Gsoleski

How can this scratch/dent be fixed and straightened out? Someone told me it can be rolled out or filled in. For now I just tell people my car got attacked by a bear

zenish

it could be fixed with a stud gun and body filler but id look for another door.

BloodBassist

iTrader: (1)

yup stud gun and body filler, or depending on where it is from the inside, you might be able to pop the door panel off and hammer and dolly it then body fill it, either way you need bondo. lol. Or best option is to get a new door

Edwardgp

My vote is for a new door.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

A new door for that? No way, unless he could find a good door already that color

Take off the door panel, beat it out from the back side or use a dent hammer, paint it with epoxy primer, fill it with GOOD filler (not bondo ) sand again, epoxy again, use a building primer until it's perfect, and then paint

TheEndofanEra

I agree with 58mark, there's no need to get an entire new door to repair that, especially when it looks like you can beat it into shape fairly easily, use a tiny bit of bondo, and get rattle cans of paint code matched paint and clear from somewhere like Autovalue. If you take your time and do it carefully, you'll be the only one to know lol

BloodBassist

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, it is easy enough to just beat it then fill it, but I highly recommend against using rattle can anything. And if you do rattle can it, when you go to clear it dont just try to melt in the clear itll peel in no time. scuffy the whole door and clear it that way if you want it to last.

haps

iTrader: (4)

Don't "beat it in and fill it" (*headdesk*) the last thing you want is 1/4" of body filler in the door. Stud gun or hammer and dolly from the back side. Nothing more than a "skim coat" of filler. If you don't have the experience, get a new door. If you want to learn, get a new door, install it, then practice on this door.

User Error 87

i agree get a new door..check ebay their usually cheap

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

You can use a rose bud tip for your torch to heat it up then put a cold rag or dry ice until the metal shrinks back.
Becareful if you never have done this B4.

Gsoleski

Thanks for the ideas. I've never done body work of any type before but I would like to learn how. It's my first car and a learning experience. I'd like to fix/work on everything my self you know?

58mark

iTrader: (3)

my first attempt at body work was the door on my wife's 83 cavalier that literally got hit by a BUS (in a parking lot)

I used a dent puller, got it to within 1/4 inch of being totally smooth, and then finished the job with bondo. in the end, I was pretty happy with the job, and it was 10x worse than the damage on yours.

if you can find a door that you wouldn't need to paint, try that. especially if your current door sags or needs the bushings reaplaced. Hanging a door can be pretty tricky to get lined up right, and in my opinion is not something you should go into without somebody experienced to help you.

but your dent can be smoothed from the back side with a dolly and hammer, so I would try that first.

Gsoleski

I'm not worried about paint colors because once I have this fixed and two other small dents then I will get it painted shortly after. Ill ask my auto class teacher if he has any of these tools in the shop tomorrow

Edwardgp

What about the door skins are they even worth fooling around with?

91 Droptop

Door skins are a lot of work, and def not for the novice. You can use a body hammer Rounded and a pic backside, use your dolley and just watch you don't stretch the metal to much. Like Hap said get it close and skim coat it with a quality filler, let the filler completely dry (harden) before you start trying to sand it. If you are unsure ask for help, sand with a long block so you get it even (no highs or lows) being its in the door a bad job will stick out like a sore thumb.

Edwardgp

Thanks I always see adds for door skins and was wondering they must be for the pro.

camarotucker

iTrader: (2)

A new door skin would be the proper repair method. Yes, it could also be studed, pulled, hammered, and fillered. You then run into the classic estimating formula, time vs. money. At this time, I am unaware of any company that sells door skins (full) for third gens. This is why some people are saying to replace the entire door. Either repair method will require a repaint.