Auto Body Question!

93EclipseGSKo · #1 01-09-2008, 02:35 AM

I have an eclipse and am doing alot of body work and on the roof it looks like some1 just jumped up and down on top of t and its all rippled and stretched. How should i go about fixing this?

i thought to rip out the headliner and take a auto body hammer and pound it out and then heat shrink it to make it more firm and tight and them body fill to finish it off? Is there an easier way?

Blackcrow64 · #2 01-09-2008, 07:24 AM

Ouch... That is gonna be a rough spot to do... I'm thinking that ripping the headliner out and getting it pretty close back to the original spot will be the best way to go about it...

Actually, I take that back... Have you used those quick weld sticks with a slide hammer before? If so, that would actually be the easiest way to do it. That way you pull up on it rather than pound on it and make high and low spots... It'll fill much nicer and with less body filler than if you did it the other way...

Good luck with that, it'll be a tough one to get perfect again...

gthompson97 · #3 01-09-2008, 10:29 AM

It's probably already stretched too far to bring it back and have it last. Best way to fix it like new is to replace the roof skin.

JoeShmoe · #4 01-09-2008, 11:36 PM

[quote=Blackcrow64]Have you used those quick weld sticks with a slide hammer before? If so, that would actually be the easiest way to do it. That way you pull up on it rather than pound on it and make high and low spots... It'll fill much nicer and with less body filler than if you did it the other way...[quote]

What? What tool is that?

93EclipseGSKo · #5 01-10-2008, 01:14 AM

its a tool that has a chuck that connects to a welded rod which is welded to the dent. and the tool has a weight on it that you force up and it pulls the dent. Im glad i got gift cards for christmas. im going to get me one.

gthompson97 · #6 01-10-2008, 05:06 AM

Slide hammers can cause more damage than you had to begin with if you don't use them right. Anyone ever over-pulled a dent? Yeah, makes for twice the work and still doesn't look right when done, no matter how much fiberglass/putty you use.

Blackcrow64 · #7 01-10-2008, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gthompson97

Slide hammers can cause more damage than you had to begin with if you don't use them right. Anyone ever over-pulled a dent? Yeah, makes for twice the work and still doesn't look right when done, no matter how much fiberglass/putty you use.

That is true and it can be a major pain in the ass if that happens... That is why it is better to just get it close and leave a slight dent IMO.

JoeShmoe · #8 01-10-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gthompson97

Slide hammers can cause more damage than you had to begin with if you don't use them right. Anyone ever over-pulled a dent? Yeah, makes for twice the work and still doesn't look right when done, no matter how much fiberglass/putty you use.

Sounds like thats what you would encounter with said tool.

Anyway I would just say to get a new ceiling. The outside can be filled in

MazdaX · #9 01-10-2008, 12:04 PM

I was constantly replacing the rear axles in my F-body and the slide hammer made it much easier for me to deal with.

1992eclipseGS · #10 01-13-2008, 10:10 PM

The metal on the roof is already weak as it is.. too much heat strinking will just warp it even more.. .. My suggesting, light use a hammer and dolly.. maybe a dent puller and get it as good as you can.. remember I said "lightly".. then ofcourse use body filler and putty.. then use a High build primer to help fill in your inperfections.. I had the same problem with my roof.. I just stripped off most of the paint.. used filler and putty over and over again (I kept sanding off too much)... then after I got it to the best I thought I could get it, I used PPG K36 (kind of like a spray on filler).. I sprayed like 5 coats, sanded down.. and put on another 3 coats. sanded, primed and painted.. came out awesome..

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