Modified/re-purposed vise grips

[MP&C]

Thanks, here's one more......

Probably one of the biggest challenges in taking things apart for repairs is doing so without inflicting more damage. Many times a door will require work to the inner structure as well as the outside. In such a case, it may be easier to leave one side intact while repairing the other, to keep a reference to work against.

Here the Vice Grips lower jaw is modified to receive the edge of the door skin...





Then a suitable "blade" is found....









Some welding and grinding, and we have a new body tool..... The blade was aligned to be centered in the groove of the lower jaw.











Starting at the corner, a diagonal slice is made in the inner panel so it will remove easier...





....and the tool is used to gently pry up on the flange of the tailgate skin.....











In the case where you may be reusing the outer skin and only replacing the inner, spot welds can be removed by a rounded end burr grinder, in an attempt to keep the damage (and hole diameter) to the skin flange at a minimum. Continuing:





The Vise Grip's adjustable tension help to keep the "unbending" consistent across the panel, for an easier "recrimping" if the outer will be reused.











All ready for replacing the inner.........

[johnnyclack]

Have you made a panel flanging tool ?

I want to replace a couple rust-outs in body panels , I have been trying to come up with a plan for a tool to recess the flange

[MP&C]

I haven't made one with the vise grips as I tend to butt weld all my patch panels. I do have dies for my bead roller that will do a step flange, used them in producing the windshield panel for a Task Force truck where it sits behind the flange of the roof panel.... May need to post that thread up as well...