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05-18-2020, 10:12 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hickory Flat, GA
Posts: 4,432
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Body hammer suggestions
I decided to dive into fixing the rust on my truck and after watching some videos, I think I'm going to need some body hammers and dollies to make my life easier. Any recommendations on some good tools that won't break my wallet too bad? The welder sure took a chunk out, but it's one that will do anything I need it to do.
I was planning to cut out a donor section from a cab, but if I could repair this section with a hammer, I might try that first. The hammer in the picture was an old one that I think my mom's grandfather had back in the day. Unfortunately, I broke the handle on it not long after taking the picture. Hopefully I can find a new handle for it because I really liked using it to flatten out metal brackets and such that I was making
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Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
05-18-2020, 10:18 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
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Re: Body hammer suggestions
For a beginner set it's hard to beat the price of the cardboard freight set...https://www.harborfreight.com/Body-A...-Pc-63259.html
That cab section is not gonna be a easy fix...the bed needs pulled...can you fully access the inside? A stud welder and slide hammer would be a big help to you..
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05-18-2020, 10:42 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hickory Flat, GA
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Re: Body hammer suggestions
I did see that set when I was picking out a welding cart, but wasn't sure on the quality and such. I might have to try it out, especially if there's a coupon for it, or it works on one of the 20% off coupons. The cart didn't qualify for that 20% off one unfortunately
I don't have a stud welder or slide hammer, but I think I'm set welder wise for all the other rust repair I have to do
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Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson Last edited by cwcarpenter98; 05-18-2020 at 11:17 PM. |
05-19-2020, 01:24 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dawson Creek, B.C.
Posts: 143
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Re: Body hammer suggestions
I would try to repair it first. You'll need to pull the seat and gas tank but you will have ok access to the back side of most of that for hammer dolly work. Some of the higher up damage wont be fun but it should be doable. That's a ugly piece to replace...
Some may disagree with this, but for that spot a cross chisel hammer and a pick hammer will be your friends for getting the body lines back. Which ever dolly you use should match the factory curves of the panel as closely as possible.I would use a general purpose body hammer with a flat or slightly domed face to start with. Hope this helps.
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Nick 1961 Apache short stepside 4X4 SBW 348/4 speed 1960 Apache C-20 long fleet custom cab BBW 283/4 Speed 1967 rust bucket Olds Cutlass with a 455 1972 GMC K-15 350/4 speed long fleet |
05-19-2020, 09:12 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hickory Flat, GA
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Re: Body hammer suggestions
Thanks Nick, that does help and makes sense. I am going to have to pull the bed anyways to replace the cab corners, so when I get to that, I'll also hammer away at the corner. I'm not expecting it to be perfect, but I figured I might as well give it a shot before I decide to just cut it all out and replace
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Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
05-23-2020, 11:45 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Burbank CA
Posts: 3,055
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Re: Body hammer suggestions
That's going to require some serious hammering. Sometimes a better approach (or at least one that takes less effort) is to temporarily weld some sheet metal tabs at key points in the damage area, and pull it out with a come-along. This is akin to a stud gun on steroids. The tabs can be made with holes in them so a hook can grab them. You'll just need to steady the cab and have a solid anchor post for the hand winch. Got a big tree?
Obviously, once the damage is yanked out, the tabs can be cut/ground off, leaving no holes in the body. This could do the rough work, then you tune it in with a hammer and dolly. The idea is work smart, not hard. |
05-23-2020, 10:09 PM | #7 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hickory Flat, GA
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Re: Body hammer suggestions
Quote:
I have a lead on a cab that's already been cut up, but I need to go check it out first to see if it is better in that area than my truck
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Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
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05-24-2020, 03:30 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Orland Park Il
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Re: Body hammer suggestions
Dagger tools makes a nice set with dollies
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05-24-2020, 03:52 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Orland Park Il
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Re: Body hammer suggestions
I agree with using the lever puller just make sure to tap in the ridges with a body hammer as you pull
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68 GMC C3500 Longhorn DRW 67 Chevy C10 LWB 90 Mustang Gt 90 Mustang Notchback |
05-25-2020, 09:42 AM | #10 |
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Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hickory Flat, GA
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Re: Body hammer suggestions
Thanks y'all for your suggestions. Another member is cutting up a cab for his truck and has offered me a great deal on the section of the cab that I need, so I'm going to end up cutting this out and replacing it. Still going to get a set of hammers and dollies because I'm going to need them to get everything in decent shape after all the welding
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Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
05-27-2020, 10:53 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 162
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Re: Body hammer suggestions
Go to Autobody Toolmart or eBay and get a set of Martin hammers and dollies. I got a set with the hickory handles because I like the feel. The fiberglass handle ones will probably never break. $200 a set and your grandkids will be using them.
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