I was wondering if it is possible to repair a warped panel when your unable to to get a hammer and dolly in on the back side. I got some slight warps on the lower quarter panel ( just where white stripe is) after welding in wheel wells and there is no possibility of getting in on the inside due to wheel wells. Not sure if needs section cut out, shrink disc etc.. Any help appreciated thanks
do some shrinking around the warped area, use a torch and a bucket of water with a rag to cool it quickly.
if it is stretched due to heat exposure from welding, yes you will need to shrink it. if it is pushed out of shape due to the wheel well, shrinking will only exaggerate the problem. if you haven't done heat shrinking before i would suggest practicing on some s**** sheet metal. pound it out on a shot bag and get a good stretch, then using the process ronk16 described get it back in shape. it's always best to hammer and dolly when shrinking but sometimes just not possible. i use compressed air and blow gun to cool my shrinks instead of water. also you don't have to heat metal cherry red to shrink. most times just hot enough to discolor paint or primer is sufficient. watch the metal closely and when it starts to move it is probably hot enough. only work small areas. good luck.
dont shrink anything. its already shrunk from heat during the welding proccess. shrinking a shrunk is going to make you crazy. cut out a section of the inner wheelwell where it wont show, hammer/dolly the welds and haz areas and weld the inner piece back in.
Hey, I can't tell completely from the photos, but are you trying to save the paint as well? Whatever direction you go will require removal of the stainless trim for complete access to the repair. You could well slip a thin s**** between the wheelhouse and quarter, but first you'll probably have to cut some of your welds loose to releave the tension on the panel. A pry pick like those used for paintless dent repair & metalfinishing could also work if used skillfully, and possibly some spring hammering on hign ridges once the tension is releaved. I'd have a paintless dent repairman look it over if you wanna save the paint. " Life ain't no Disney movie "
Thanks for all the help and input guys. Im always extremely careful when welding sheetmetal, I know I didnt get it hot enough to warp. So I decided to cut along the weld on that inner wheel well skin and "Bonk" it popped right out. It turned out to be a stress issue with the wheel well pulling on the quarter. Im Beyond Relieved, The Hotrod gods are in my favor today
You don't have to get the sheetmetal too hot to get it to warp like that due to shrinkage. The cooling of a tack weld can pull a panel in enough to make it deform surrounding sheetmetal. That is where the hammer welding technique is useful. Although I can understand how getting to the back of a wheelwell to hammer at it could be difficult. Glad it popped out straight for you. good luck getting it welded back together with no more issues.
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