Need PDR wok on Alum grill, where should I go?

[Graham_A_M]

Hey guys, I have this early 60's International farm truck that's in excellent shape, however the grill needs a bit of repairs. Finding a replacement for it is quite honestly impossible, as these trucks were rare to begin with. There are a couple dings in the front grill Id like repaired. Tomco said he couldn't do them so I don't know where else I can take it.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii312/Graham_A_M/47b55900.jpg (http://s267.photobucket.com/user/Graham_A_M/media/47b55900.jpg.html)
^you can see a it of an indent on this one. Right below the emnlem.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii312/Graham_A_M/39eccdfd.jpg (http://s267.photobucket.com/user/Graham_A_M/media/39eccdfd.jpg.html)
Same here on the lower drivers side portion.

Overall it's in excellent shape, I'd just like it to be as close to mint as possible as it's kind of my baby and has been since we bought it new over a half century ago. Minus the front bumper, but I don't really care about that as I can build a new one for it.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii312/Graham_A_M/c7b25261.jpg (http://s267.photobucket.com/user/Graham_A_M/media/c7b25261.jpg.html)


Any advice at all? If Tomco can't fix it, I don't know if any other PDR shops can. :(

[The_Penguin]

Canadian Dent (near Deerfoot Inn Casino) did an amazing job on my Aluminum hood.
Not sure if that translates to being able to do your grill, but might be worth calling them.

[TomcoPDR]

Graham. Sorry I might have gave you wrong impression or worded it wrong. I said (or should had said) "Graham, I don't think that's feasible to consider Pdr as a restoration method"

[colsankey]

IE get it bashed into shape the old fashioned way and refinish if required?

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by TomcoPDR
Graham. Sorry I might have gave you wrong impression or worded it wrong. I said (or should had said) "Graham, I don't think that's feasible to consider Pdr as a restoration method" So any suggestions?

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by Graham_A_M
So any suggestions?

Cnc machine shop? 3D scan and printing?? :dunno:

[Graham_A_M]

^what would a machine shop do towards removing dents in thin Alum? Sorry..... my brain kind of shut down on that one. :dunno:

[TomcoPDR]

Edit:

Cnc to make a brand new replica grille.

What expectations are you looking for with PDR with this grille? Full restoration as if it was rolled out of showroom? Someone to just "bang it out"?

Have you tried emailing photos to people like Rick's restoration on that TV show, see if they got suggestions to the proper businesses and techniques required to make that back to original?

[Graham_A_M]

^ No, I was hoping guys like you could fix it. Its not a hard job, that's why I figured people like you could do it without questions.
A replica grill would be at the very minimum, $1k, more like 2k to be done right.
kind of sucks trying to restore these hard to find old trucks, finding parts for them is akin to finding parts to a dodo bird.

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by Graham_A_M
^ No, I was hoping guys like you could fix it. Its not a hard job, that's why I figured people like you could do it without questions.


Sorry man

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by TomcoPDR
Edit:

Cnc to make a brand new replica grille.

What expectations are you looking for with PDR with this grille? Full restoration as if it was rolled out of showroom? Someone to just "bang it out"?

Have you tried emailing photos to people like Rick's restoration on that TV show, see if they got suggestions to the proper businesses and techniques required to make that back to original?

Looking for it to be the same as when it rolled out of the showroom. Just the two dents to be mended out, nothing else. The rest of the body work shouldn't be hard, and yes Id like you to fix the two blemisheses on the front valance and the drivers side fender.

[spikerS]

Originally posted by Graham_A_M
^ No, I was hoping guys like you could fix it. Its not a hard job, that's why I figured people like you could do it without questions.
A replica grill would be at the very minimum, $1k, more like 2k to be done right.
kind of sucks trying to restore these hard to find old trucks, finding parts for them is akin to finding parts to a dodo bird.

Graham, if it wasn't a hard job, you should be able to do it yourself.

Tomco gave you his professional opinion, and said that pdr isn't a good idea to Pop that out with. I would rather him be honest and turn down a job than fucking hack it and then have you create a thread later bashing him because it didn't come out like you wanted. And we end up with another muffler or rotary thread.

My $0.02 is to remove the grille, and bring it to an auto body shop or a restoration shop and see what they have to say.

[max_boost]

:werd:

Nothing against ya Graham but it looks easy and simple to YOU. lol Tomco gave you his Jedi Master level PDR training expert opinion. If you don't think it's accurate simply take it to another shop. Here's another thread. http://forums.beyond.ca/st/393274/pdr/

Here's a member review in that thread.
Originally posted by JustinMCS
I have used Dent Boss and DNT in the past year. Both have good results; however, Dent Boss blows DNT out of the water in customer service.

[carson blocks]

A classic restoration shop should be able to reshape it to almost perfect and buff the aluminum so that it will be acceptable driver / local show quality. PDR techniques aren't suitable for that kind of repair, but a restoration shop used to dealing with classic iron will be able to handle that. Sorry, no recommendations on which restoration shops do good work locally.

Actually, come to think of it, give Alberta Plating a call. I think they will work on aluminum trim as well as chromed stuff.

Edit: Just curious, what year is it? Looks like a '59-'61 to me, but I don't know my old cornbinders that well.

[TYMSMNY]

"It's not a hard job" oh man Graham...

Let Sorath bang it out.

[gogreen]

It's my understanding that the restoration process on something like this typically involves stripping the anodizing off the surface first, then working out the dents and refinishing. Then you can either re-anodize it or just polish it as needed:

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/paint-body/1311-how-to-straighten-aluminum-trim/

It might be pricy to get this done by a pro, but I'm thinking it's got to be more affordable than having a chrome grille replated.