Body work on my '88 GT Questions/Opinions please.

DARCA · Dec 15, 2008

Ok, I my Stang has a few dants and some rust I would like to take care of.

First questions:

How hard will it be to remove and replace this bent (I honestly don't know what to call it) Cowling here? What things should I know and honestly should a n00b like myself attempt to replace this on my own?

Second Question:

What would be the best way to pop this dent?

Third Question:
I have a few spots of surface rust, just sanding these and spraying them should solve the problem right?

I am very new to this kind of thing and just want to get the best clarification I can before I do something stupid.

-Thanks.

My GT:

LiquidGT · Dec 15, 2008

Bodywork isnt something most guys can do and make it look good.

1. It takes skills to replace the cowl, there is cutting and welding involved, I heard that it's a JOB, if you're a novice dont do it.

2. You might be better off getting another door, I would imagine getting that 'character line' above the molding back is a PITA and expensive.

3. Get some stuff called Rust Converter at autozone or someplace, and buy the stuff in the bottle that you have to brush on, the spray sucks. Sand the rust down, spread the converter and then paint it. It may not look the best, but it will keep the car from rusting and looking really bad until you can get a paint job.

rednoserocker · Dec 15, 2008

#1 My cowl looked FAR worse than yours..I did no replace mine. I used a couple simple bodywork tools to pull the dents. Sanded the spots down that were damaged and used a minimal amount of filler to make sure it was straightened out. Block sanded it back down smooth and primed it...
#2 replace the door.....it can be fixed but I personally would just find another one that is clean, prep it for paint, and mount it... Alot less stressfull IMO than trying to pull the dent, line it up, and HOPE it turned out clean...
#3 Like LIQUIDGT stated sand and prep it for paint

Cobra912 · Dec 15, 2008

I used a BFH on my cowl from underneath, and good old body filler.......not too bad. forget trying to replace it - it's welded in.

Airborn406 · Dec 15, 2008

I had my secondary hood latch come undone at 50mph ( forgot my pins) and my 4 inch cowl hood cut through the same area like butter. If you try to replace it you can't buy the new ford sheet metal replacement for it, they have been long since discontinued and sold for scrap metal my Brother-in-law was going to fix mine when he worked for Ford, he could not get the part.
If you take one off another car you are looking at double trouble! much easier to fix it like they are suggesting than to cut it out X2 and weld in an old one.

DARCA · Dec 15, 2008

Ok I'll try bending it back, etc, And I'll start looking for a new door.

1987stangman · Dec 15, 2008

LiquidGT said:
Bodywork isnt something most guys can do and make it look good.

1. It takes skills to replace the cowl, there is cutting and welding involved, I heard that it's a JOB, if you're a novice dont do it.

2. You might be better off getting another door, I would imagine getting that 'character line' above the molding back is a PITA and expensive.

3. Get some stuff called Rust Converter at autozone or someplace, and buy the stuff in the bottle that you have to brush on, the spray sucks. Sand the rust down, spread the converter and then paint it. It may not look the best, but it will keep the car from rusting and looking really bad until you can get a paint job.

Yep, I have replaced cowls on other Foxes before (not mine, yet, thankfully) and getting it done right is not a novice first choice for starting out. Second, if you can find a good door to replace that would be a whole lot easier for sure. I repaired my passenger side and although it looks good and hard to tell it was hit, I know what angle to look at it to prove my point. Just get a new door!

DARCA · Dec 16, 2008

Thanks, I may give poping the dent in the door a try (can't hurt), but I'll keep my eyes open for a new door too.

DARCA · Dec 16, 2008

What grit sand paper should I use to sand down the rust?

LiquidGT · Dec 16, 2008

DARCA said:
What grit sand paper should I use to sand down the rust?

However rough the surface you need to sand is about the same as the sandpaper you'll need. From what I can see on the cowl, mabe start with a medium then to a fine.

DARCA · Feb 4, 2009

Ok, finally getting around to fixing this stuff. Picked up another door, so thats taken care of for now. As for fixing the cowl. What does BFH stand for?

LiquidGT · Feb 4, 2009

DARCA said:
Ok, finally getting around to fixing this stuff. Picked up another door, so thats taken care of for now. As for fixing the cowl. What does BFH stand for?

Big F@#%ing Hammer.

7D3mach · Feb 4, 2009

I had the same dents in my cowl, thanks to the hood coming up. I used a porta power to push it back out but found that even a small scissor jack worked. Sure using a jack isn't the most professional way but it did an ok job to start with. From there it took some work with a body hammer and now its almost perfect. At first glance you wouldn't notice it but once it gets a little filler and paint it will be good as new.

DARCA · Feb 4, 2009

Ok thanks much guys. Been puting off doing the body work due to a lack of funds and time. Got both in some sort or another now. I'll be postin results as soon as something gets done.

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