dent removal tips for a series rear tub

Tom Woods uttered summat worrerz funny about:

I'm inclined to say hit it harder but I guess you've explored that option. Other options I would consider are drilling it.. having angle iron braces on the inside and an angle iron drilled and a series of bolts throught bolt it all up. Apply a small amount of heat to help anneal the ally/brimabright and tighten the bolts thus drawing it in on it's self.

You will be left with a few holes mind but hey you can always fill them or bung grommets in.

I prefer the hit it wivanammer mind... I have a BIG hammer here if you need a hand :-)

Lee D

Call that a dent, that's just wear and tear!

AJH

I'm quite proficient at ticking stuff with special tool no. 1, but my lump hammer is just bouncing off this ripple. Because of the way it has bent it seems really hard.

hadnt thought of that, but i'd prefer to not add any more holes if possible! ;) Think i may just go remove a load of the rivets and see if that helps.

If you are feeling frustrated and want to hit stuff then feel free to come give it a go ;) I've only got a small lump hammer and normal nailing ones.

nah - wear and tear is the dents in the other panels! This is a crappy dent :(

If this one just went just inwards it wouldnt be as bad but its annoying as it sticks out so far in one place and pushes the lower section of the side panel so far inwards in another.

Anneal it, then get into it with a dolly on the outside and a shrinking hammer on the inside.

Summat like this -

I think that I'd be tempted to remove the vertical capping strip as it will hinder any attempts to straighten the ally. It looks as though you may have to do something at the top rear of the wheelbox under the crease. At the moment I'd guess that the crease will not flatten until that's sorted. Remove the ligts and any cover plate behind to give yourself room to work.

Use gentle heat applied frequently as previously suggested. Try to use a softish mallet rather than a steel hammer where you possibly can. Don't just hammer onto air-backed metal: use some support behind where you're hitting.

Then straighten the capping strip and refit.

Annealing: Clean the metal you are going to work on, so its bright. Coat it lightly with a rubbed on layer of soap. Heat gently (blowlamp, not oxytorch) until the soap blackens. Alumnium is annealed.

Steve

Does annealing it make it softer permenantly?

Not sure i want to paint strip it :(

Can't you get some pieces of wood across the front and back of the inside of the tub, then using blocks and something like a fencing stake with the sharp end in the corner under the lights and the other end on a high lift jack against the blocks to jack out the corner whilst hammering the dent high spots. That will probably work but any hammering on the ally will stretch the metal so don't do too much. It's got character now though, they look better with a few dents. :-)

Martin

bracing it sounds sensible. Thinking about trying to brace it and then heat before hitting it, prior to removing any rivets.

I agree that they look better with a few dents, but this one just looks like i reversed into a tree! ;)

The dents everywhere else are much nicer! :

Tom Woods uttered summat worrerz funny about:

Damn , now I'm getting IIa withdrawal symptoms!

Lee D

Only until you've beaten three colours of crap out of it.

Steve

have just read up on work hardening and annealing. Sounds like a plan.

I like the soap thing - sounds much more my style than the special heat sensitive paint or special heat reactive crayons that the books i have found refer to!

Soap is also traditional, important for landrover work.... Did you see my Saturn V blowlamp :-)) First one I've had that generates serious thrust in use !

Steve

What Martin says but if you can't get a big jack in place a scissor jack with block of wood on braced against the chassisor innner tub might help before gently tw*tt*ng it with a big flat faced hammer.

Derek

It's hard not to :-). By the way I like your R/R3, looking for one like that if you know where there's another, prefer BMW diesel/auto.

Martin

Oily uttered summat worrerz funny about:

I read that as , "Take me to your dealer!"

;-)

easy answer to that! ;)

Cheers for that Lee, dealers (Land Rover) up here have got my number and looking out. I thought you had bought it private and just wondered if someone on here was upgrading, worth a try. :-)

Martin