Handling and Repairing Ford F-150 Magnesium Radiators
One of the most requested pieces of OEM documentation in the collision industry today is “new materials, locations and procedures.” Why? Because advanced materials are becoming more popular with almost every vehicle maker due to the never-ending quest for fuel efficiency, ease of manufacturability, performance and styling. Magnesium is but one of the advanced materials
Avoiding Dodge Charger Rear Deck Lid Problems
Your shop has just repaired a 2006 Dodge Charger LX that was damaged in the rear. The repairs included replacing the rear body panel, deck lid and rear fascia. Everything looks great, and the fit and finish are to OEM standards. You’ve taken all the right steps, and your customer has happily picked up the
It Takes a Body Shop
This shop owner discovered that part of being successful inside his shop means being active outside of it.
Working with Tailor-Welded Blanks
It’s important to identify the unique repair-and-replace considerations these new components create to avoid causing additional damage to a component when pulling it.
Heat Shrinking Metal
Lots of controversy surrounds heat shrinking, yet I’ve successfully used this process for 40+ years. It not only makes a damaged panel repairable (and can save a job from totaling out), but it’s also a less invasive repair.
Car Quarter Panel Installation
There are instances when using a used quarter makes sense – but only when we’re getting paid for all the necessary prep time involved.
Inside an Old-Timer’s Toolbox
In the early days when a bodyman faced a repair problem, he couldn’t just buy what he needed. He had to conceive a tool that would repair the problem- and then forge it himself.
Inverter MIG Welders:Turn Your World Upside Down
On a mission to learn how to better repair lightweight panels, I began investigating inverter welders. And was pleasantly surprised.
Shop Profile: Cornering the Luxury Market
This shop owner knew what he wanted and got it: a thriving
business that repairs high-end vehicles and doesn’t compromise on quality.
Pump Up the Volume
Can you increase volume by 35 percent without compromising quality while still working within insurance companies’ guidelines? This shop manager says, “Yes.”