Out of boredom I started another small job on this car today, repairing a damaged bonnet. I picked this up cheap due to the damage, it looks like it either lifted open while the car was in motion, or someone tried to close it on seized hinges. Either way, the frame was twisted & bent where the hinges bolt.
The rest of the bonnet looked OK, had the standard dent right in the front center & large lows in the rear corners from the frame being twisted, but as I plan to cut a hole in, well worth fixing rather than cut a mint one.
Using some blocks of wood, a large thick piece of steel & a long threaded bolt & nut, I started by reversing the damage by winding the bolt into the hinge thread, holding it in position with one spanner while turning the nut with another to slowly pull the frame back into shape, dressing the creases with a panel hammer at the same time.
After doing this, there were still low spots in front of the hinge bolt holes.
Using an electric dent puller, I slowly pulled the lows up & ran a body file over the repaired area to minimize the need for filler which would more than likely crack in this area from panel flex every time the bonnet is opened or closed. The small pit marks left by the dent puller would more than likely only need a couple of coats of hi-fill.
Not earth shattering work, but I'm satisfied I was able to save a panel that a lot of people would've binned.
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