Body panel flatness

[pwdcougar]

Can one of you guys do me a huge favor? I've been working on the left rear quarter of my Suburban for the past few weeks and can't believe how wavy the panel is. Can someone lay a straight edge along where my blue tape is and tell me how flat the panel is? On my truck at the gas filler it dips in about 1/8" on either side of the rounded edge of the filler indent.

Thanks

Paul

[HO455]

Mine was really wavy too. I think it comes from the fuel filler getting pushed on over the years.
I should be able to get you a photo a little later tonight.

[pwdcougar]

Originally Posted by HO455

Mine was really wavy too. I think it comes from the fuel filler getting pushed on over the years.
I should be able to get you a photo a little later tonight.

Thanks! I'm going nuts trying to make this perfectly flat!

[Beach-Burban]

Paul...I'm not a body man or anything close, but luckily, that side of my Suburban has never been hit and still wears the original paint. That being said, if I rest the straight edge flat against the panel to the rear of the filler indent, the straight edge shows about a 1/16 inch gap between the panel and filler indent on the front side of indent. I hope that make sense and helps?
Woody

[pwdcougar]

Originally Posted by Beach-Burban

Paul...I'm not a body man or anything close, but luckily, that side of my Suburban has never been hit and still wears the original paint. That being said, if I rest the straight edge flat against the panel to the rear of the filler indent, the straight edge shows about a 1/16 inch gap between the panel and filler indent on the front side of indent. I hope that make sense and helps?
Woody

Thanks Woody but I'm not really sure what your describing. Below is a super crude paint shop image of what I mean. This is as viewed from the top with one end of the straight edge next to the marker hole and the other next to the wheel arch.

Paul

[HO455]

Here are two photos of mine the first is the straight edge sitting on the fuel cap. The second is under it, but the gap you see near the wheel well may be caused by the recent damage I have yet to fix. (3rd photo)
I hope these have value for you.

[pwdcougar]

Originally Posted by HO455

Here are two photos of mine the first is the straight edge sitting on the fuel cap. The second is under it, but the gap you see near the wheel well may be caused by the recent damage I have yet to fix. (3rd photo)
I hope these have value for you.

Thanks for taking the time to do the pictures. How do they compare with my drawing? Is there much daylight just to the sides of the fuel filler indent?

[Beach-Burban]

Sorry Paul...I kind of figured I wasn't explaining too well what my panel was like. Referring to your drawing, with the straight edge starting at the front edge of the marker hole, it lays flat against the panel all the way to the rear lip of the filler indent (no gap at all). As the straight edge extends across the filler hole, it does not even touch the painted surface of the panel but has an even 1/16 inch gap going towards the wheel well. It probably doesn't matter at this point as it looks as though you do excellent body work (I'm jealous!) and will look great when painted. Looking forward to seeing the end product!
Woody...I just noticed HO455's pictures...and the top right photo looks exactly like what I'm talking about.

[HO455]

Mine is pretty much flat too. Like Beach-Burban said flat from the back of the truck to the filler and then the front half has zero gap at the filler and about 1/16" at the wheel well lip.
Judging from your drawing I would say your fuel fill area has been pushed inward.
I reposted one photo showing where the fuel fill is.

[pwdcougar]

Thanks again guys for taking the time to check this for me. This afternoon I sanded out a lot of filler and used a jack to push the panel back into shape.

[Beach-Burban]

Glad to help...After 5 years of reading and learning from the posts on this site, it's about time I contributed something! HA HA!
Woody

[HO455]

Good to hear. Your Porta-Power looks just like mine.

[pwdcougar]

Originally Posted by HO455

Good to hear. Your Porta-Power looks just like mine.

I just hope my daughter doesn't get a flat tonight.

[HO455]

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by pwdcougar

I just hope my daughter doesn't get a flat tonight.

Well, did you have to make a late night trip last night or did you get lucky?...

I know what the outcome would have been for me.

LockDoc

[pwdcougar]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

Well, did you have to make a late night trip last night or did you get lucky?...

I know what the outcome would have been for me.

LockDoc

And I know what the outcome would have been for me too! My daughter can change a tire but she is spoiled by the floor jack and the impact wrench. She has been taught there are three ways to take care of a flat. Get out and change it, call me or call AAA. With the traffic here in NJ and her working nights I really don’t want her on the side of a major highway doing it herself.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by pwdcougar

And I know what the outcome would have been for me too! My daughter can change a tire but she is spoiled by the floor jack and the impact wrench. She has been taught there are three ways to take care of a flat. Get out and change it, call me or call AAA. With the traffic here in NJ and her working nights I really don’t want her on the side of a major highway doing it herself.

Understand that!

LockDoc