When is a Dent not a Dent?

[R_Davis]

Hi all ... this is a question for all of you body men and judges out there.

I am preparing to paint my little car. She's never been wrecked ... no Bondo or filler anywhere. However there a few dings in the hood where maybe someone closed the bonnet with something that was just a little too tall to be there in the first place. BB sized ding only seen from a reflective angled gaze.

There is also a crease in the rear fender where maybe a small bicycle scraped it ... maybe 1/2 -1 mm deep and 6"-8" long. Reflective value pretty strong on a new paint job, I would imagine.

Question: (and I know this is all relative to where your level of comfort is in restoration and what your acceptable limits and interpretation of 'perfection' is.) Is it worth removing the paint and primer and applying filler to correct? Or ... is this a natural patina that is acquired in a 36 year old car that adds character to the finished product?

If this is too deep a question, please write it off as BS and ignore. Actually, I am wondering what acceptable limits of natural aging, wear and tear are when judging a 1972 914. There has to be some allowance for the aging process.

Personally, I think I should hammer it out, fill it, file it, sand it, prime it and paint it and be over it. But at the same time, if someone runs a Shopping Cart into the rear fender, it's gonna be toast anyway with an $800 Paint Job ruined.

Geez ... This gets complicateder and complicateder

Thanks in advance,

Rick

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Talk to one of the "Paintless dent removal" places. They've done pretty remarkable work on my GF's 911SC! They got out some stuff I really didn't think they could.

It is an art form, though, and the results are very dependent on the skill of the artisan.

--DD

[Tobra]

that is true of a lot of things, you can't teach someone to have good hands

[Rrrockhound]

Originally Posted by R_Davis

Actually, I am wondering what acceptable limits of natural aging, wear and tear are when judging a 1972 914. There has to be some allowance for the aging process.

Sorry, there's a difference between patina and dents. Get 'em fixed. You know you'll regret it if you don't.

[R_Davis]

Thanks Rock,

I agree with you.

I guess I'm really having trouble deciding with having to live with a wart on my forehead or having plastic surgery.

I guess if I find a really good 'Ding Doctor' he or she could minimize the dent, but regardless there will be some bondo involved.

Sheesh ... This is really a small worry in the scheme of things.

But I agree with you. If you're going to do the best job you can, then use the best resources available to you at the time of the repair.

Thanks Rock!

Rick