Hammering Away

The plasma torch still is not fixed so I shifted my attention to the troublesome rear panel. I had planned on using the flange tool there instead of my original idea of welding in backing plates.

Looking at the area again, with the tool in my hand, I had to admit that the job was not as straightforward as I had thought. The damage around the tail light will require some complex patches. I decided to start with the long, narrow slot I had cut just below where the trunk floor attaches to the rear panel.

I had tried to remove as little material as possible. My problem now was that I could not get the head of the flange tool through the slot, so I used a die grinder to cut the slot wider.

The Harbor Freight flange tool works great. The only problem I had was with paint getting stuck in the jaws. I ended up grinding the outside down to bare metal with my 4" CP grinder. I finished with a coat of Rust-Prep followed with a coat of 3M Weld Thru Primer.

I spent the time waiting for the Rust-Prep to dry banging on a piece of steel with my new hammers. I chose a rediculously difficult task, the compound curve I will need to make at the lower inboard corner of the left tail light opening. It turned out better than I expected, although it is far from adequate. You have to start somewhere!