Re: I just killed my Dakota, Iām sick over it
[Re: DaveRS23]
#2807842
08/11/20 08:32 PM
08/11/20 08:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896
Between Houston & Galveston TX
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Too bad about the truck. You probably could find a similar decent used dakota for $2500 - $3000 or even less. You must live in a different universe than me. Those small trucks are getting IMPOSSIBLE to find in any usable condition. While there are some available for that money, they are basically clapped out. I haven't seen one for sale locally in ANY condition in probably a year or more. When I bought mine about 5 yrs ago, they were everywhere, now..........nothing. Even the next body style is getting hard to come by. And as if to taunt me, my neighbor across the street still has his '92 he paid $800 for. He bought a new Chevy, and drives his Dak maybe once a week now. No, he won't sell it. RWG75 .....DANG!! That sucks! I wish I had hit something with the front as I have extra fenders and a rad support, but I don't have an extra roof. Long time ago, a friend did something similar to his place with a '68 Bonneville. Of all places, I may have found someone at work that can fix my roof. He was in business with a friend, but when that friend passed away, he decided to just work on his own stuff and friends cars. He doesn't do full paint jobs anymore, but is willing/able to tackle a spot repairs. He drives a '90's Suburban that looks flawless and he claims 'all metal work, very little bondo'. Says my roof is 'easy'. I guess if all else fails, I can go this route......... Thanks for letting me vent.
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......š„
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Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#2812344
08/23/20 07:28 PM
08/23/20 07:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896
Between Houston & Galveston TX
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For one reason or another, the guy at my job probably won't be able to look at my Dakota until late Sept, early October. Now that I've calmed down some, I decided to dig in and see what I could do before the whole mess gets blown away by two hurricanes............ The hardest part so far was just getting enough of the interior apart to make room and gain access. On my old Club Cab, I could have the interior gutted (except the dash) in 30 minutes. TWO HOURS later, I still didn't have everything out I wanted to remove, and decided to just work around what remained. The dent couldn't have happened in a better spot, right where the hole is for the interior light. But, that hole is only so big, and I'm struggling with the crease that remains down behind the inner structure.. A floor jack, 2X6, a 5 lbs hammer a ball peen hammer and various pieces of wood and metal, this was the results after 3 hrs. Not done yet, the heat of the afternoon got to me and I had to stop.
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......š„
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#2812356
08/23/20 07:59 PM
08/23/20 07:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,066 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,066
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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That ain't nothing. You should have seen my 450,000 mile '92 CC before I sold it for $500, still running and driving! lol
"Come get your wife"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Front and rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: Neil]
#2812382
08/23/20 09:07 PM
08/23/20 09:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896
Between Houston & Galveston TX
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If you had a welder you could cut the inner brace out to get to the roof and then weld the brace back in. If I had a welder, I could replace the roof skin.......
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......š„
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#2812403
08/23/20 10:13 PM
08/23/20 10:13 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,959 new berlin wisconsin
Mr T2U
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,959
new berlin wisconsin
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If you had a welder you could cut the inner brace out to get to the roof and then weld the brace back in. If I had a welder, I could replace the roof skin....... what do you need a welder for? just cut out the flat part of the brace enough to get behind the dent. try to leave the rt angle part of the brace in the truck, just cut the flat part. once you have the most of the dent pounded out, just add a few strips of sheetmetal and pop rivet the metal you cut out back on. use the metal strips to bridge the gap where you cut. it doesn't need to be that strong. it wasn't very strong to begin with or it wouldn't have bent so easily.
perception is 90% of reality
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: Mr T2U]
#2812418
08/23/20 10:47 PM
08/23/20 10:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896
Between Houston & Galveston TX
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If you had a welder you could cut the inner brace out to get to the roof and then weld the brace back in. If I had a welder, I could replace the roof skin....... what do you need a welder for? just cut out the flat part of the brace enough to get behind the dent. try to leave the rt angle part of the brace in the truck, just cut the flat part. once you have the most of the dent pounded out, just add a few strips of sheetmetal and pop rivet the metal you cut out back on. use the metal strips to bridge the gap where you cut. it doesn't need to be that strong. it wasn't very strong to begin with or it wouldn't have bent so easily. Hmmmmm............
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......š„
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: nuthinbutmopar]
#2813290
08/25/20 09:29 PM
08/25/20 09:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896
Between Houston & Galveston TX
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I was looking at that 2 part body epoxy. $40 for the epoxy, over $100 for the special gun required to use it? If I'm gonna go that far, maybe swap a skin over that has a sunroof? The truck already leaks........ (no, I wouldn't actually do that)
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......š„
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#2813298
08/25/20 09:50 PM
08/25/20 09:50 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,959 new berlin wisconsin
Mr T2U
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,959
new berlin wisconsin
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i wouldn't wast my time replacing anything. just cut out the inner brace like i described earlier. get some wood and a BFH. pound out most of the dent,straighten the inner brace on on something flat, pop rivet it back in like i described, them re install the window. probably take you less than a day from start to finish.
as a experienced body man i could do the job in about 2 or 3 hours.
perception is 90% of reality
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: Mr T2U]
#2813322
08/25/20 10:26 PM
08/25/20 10:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896
Between Houston & Galveston TX
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as a experienced body man i could do the job in about 2 or 3 hours.
Well, the interior slowed me way down. Took me 2 hrs just to gut the interior. Working the dent was maybe an hour.
I might buy a shrinking hammer to help with the high spots.
I'm thinking that while the truck is down for this repair, going ahead and (finally) swapping out the damaged drivers fender and core support (I have them already). I don't ever see the truck having a show car finish, but I would like to make it more presentable.
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......š„
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#2813327
08/25/20 10:40 PM
08/25/20 10:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,863 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,863
Freeport IL USA
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"Just doing a little body work" is a complete lie! Its never, ever, just a little, it always grows into a time consuming monster. You start getting into that "while I'm fixing this, I should fix that too" and it never ends. Soon that little dent over there needs to get fixed too, and the next thing you know, you got to paint the whole truck because it has spots where you fixed stuff.
The worst part of the whole deal is, after you finally give up doing body work and paint it, you will find that one spot you missed and it will drive you nuts. Or at least that is how it works for me.... LOL! Gene
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#2813344
08/25/20 11:15 PM
08/25/20 11:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,233 Eagle, Idaho
Neil
The Doctor is in.
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The Doctor is in.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,233
Eagle, Idaho
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I might buy a shrinking hammer to help with the high spots.
I bought a tool set that came with one of those textured shrinking hammers and it doesn't do much other than mark up the metal. Not sure if I don't know how to use it, or if my expectations were too high? I just use a normal smooth face hammer and a dolly with the right shape and the shrinking disc to knock down the high spots. Repeat until satisfactory. Keep going until you get it
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: Neil]
#2813355
08/25/20 11:38 PM
08/25/20 11:38 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,896
Between Houston & Galveston TX
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Thanks Neil, I may look into a shrinking disc instead now. Looked at several videos on YouTube and the disc seems to be the preferred method.
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......š„
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: poorboy]
#2813682
08/26/20 07:13 PM
08/26/20 07:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,233 Eagle, Idaho
Neil
The Doctor is in.
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The Doctor is in.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,233
Eagle, Idaho
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Yes, they are next level noisy. Enough that you may want to warn your neighbors ahead of time if you use it outside
The one I have is big and the grinder is also pretty heavy so you do have to hold it tight and pay attention. I don't think they will catch anything and go crazy and fly out of your hands, but they do have a gyroscopic effect that you have to pay attention to You'll want to wear gloves and watch your knuckles too as they are right above the edge of the disc. Basically treat it like a chainsaw or any serious tool that could harm you and you'll be ok.
They do sell smaller diameter ones that mount to the smaller angle grinders and that may be easier and cheaper to try out first. The grinder I have is construction site sized so I bought a used one at a pawn shop.
Last edited by Neil; 08/26/20 07:14 PM.
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Re: Dakota not dead? A followup.........
[Re: Neil]
#2814004
08/27/20 05:08 PM
08/27/20 05:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,686 Buford, GA
I_bleed_MOPAR
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,686
Buford, GA
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Dang, John. Sorry to hear this. Always something, isn't it? My first thought was make it a Dakota 'vert. Anyway, good luck on the repair. Tim
'71 Charger 383/727 '17 Challenger SXT (Wifeys car )
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