how would you fix this dent? would you unpick the whole panel and weld in another or?
marcel

[ Edited on 30-9-2006 by type82e ]

its hard to say when u cant see it.

sorry its there now i had to reduce it first
and I mean the dent behind the drivers door
marcel

A repair would have many many hours required to do the job properly. I would think 40 hours to panel beat it with minimal filler, or the same to unpick it and weld in another second hand section.

Either of these repair methods require someone with skill, experience and patience.

I think you will get a better result if you replace the panel.

how hard is it to unpick? is it just a matter of drilling all the spotwelds then getting my panelbeater mate to fit the new panel?
marcel

Unmmm.. looks like your into the sill area as well..which would mean shrinking and beating wouldnt work ...anew panel is in order me thinks ...you can get special drill bits rhat remove spot welds ..around $20 but well worth it ..just remember to use a cutting fluid with it ...bloody hard spotwelds

can you buy new panels? what sort of money
it looks like a lot of work! I'm debating whether to buy it or not
marcel

It is repairable. Just will take many many hours. Hours = $

There is also a debate when a panel is replaced as to whether it ever seals properly to protect from rust.

At the end of the day it is time.

In my opinion there is a very high chance it will not get repaired propely. Unfortunatley that is what happens in a lot of cases, and it is up to you to ensure that whoever does the job will do it properly.

If replacing the panel, the old one has to be removed carefully without ripping or making holes in the adjacent panels.

The second hand replacement section has to be free from rust holes and unpicked carefully without ripping or making holes in it.

The original adjacent panels and seams, and the edges and seams of the new panel need to be fully cleaned of any sealer, surface rust or paint. This then should be zinc primed with weld through primer.

The replacement panel should ideally be resistance spot welded on. MIG welded where any unreachable areas are.

Alignment should be done with as much precision as possible, and the finished job one sealed and painted should be of a standard that equals OEM (original)

why not leave it, the van is almost a rat looker!! used, abused, and loved so hard it hurts!!