for anything and learn on it.(unless your fenders are so bad they should be replaced)..later you can learn to paint a bit on it as well for less errors on your own car
 
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