I just picked up another used GM fender for my 70 because I successfully butchered my original trying to patch it. This "new" fender had some previous damage, but has been hammered out to near original shape with a pick hammer. I do not want to butcher this one also, so any pointers on tapping down quite a few pick dents would be very helpful. I am worried about stretching the metal like I did on my last attempt. I have a 7 pc hammer and dolly set, but it didn't come with a shrinking hammer. If I use a flat hammer and dolly on top of the little pick dents, won't that just spread out to create a high spot somewhere else? My cousin (took a class) suggested that I use a metal file as the dolly to to replicate a shrinking hammer. Any opinions? Thanks.

post a picture, there may be a good chance that the metal is stretched already from the pick marks if they are large, every time the pick hammer hits it stretches a small location. You could use a very small tip on an oxy/acetylene torch and heat each pick mark keeping the heat concentrated to the mark and smack it with a flat hammer and dolly this will effectively shrink each spot, the metal will compress in each spot and become very tight. A picture speeks a thousand words. Bob

speaks :(

Badbob71,

Thanks of the reply. What's the best way to post a picture? Don't we have some space on here for that? Anyway, the damage is a lot more than I thought (digital pictures on ebay), even the photo's I take make it look better than it is. I worked on it a little bit tonight, and there are probably a hundred or so of the pick hammer dents, but by biggest concern is the curves around the wheel wheel seem to be out of whack and not existent...I don't really think I have the ability to get those back. I may be getting spooked to soon, but would it be completely out of the question to cut parts of off this fender to put on my original. Thing is, my original is straight as an arrow, but has severe rust in the normal places, behind the wheel and in front where the marker lamp is. I tried to make a patch panel, but the support brace and sides were too far gone to get a good weld. Same with the front, the small brackets that hold the marker lamp were all but gone. Figured I would get another GM fender if I could find one. This particular fender is rust free, but may be damaged beyond my ability. I have patience, but don't want to stetch it out beyond repair. You thoughts? Thanks again.

This place will host photos for you for free webshots ( http://www.webshots.com/) You could remove the good bracing from the picked fender and install it on the rusted one along with the sheetmetal sections needed. This kind of work is very tedious but doable. My Son restored the fenders for his 70 Nova awhile back and drilled every spot weld out to disassemble and clean up any corrosion. Sure was a big job but the results were worth it IMO. And the fenders actually fit, unlike the repos I've seen. http://community.webshots.com/album/117226417GuAuSn