OT-No Hypocrate I!-OT (Or Not)

[randroid]

Folks,

A few weeks ago I expounded on the virtues of having a yellowed patina in our dash knobs, and in keeping with that theme I have recently considered not removing all the hail dents from Pigiron's roof prior to paint. We don't get huge hailstones here like there are in the prairie but my first year here, 1984, the city of Denver sold out of #2 washtubs because everyone was using them as umbrellas (walking around with your head inside a bell?), so we do get hail. Truth is, there are a couple pronounced dents that can't be removed due to their proximity to rounded edges and internal framework, at least not on my budget\skill level, so I'm trying to justify leaving in more than just those two dents so it resembles hail damage, which is acceptable, more than a walloping with a ball-bat, which is not. Personal sloth isn't much of a factor here because I've learned rudimentary body work and enjoy doing it but I seek a balance between the two extremes and ask your input. There are some dents that will certainly be removed but there are some dimples that add an esthetic look. There won't be pictures at this time.

Comments?

-Randy

[JoelOkie]

If you can't beat or pull em out because of edges/structure, and can't/don't want to fill them, you can usually just cut them out and put a patch in, (which gets labor intensive also), but it's your car Randy, and if doesn't bother you....I'm not the kind of guy that gives a rat's A$$ about what other people think. Joel

[1940plymouth]

Randy,

Sometime in the years before I got my Plymouth, someone had tried to jimmy the driver's side door. I decided that I would keep that just the way it is. I have had people tell me over the past 22 plus years that I should have that repaired, my answer is that it is part of the car's history and will stay there.

Over the past number of years I have decided that I like the looks of the "Driveable Dream" car as much if not more than the ones that are painted nice, but I do enjoy them also

Just my thoughts on the matter

Bob

[pflaming]

When I was a teen ager a neighbor bought a new pickup every year and always put a dent in it with a hammer. He said he couldn't enjoy a new pickup, had to drive too carefully, so. . . It's all personal and that is why I like the ideas and work of others in this forum. I lived in OMAHA we got HAIL, the new car dealerships nightmare!

[JerseyHarold]

Hail dents are just another flavor of patina. I'd leave them in.

[Plymouthy Adams]

if you gonna go to the trouble to paint the car..trust me in the long run you will wish you went the extra step to work the hail dings..

[bamfordsgarage]

I'm with Tim on this one...

There is a world of difference between, on one hand, leaving damage/dings that occurred since the car was last painted — like Bob's door jimmy — and on the other hand, not fixing them before the next paint job.

In the first instance, they are genuine patina, understandable, and lead nicely into your great story about #2 washtubs.

But painting over the dents will only make you look cheap, lazy, uncaring and/or incompetent (and you're likely none of those things). Even if you don't care what anybody thinks of you, those freshly painted dents will bring down the appearance of your car big time — far more than you might expect. That would be an enormous shame after all the effort and expense to repaint and otherwise repair.

[Flatie46]

How about takin' it to someone and letting them do the metal work part of the repair and you finish it. They surely wouldn't charge much for this. You might get someone to come over one evening after work and do it for a few bucks and a cold beverage. Just a thought.