Model A trunk lid skin removal?

Is there an easy way to remove the outer skin on the trunk lid? Mine is pretty dented up and not really easily accessible with the back inner structure there. I was thinking of grinding the lip all around the edge to free it up and pop it off. Then when I'm done, I can weld it back on and grind it down and hopefully wont be able to tell. Is this a good method? I'm not sure if I'll even be able to save the outer skin, but I want to give it a shot at least before I seek other options.

 

They make a door skin removal tool to open up the seam. That's probably the best way to do it.

 

The best way I've found to remove the skin is to take a flat screwdriver and warm the end up and bent it over a piece of 16 gauge flat steel and make a hook. Then take and grind the tip of the screwdriver so it's a little narrower.

Now you can warm up the flange with a torch and gentley open up the flange. You'll find by warming the flange to a blue or dull red it will open up very easily. Then you can straighten up the skin and put it back on.

Make sure you fit the inner structure to the opening and get the shape correct before you put the skin back on. I like to mount it back on the hinges and make sure the shape is right then reskin it. It will make for a better fit when your done.

The Old Tinbasher

 

Greetings! For that job I use a "D-Mag" Panel Flange Opener, got it from Auto Body Tool Mart, (was listed under door skin removal tools), just remember to drill out any spotwelds between the inner and outer skins and the too works great. Good Luck, Mike

 

I thought about picking up a door skin removal tool, but I didn't know if it would stand a chance against the 80+ year old rusted steel. Worth a shot I suppose! Thanks.

 

I welded a short piece of 10 gauge steel to the head of a pair of square nose pliers.
The steel was the same width as the head of the pliers and approximately 1/4" to 3/8" long.
Weld it at a 45 degree angle, flush at the top of the pliers and facing down to the handle of the pliers.
Open the pliers, set the steel behind the skin and under the lip (start a small section by using screwdriver to lift the lip up a bit).
Drive the pliers by hitting the center of the pliers with a hammer and the pliers slide down lifting the lip as it goes.
It's kind of tedious and I had to straighten the steel a couple of times and even rewelded it once or twice, but it saved the skin and the lip.