Interior trim and panel removal?

[goatfarmer]

Attempting to gain access to a dent to the rear of my 90 T4r 4 door and in the process prep the rear quarter panels for painting. The rear scuff plate, rear window gasket and channel have been removed, along with the exterior trim piece. In order to get access to the dent it appears the rear upper center panel for the rear cargo light has to be removed but I do not want to get over my head by damaging, or removing components that will pose a problem in the reassembly?

Currently prepping rear quarter panels using orbital sander with vacuum attachment and intend masking then painting for reconditioning more than restoration. Should I leave well enough alone and not consider removing the quarter panels; I would rather leave well enough alone and work around it than have the reassembly become a problem?

Comments/Suggestions appreciated.

 

[85RedRunner]

Use a dent puller.

I noticed some really cheap ones at pep boys, may be all you need.

You just need to get under that plastic piece with the light on it? Pull down on it.. Should just be clips.. Work around the edges with a long flathead until you find an anchored point.. Then pop it out with some leverage.

There is nothing that will leave you in over your head with plastic panels.

 

[goatfarmer]

Use a dent puller.

I noticed some really cheap ones at pep boys, may be all you need.

You just need to get under that plastic piece with the light on it? Pull down on it.. Should just be clips.. Work around the edges with a long flathead until you find an anchored point.. Then pop it out with some leverage.

There is nothing that will leave you in over your head with plastic panels.

I thank you; yes, pried on the plastic piece and found the panel is secured by clips, just exposed the back portion, may be able to slide a body tool thru a small opening, between the body tool and dent puller hopefully remove majority of the dent?

 

[85RedRunner]

Just need to get it close enough to fill with bondo.

As long as you dont knock the dent out further than the body line, you're fine.

All depends on how deep you want to go with the filler, just add, sand, add, sand..easy day.

 

[goatfarmer]

Ended up removing the panel, provided little more room to move the body tools, and any thing else I could find that fit thru the opening. Found there's a heavy gauge seam adjoining the dent on the underside of the roof that runs from front to back causing a problem working the dent flush with the contour of the surrounding area. Close enough to add body filler but intend working on the area a bit more.

Thank you for the input!

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Looks like a good job for a pdr guy that's experienced! See if you have a good pdr shop in your area, they might be able to pop all the dents and dings out of the vehicle completely for a couple hundred bucks. Definitely worth the money vs. grinding and filling with bondo, especially if you're not painting the whole vehicle over again.

My old neighbor was a retired pdr guy, he was amazing and got dents I thought would never ever come out without cutting in new metal! Before that, I had a shop do all the little dents and dings in my '05 tacoma, think it was 200 bucks and he did 5 or 6 dings, you could not tell they were ever there at all once he was done.

Just some alternatives for ya.

 

[goatfarmer]

Looks like a good job for a pdr guy that's experienced! See if you have a good pdr shop in your area, they might be able to pop all the dents and dings out of the vehicle completely for a couple hundred bucks. Definitely worth the money vs. grinding and filling with bondo, especially if you're not painting the whole vehicle over again.

Just some alternatives for ya.

I do know of a very good auto body person who is very reasonable. There are no other dents on the vehicle so the body is in good shape. I do have a little experience but not to the level where I would not have to use a body filler. Probably best to take the T4r in and get a quote for the dent before reassembly, perhaps include quote for cost of entire paint job?? Faced with same dilemma of many 'classic' Toyota owner's with 210K miles just how much more one intend to put into it??

Appreciate the suggestion!!