I want to get started on this 'big pimple' on my hood. It's really annoying to look at! The metal is definately stretched. I've chased bumps in hoods before, but this one scares me. I don't want to stretch it or warp it. It was perfectly straight before and the bump is right in the middle of a large area of flatness. Here's the pictures again. How would you go about this one?


http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/hoodpimple2.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Hoodpimple.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Underhooddent.jpg

Jimmy, I am sorry I didn't get back to you on this. That first photo is really nasty. If that dent is THAT bad, you do have your work cut out for you. It is not that it would take that long, but how you go about it is critical.

I am not sure how to tell you to do it. If it were me, I would first strip the paint with a roloc disc around the dent a few inches. Then I would get a spoon that would fit between the inner bracing and the skin to back the hammer blows. I then would get my torch with a small tip, maybe an 0. Heat the middle of the dent and with the spoon under it gently tap it down. This would be done very fast, heat about an eighth inch wide by 1/2 long right down the center of the dent, FAST. And then before it can cool, tap it down. Then heat it again, but on the side or sides of that first heated area, agian, very quickly and tap down where it is still high.

One or two times should get it done. I "think" that is how I would go about it. If I were standing there looking at it, I may see it different than I see it in the photos.

Thanks Martin. I'm really worried about warping a large area. What about cooling the area with cold water just after hammering to shrink the metal?

I'd let it cool naturally. It should be pretty cool after you hammer it anyway. It is so stretched that you need to "shove" the metal back together. But as the dent is very localized, so much the "shoving" or "shrinking". That is why I was saying that you QUICKLY heat a small eigth inch or so and hammer it to "Shove" the metal back together. You may even get a "folding" effect when you do this. You need to go very slow so you heat a VERY small area and work it then heat a very small area and work it. Etc.

I mean to let it cool naturally BETWEEN each of you shrinkings. Just take your time, that is the trick.