i have a question and would like to ask for your opinion on how i should approach this. my passenger side rocker panel is dented in pretty bad and i have the option of either pulling it and evening it out with bondo or buy a patch panel and have it welded in. i do not know how to weld so i would have to take it to someone. i can pull it and bondo it myself and it would be a lot cheaper but the repair probably wouldnt be perfect. i think long term i would probably be better off just having a patch panel welded in but i want a second (or third or forth) opinion on this.
thank you

 

pics

 

Yeah, Stephen raises a good question about pictures. You can explain damage all day long, but body repair guys need to actually see the damage to assess the cost to repair it.

 

here ya go...i just took them and didnt have very much room so its the best i could do. and one other question...what kind of oil should i use? i talked to someone and he said to use pure 30 weight oil. is that right?

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[IMG]local://upfiles/53517/E0A6CD42369044E79CCFF76CAC3F676F.jpg[/IMG]

 

Stephen and others can answer the body repair question. As far as the oil question, the Rotella 15-40 is the best dino oil you can buy, but you may want to go to synthetic oil if your engine is not a high mileage engine. You certainly don't use straight 30 weight oil in it. That is for lawn mowers.

 

If theres no rust, I would pull it and fill. You may take to a body shop and have them use a stud puller on this and do the rest your self. This would keep the filler to a minimum.Just my opinion.

 

What kind of body filler are you using ?

 

Time to learn how to weld. You have a good excuse. I personally feel that you are better off having it welded. I would take you a good bit of time and effort to get that pulled out, and I don't like drilling holes for a slap hammer. Even with a stud weld, it will take some time and a good eye.

How about this idea, you can buy a patch panel and cut out the old one yourself, i.e. do most of the work yourself, and the find someone to just weld the patch and you finish it off (grinding, skim coat of filler etc.)A hybrid solution if you will....

Get the benefit of the, IMO, correct fix and hopefullya reasonable cost to weld. Thereshouldn't be more than an hour of welding if you have everything set up and ready to go, and of course if the damage is not structural or more severe than it appears in the pic. Folks here will certainly guide you through the project and answer specific questions.

Good luck.

 

Hey soaring, what is so bad if we do use straight 30 weight? That is what my dad had me put in my car because thats what he grew up using on these old cars. Thanks in advance.

PS: sorry to hijack

 

bondo. with the oil i really want to go synthetic so i will probably go with a 15-40 synthetic like soaring suggested