Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

[Douglas C.]

Just a long shot inquiry wondering if anyone would know where to rent the special tool needed to remove dents in the lower front crossmember panel.

Can't afford to purchase one for a one-time use.

Any leads would be appreciated.

--Doug (No. 13644)

[Domenic T.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

Douge,
I don't think there is a tool specifically for that. I did mine(frame off) and it took the better part of a day.
If the engine is in it is almost impossible. I drilled the spot welds on one car where I couldn't reach the dent thru a hole and made a tool to push the dents out while heating them red hot. I clamped the metal together and filled the drill hole to look like a spot weld again.
It worked BUT metal expands when dented and straightened. That makes it grow a little. I even tried the shrinking trick of cooling the red hot metal with a cold wet rag.

DOM

[Pat M.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

Douge,
I don't think there is a tool specifically for that.

Dom - there is, or was, a tool specifically designed for this that is, or was, advertised in the Driveline. I bought one and it worked really well.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

Dom - there is, or was, a tool specifically designed for this that is, or was, advertised in the Driveline. I bought one and it worked really well.

Pat,
Now I'm interested in that tool also. It can't be that bad concidering the time I spent.

DOM

[Pat M.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

I don't see it in the Driveline anymore, but here it's advertised by Zip products:

http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductDetails/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=%7Bf2763075-abfb-433c-8e29-ab6dd83bec25%7D&

It's really ingenious, you slip the curved, solid metal part in the crossmember, and then screw it downward bending the crossmember back to it's original shape. You can still tell that mine was dented at one time, but it's nearly undetectable now, and saved me several points in judging.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

Pat,
Thanks, I saved that site. I'll bet with a little heat, body hammer and disc grinder you could do wonders with that.

Doug,
I see why you wanted to rent one, When my time comes to frame off my 63 I think I might build one.

Pat, do you still have yours and can you use it with engine in place?

DOM

[Terry M.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

Engine in place is no problem, but I found on my 1970 I had to remove one of the front springs in order to get the plate into the inside of the cross member. I can't imagine mid-years would be different, but they could be.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

The tool does work great, we had one demonstrated at one of our Queen City Chapter meetings. If you want the crossmember to look like new, finish with some body and paint work.

[Pat M.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

Dom, yes I still have mine, and my experience was similar to Terry's, with my 70's engine in place I only had to remove one front spring. Overall it was pretty painless.

[Dick W.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

And then you can do it like I used to, take a cut-off tool, cut the dented section out of the frame, dolly out the dents, then weld it back in the crossmember and dress it down

[Grant W.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

Pat,
Now I'm interested in that tool also. It can't be that bad concidering the time I spent.

DOM

Terry
Invented the tool. He can be reached at tfringo@aol.com

Ask him if there is an NCRS discount? I don't know. Tell him I will send him more fish next year.

Hope this helps.
Grant Wong
BCNCRS

[Philip C.]

Re: Crossmember Dent Removal Tool

Just a long shot inquiry wondering if anyone would know where to rent the special tool needed to remove dents in the lower front crossmember panel.

Can't afford to purchase one for a one-time use.

Any leads would be appreciated.

--Doug (No. 13644)

Hi Doug I have one, your welcome to borrow it, it will cost you the shipping cost only, send me your address and I'll find out the shipping cost round trip. You do have to remove one coil spring to get it in. Phil 8063