Dents in hood

[Charles Wheeler]

OK, I did something stupid. Just washed my truck, and decided the windshild needed cleaning. Having a 4x4 I couldn't reach the middle of the windshild. Well no problem I'll just hop up on the hood and finish the job.

Tip: If you weigh 370 lbs. DON'T sit on the hood.

Does anyone know of a way to get dents out of the hood? I tried to knock the dents out from the bottom, but after removing the heat guard I found that both (yes I did this twice before I found the dents)dents are right under the support brace for the hood, and I can not get to them to push them out. I looked at aftermarket, but the only one I liked is the bullydog hood, and the only price I found for it was $1,300, thats about $1,299. 98 more than I have to spend. Anybody have any other ideas?


------------------
2K1 3500 4x4 SLT+ QC ETH/DEE, silencer ring AWOL, Isspro hour meter, Line-x liner, EGT, and boost gauges.
213HP @ 2500, 470 ft-lb @ 2200
Soon to come: BOMBing stuff

 

[illflem]

Maybe if it's big enough you can pull it with a toilet plunger, otherwise get a free estimate from a body shop.

 

[Randy J]

Hey Charles, not sure how big the dents are, but if not too big, you might check into Paintless Dent Repair. They have some pretty good tools that can get between the inner structure and the hood surface itself. Call your insurance company and see if they can give you the names of PDR companies in your area. If you want, email me privately, and I'll try to find someone in your area for you next week. Be real careful of who you choose. Some of the less-reputable companies will drill holes, you don't want that! Good luck

------------------
Randy Jones, San Antonio, TX, rdj@gvtc.com, 98 1/2 QC, 4X4, American Racing BAJA's, 285/75/16, Amsoil throughout, Superstar 3000 export radio, Firestik antenna with fender mount, Fire-ring cable, Mag-Hytec Deep transmission pan

2000 VW Jetta TDI, auto, 45 mpg average

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I have used the "Paintless" dent removal in the past. I was amazed at some of the dents they got out. I had 6 door dings on my Impala and he got them ALL out and it looked good as new for $200. 00. Some were really bad too. I would give them a shot first, you can save alot of $$ that way.

 

[Ram_Kowboy]

Man that hurts to learn a lesson like that. By the way, standing on the side rails of the bed will leave depressions as well. I am afraid to say it but " They don't make em like they used to!".
Just a suggestion, I stand on top of my front wheels to wipe down the windshield.
Regards,
RK

------------------
98 Properly Valved 4x4 SWB QC ISB A/T Metallic Red w/ tan cloth interior, DC nerf bars, DC two piece mud-flaps, 275 h. p. injectors, Monroe Gas Magnums, Armor Tuff spray in bed liner, Goodyear Wrangler ATS 285/75r/16, BD Heavy Duty Valve body. Walker 21468 thru flow muffler,Cobra 29 NWST CB. American Racing Wheels. Power Edge EZ control module,Tuff Country 2" Leveling System, Draw-Tite Front Mount Receiver.

 

[WCrovo]

I dented the area around the wiperblades on my old trucks hood with my elbows while washing the windsheild. I didn't notice it for awhile but at the correct angle they stuck out like a sore thumb. Man was I bumbed out. I am very careful with my new truck. Once I noticed them thats all I could see from the drivers seat, you know how that goes.

------------------
2001 2500 tow, camper, SWB, ETH/DEE, 3. 54 Bright white,4 wheel discs.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I did the same thing Walter. I put little dents where I rested my elbows on the hood to clean the windshield. In the right light you can see them.

 

[HossDiesel]

open the doors next time and stand on the inside of the cab, i am short and i can reach half way across the windshield. do one side then the other.

------------------
99 quad cab 4x4 5spd 355 gears sandstone color K&N air filter starit pipe spray in bed liner goose neck ball- theres nothig like the smell of Diesel in the morning.

 

[BCFAST]

I own a paintless dent company... have done it for about 8 years... it sounds like something I could repair... give them a call!

 

[WOWZY]

Hoist yourself up with an electric chain horse on an A-Frame and get your wife to drive the truck under you. #ad

 

[Harry V]

Finished washing and waxing, had the hood open. When closing didn't want to laeve handprints so I used my elbows to close..... you guessed it 2 small dents. Paintless dent repair got one out but the other one reminds me... they don't make 'em like the used to.

------------------
1999 2500 SLT 4X4 QuadCab Shortbed, AT, Driftwood, Rancho RS9000, Deck Lid, ISSPRO 0-50 psi boost, Pyrometer and Trans Temp gauges on Triple A pillar mount and ..... we're just gettin' started!

1995 M3 Hell Rot 5sp AT

1967 Piper Cherokee 180

 

[Rick G]

Charles you might try the following. It depends on the size of the dents, and if there are any straightline bends. I have had success with it anyway.

Let you truck set out in the hot sun for a couple of hours (so the hood gets real hot), and then run cold water on it (or pour lots of ice water on it). Sometimes the rapid change in temperature will cause the sheetmetal to contract and the dents will disappear. I have seen hail damaged cars almost fix themselves with this method. Good luck.

------------------
99 2500 QC 4X4 5sp /
DDIII's / DD Ceramic Clutch / 320 RWHP / made in Mexico /
3. 54LSD 285 75X16 AR Atlas / Hadley airhorns ISSPRO guages

[This message has been edited by Rick G (edited 05-01-2001). ]

 

[cumminsgetme]

I have heard of something similar RickG. I heard if you let your truck sit in the sun for a while, then place dry ice over the dent... . walla... dent gone. Has anyone heard of the dry ice method? I've never tried it but heard of it through a body shop. They said a lot of body people will charge for full dent removal, then use the dry ice... . basically ripping people off. Who knows... . I might have to try it and see if it works.

------------------
94' 2wd,5spd,#5TST,15%pump mod,K&N,imellmoke

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

When I had my Bronco II I accidentally lost my balance and bumbed the drivers door, totally caving in the entire side of the door. I did what illflem suggested, a toiled plunger popped it right out, leaving only a very small crease.

OTHER AREAS TO WATCH FOR ON YOUR RAM:

--The Roof. Waxing my roof by hand, using only light pressure, I buckle/flexed the sheetmetal inward but it bounced right out. Left 2 shallow quarter-sized depressions.

--Just below the siderails on the outside. While hauling stuff and using straps, one slipped and barely tagged the outside here, leaving a nasty dent. Looking at the right angle I can see several small depressions from bumping my truck here.

--Entire inside of bed seems too wimpy. Even with Line-X sprayed in thick and loading wood carefully, I found a couple dents afterwards in the floor of the bed. Also walking around near the front of the bed the floor really flexes under my 160lbs #ad


Fortunately the doors and rocker panels seem to be reasonably strong and stout. With as heavy as these trucks are already what's the problem with adding another 200lbs to the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks to give them some thick skin? The panels on my '62 Olds F85 are VERY strong in comparison #ad


Vaughn

------------------
'01 2500 QC Shortbed 2wd, 6-speed, 3. 54LSD, Cab & Fog lamps, Camper & Tow Pkg.
BOMBed: DD2 Injectors, PS Boost module, Amsoil air filter, straightpiped exh. , Aeroquip 3/8" fuel line w/tank mounted lift pump, AutoMeter Sport Comp gauges, Line-X'd, Amber turn signal conversion.

 

[bluewingron]

good frame great engine all wrapped in saranwrap. got about 40 dings in my hood from acorns. never bothered my old nissian. maybe the acorns are bigger

------------------
Ron Parker

 

[Charles Wheeler]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to try the plunger trick, and see if I can get the dents out. I can't afford even the paintless dent removal as I am going through a contract change at work, and don't want to spend the money, and find out I don't have a job the next day. Again thanks for the replies, next time I'll pull my truck up next to the house, and hang down from the roof #ad




------------------
2K1 3500 4x4 SLT+ QC ETH/DEE, silencer ring AWOL, Isspro hour meter, Line-x liner, EGT, and boost gauges.
213HP @ 2500, 470 ft-lb @ 2200
Soon to come: BOMBing stuff

 

[rickhans]

1 more idea. If there is an opening near the dent underneath that is large enough, slide in a deflated football or basket ball, or something similar, with an air hose attached. There are inflatable devices just for this problem. Then slowly inflate the ball and it will pop a large dent back out.

If you over inflate it, then you will have the opposite of a dent, whatever that is called.

------------------
98. 5 24V QC 4x4 SB 3:54 5sp

[This message has been edited by Rick Hansen (edited 05-05-2001). ]

 

[groundpounder]

I can't say enough for paintless dent repair. Excellent work!! As for washing the windshield I use a milk crate to step onto the top of the front tire and I can reach better then halfway across the windshield. Then I repeat the process for the other side. And if that isn't enough there are plenty of hoods and grills for sale on ebay!!