Door panel body line dent

[1979cheyenne]

I purchased a 79 Cheyenne and ended up a never ending project as many of you probably know. The previous owners had dented the ridge out of place and slightly in the door and drilled 2 small holes and one big hole and didn't remove the dent. There was a 1/4" of bondo covering it all and it wasn't even sanded before they painted it so it made damage more visible with paint. I wish I had a picture before I removed the bondo. Am I in better shape looking for another door on Craigslist or does this look repairable by a newbie when it comes to body work? Also I don't have access to a welder to fill the holes.

[LTZ C20]

Welcome to the site. Ewwww, that is an icky door repair. Your truck is black it looks like. Is it a finish coat or primer or flat black? How's the body and paint on the rest of the truck?

[fitz]

Is it a GM door at aftermarket?
What are your long term plans as far as a paint job?
If its an aftermarket door and your going with a cheap paint job, buy another aftermarket door.
If its a rust free GM door, get a price from a body shop.

[1979cheyenne]

ltz c20,  thank you. its a very dark blue almost black, no clear. It has one small dent I'll work on next in the left bedside but it's minor. It has 3 layers of paint and they didn't sand the previous coats so you can see flame outlines if you look at a certain angle in the light. Fits, My plans are take care of the dents until I have the money to get started on the rest of the work. I am having a friend that goes to school for automotive painting help me hopefully when it's time. So I hopefully will have real automotive paint and compressors and equipment I need. the door is original. I am in the process of overhauling the 350 in it right now and it's stuck in my garage sadly for now. I'll see if I can upload a full picture of the truck if you guys want to see it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[1979cheyenne]

[LTZ C20]

Nice truck. Since the door is original I would say that your best bet is maybe to take it to a body shop and have them properly fix that door. Then maybe just shoot some cheap paint/primer mix over it to prevent any rust until you start prepping the whole truck for better paint which it sounds like you are planning to do. Is that right?

[1979cheyenne]

Thank you, I plan using quality paint when it's time. I am unable to drive it to any shops because the motors apart and it needs tires belts are showing in the rear.  Oh yeah and I forget about it missing a windshield since I stupidly broke it. But I was thinking at finding a piece of steel to match crease and try to pound it out straight from inside with a piece of wood being held against it on the other side but if it comes down to it I'd take the door off and try to get a ride haha.

[1979cheyenne]

here's a photo of inside

[LTZ C20]

Oh boy that's gross. Yea it would probably be best to have a buddy help you take the door off, take it to a local reputable body shop and have them do it up right. Someone really butchered it before.

[1979cheyenne]

I wasn't sure if that was a bullet hole or some dummy drilled a giant hole haha. Yeah it would be best to have it done right.

[LTZ C20]

Hard to say for sure but from the front it carries the possibility of being a high flying piece of pointy lead.

[1979cheyenne]

Wouldn't be the first truck I've owned with bullet holes hah.