My 1975 spider's upper rear center panel (the one between the rear quarter panels that the trunk latch bolts too) has been damaged. Looks like the license plate lights where pushed in bending the panel. Its in about 1" and not something that can be popped out. I have access to a parts car for a good panel. Looks like the panel has a flange all around which seems to be spot welded to the adjoining flanges. I know everyone loves pictures, so I added 1 below.
I need advice on how to remove the panel. Can a sonicraft, saber or jig saw blade be run between the flanges to break the welds?
Once I have the panel ready to reinstall, I plan to have a welder do the work. I figure we line up the panel, spot weld a couple places, confirm it is all fitting good and trunck closes, then add spots welds and probably seam sealer. What is the proper method?


Thanks for your help

Looks fixable without replacing the panel.

removing and replacing that panel is a lot of work and difficult to get the seams right and sealed. If the only damage is what is visible in the pictures. I would open up the double wall on the trunk side where you can get to it and straighten the exterior. Then weld the panel you removed back it. This would be far less work than removing the panel. You also have holes already where the license plate light bolt on. This give you access to the outside panel. With a little creativity, you could do the repair without cutting the back.
Remember, the most efficient way to remove a dent is to reverse the forces that created it in the first place. you would make a pulling bracket using the existing light holes and pull it out with a come-a-long.

Im up for trying. Ive never pulled dents before. The picture I uploaded got cropped by the site so the other license light dent was not shown. Here is another pic hope this shows the whole piece. Both places are dented about the same.

As for making a jig to pull the dent, what should it be made from, should i use the good car to match curvature of the jig? How much surface area should the jig cover? I am concerned I will have 2 dents, one from the back and one I will add from the front.
The dent was caused by pushing the lights in, so if I made a plate the same dimensions as the lights, kinda like the gasket shape, and put that on the back and pulled using the light holes, would that work. Im concerned the sheet metal will shear.

Keeps cropping pic. Here is the link to see both lights
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag1 ... 4fdca3.jpg

Surfbeamer wrote:Keeps cropping pic. Here is the link to see both lights
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag1 ... 4fdca3.jpg

Any decent body man can fix that easy !!!

The issue is you pushed in with entire lite. if you pull out, you will just be pulling on the bolts. this wont get you there. you need to get something substantial in the hole in the back. use a long bolt with a stack of flat washers. as big as you can get in the hole. normally i would connect both to a piece of square tubing and pull on that. in this case, the right light was bent over so you have a different dynamic on that. I would work one or both at the same time. while pulling out, you can use a body hammer to flatten the folds on the top. There will be bondo required, but shouldn't require much. If you have a friend or local shop, they may be willing to do the pulling and leave the finish for you. As Rodman said, this isnt a big job.
the most important thing is to watch the match with the trunk while you pull. you will need to move past the actual fit as the panel will spring back some.

and these cars are made of thicker steel than newer cars