Fixing a dent in my F350

[kc2llw]

Hello,
I am looking on advise on how to fix a dent on my 2012 F350. I have attached a photo and wondering the best way to handle repairing it myself.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[sberry]

Reach in behind and pounder outer.

 

[snyder]

You may wanna take that taillight out and see if you can access it from the backside.

 

[sreeb]

Looks like "patina" to me.

 

[jhelrey]

Looks like a PDR job.

 

[Kaizen]

Looks like a PDR job.

Yup. I don’t think their is access behind there so either pull out with weld on stud gun or the paintless dent removal


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[jwith68]

In the photo, it looks like the paint is cracked at least half way around the dent. Given that, its apparent depth, and its location on a hard body line, I doubt it is a candidate for PDR. Probably a weld-on stud gun and normal skim-coat/prime/panel blend repair. Being white and a non-metallic, the paint blend shouldn't be a challenge.

 

[66cj225]

Replace truck bed, most take offs are white.......

 

[bczygan]

Leave it...............it adds character!

Trucks shouldn't be showpieces.

You should be unafraid to dump a load of gravel into them.

Bill

 

[sberry]

Could simply fill it with bondo too, do way less damage to it that way.

 

[Sliceddeuce]

Glue a small statue of the Virgin Mary to the top of the bumper to obscure the view.

 

[kc2llw]

Thanks for the help I will see if I have access from behind if not I will try to pull it out with a slide hammer

Thanks
Steve

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Doesn't appear to be a PDR candidate. If you are new to body work then I'd bring it to a shop unless you don't care about the results. If that's the case, try push to paint, stud welder etc.

 

[kc2llw]

I took off the taillight and do have access to get behind the dent with a crowfoot type tool. I guess I will try that method.
Thanks
Steve

 

[driz]

You’ll get most of it out. Just don’t try too hard and make the surrounding metal wrinkle or get the center higher than the surrounding metal.
In short don’t try hard and tear it all to heck back there. Scratch that paint in the dent well so it’s not shiny for good bonding. The rougher the better. Fill it with bondo, sand it prime and paint . You’ll be good to go. It’s down low so it’s not going to show anyways so it will look fine even without a perfect job.
Take the tailgate off and put some duct tape around the area you’re sanding on . That will keep you from sanding off onto the good paint by accident and tear things up.
You can hand sand a repair that big easily. Just use a sanding block or small wood block not your fingers so it’s flat.
When you think the edges of the repair are smooth (feathered). You’ll feel the roughness with your fingertips and the lines will look blended ,swirly and irregular in the end. It will take you a few touchup applications and sandings be patient. It takes time and patience.
White is the best color to hide , blend , fix so it will look great.


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[James-W]

If you have never done body work I would just take it to a body shop and let them fix the dent for you. I doubt that small of a dent would be very much to repair. I am sure you can do it and it will look halfway decent, but if you want a really good job then let someone do it that has the expertise to do it right.

 

[bczygan]

I'm taking an auto body course.

Fillers will not stick to paint, so remove finish to bare metal to a few inches beyond the dent. Feather the edges.

Work the dent from the outside in to the middle.

Finish as described below:


Bill

 

[Bighead38]

Buy the correct size magnet band aid.

 

[C2tuck]

Leave it...............it adds character!

Trucks shouldn't be showpieces.

You should be unafraid to dump a load of gravel into them.

Bill

I have the same truck and couldn’t leave it like that.

I understand that it’s a truck and all, and I do use mine as a truck constantly (I didn’t buy it to drive to the mall), but I’m meticulous about maintenance and cleanliness of my vehicles. That would be the only thing I would see every time I looked at it or washed it.

I’d get an estimate from a body shop as it’s going to need paint. Then I’d call around and see what a take off bed would cost and go from there.


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[sberry]

Another bed to fix this? Sometimes I really got to wonder? Fix it up some, get a spray can off appliace white and fix it. Hondo will stick to sanded paint, this is not a rust repair, no point in repairing it to do more damage. Do it so it's not noticeable to the 7 year old truck.

 

[Jazz1]

once repaired have paint shop mix spray can of colour matched paint. There are 300 shades of white and no doubt anything off the shelf won't match.

 

[sberry]

This guy asks how he can fix it himself which I think is a worthy effort. This is a good repair place for,,, no one will notice it's not absolutely perfect. I have used the appliance white on several of these white trucks, very very close, if it isn't aceptable then do something different.
In about 2 weeks this wasn't noticeable and certainly not from across the parking lot and looked about the same when the engine blew up. The corner of that truck would be even less and that white is newer, probably closer.
Since this is diy give it a try and after see if you can reach up under behind and spray some paint on any damage to keep it from rusting the next day.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

I would use a heat gun to warm the paint before pounding it out. It might result in a little less paint cracking.

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[C2tuck]

Another bed to fix this? Sometimes I really got to wonder? Fix it up some, get a spray can off appliace white and fix it. Hondo will stick to sanded paint, this is not a rust repair, no point in repairing it to do more damage. Do it so it's not noticeable to the 7 year old truck.

I would...But I’m not a half ***, cheap fix kind of guy. All my cars look brand new and I intend them to for many years. I’m not gonna rattle can a $40k truck.


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[sberry]

I would...But I’m not a half ***, cheap fix kind of guy. All my cars look brand new and I intend them to for many years. I’m not gonna rattle can a $40k truck.


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Its not a 40K truck, its 7 years old.

 

[sberry]

No one is talking a rattle can to a whole new truck paint job but a reasonable repair for a small dent to a 7 year old truck. Even if a guy found a take off box,,, assuming it was new,,, if it wasnt wouldnt be in any better shape than the one on there now,,, but what cost and work to it all for a little dent.
You are also in Texas, way different scenario than NJ where its gonna rust out before it wears out. I would answer it different if he come and said,,, how do I fix this so it will be an award winner at a car show.

 

[driz]

I would...But I’m not a half ***, cheap fix kind of guy. All my cars look brand new and I intend them to for many years. I’m not gonna rattle can a $40k truck.


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Then just get out the checkbook and it’s a simple fix. FYI Sberry is right about bondo sticking to scratched rough paint . I’ve been doing it that way since the 70s no problems but it’s gotta be rough.
When it comes to paint you can just use a compressor and a small touch up gun or buy a premixed rattle can matched to the paint number then wet sand and overcoat with rattlecan clear.
There are a whole lot of ways to fix this and nearly all are acceptable. It all depends on what you want and what ya want to spend, perfume on a pig all the way to primadona.
The OP. Can do this himself and do a really decent job fairly easily if he wants to take some time and effort. There’s plenty of YouTube videos showing it all . If he doesn’t want to paint it himself then rattle can primer it and see what a shop wants to shoot that small spot. Just get a price so as not to get scalped. No matter how he decides to do it the result won’t make it last a day more or less. It’s purely cosmetic.


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[Toomanytools?]

Its not a 40K truck, its 7 years old.

KBB says it could be $35,000.

Seems like you get under, inside fender push it out or pull it and spray it or take it in and pay someone.

 

[C2tuck]

Well my truck is a few years newer, regardless, I was pretty close depends on mileage and options.

There is more than just the dent as well. See under the light next to the tailgate it’s pushed out. I would much rather take it in and at least get an estimate for a pro to fix it, could only be a couple hundred bucks, but again, I’m pretty picky when it comes to my vehicles.


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[bczygan]

Well my truck is a few years newer, regardless, I was pretty close depends on mileage and options.

There is more than just the dent as well. See under the light next to the tailgate it’s pushed out. I would much rather take it in and at least get an estimate for a pro to fix it, could only be a couple hundred bucks, but again, I’m pretty picky when it comes to my vehicles.


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When you have metal pushed in, there is a corresponding push out.

Modern high strength steel is very thin. You have to dolly and hammer the high areas and low areas from both sides. It can't be brought to exactly the original shape, but you get it as close as possible. Sanding to bare metal and feather edging gives you a surface you can then fill. Then the other steps are done as shown above. If you are particular with your vehicle, then you must follow all the steps. Otherwise, do as you wish.

Bill

 

[danielbuck]

if it were me, I'd just leave it. it's a dent in a truck, who cares. You're probably going to get more dents later on anyway. Otherwise, drive a Prius or something instead

 

[sberry]

for a pro to fix it

This would be a person similar to myself who would hammer, with some blocks of wood likely to pound it back straight.

 

[C2tuck]

This would be a person similar to myself who would hammer, with some blocks of wood likely to pound it back straight.

Oh. I didn’t realize you were a paint and body professional. May need to update your profile.


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[sberry]

I have painted about everything that moves at one time or another. A train and a plane too.

 

[C2tuck]

Me too. Used to paint these.


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[sberry]

Pretty. Great colors.

 

[driz]

Pretty. Great colors.

Now that’s a candidate for a slap of the old paint brush if ever I saw one. Every one I ever dealt with or had to climb around on that CP rail sends south was, is as basic nasty black as it could be. I think they might have a red one but it sure doesn’t look like that. Or did half a million miles ago. How much does one of those cost now days anyway?


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[C2tuck]

I honestly don’t remember. That was from a few years ago. The worst part, besides all the masking, was the silver underneath, and the primer on the inside. Would take us about 3 shifts from start to finish.

Crazy part was we used to pull them in and out with a small bobcat.

Think the diesel tanks were 5k gallons...


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[C2tuck]

Painted a few of these too. Getting the chevrons on the front perfectly lined up was a pita...


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[Bigblue&Goldie]

Me too. Used to paint these.

That's awesome! Freshly painted locomotives are beautiful.