Question on aluminum body work.

I have been looking a long time and have finally scored an aluminum hood for the RX7 at the local junk yard. It's a good score in the RX7 world. I would say it's a 9 out of a 10 but has a couple of small dings and dents. I have some metal working books and will do some online research but I wanted to get this forums take on it. Is it better to attempt to bump them out of fill them in with body filler or a little of both? Of course I want it totally flawless as it's a big hood with a lot of surface so it will show any imperfection. Does any body know what kind of filler the pros use? Does it work on aluminum? Oh ya, the hood will be stripped and eventually painted a different color so it will already be down to bare metal. Thanks in advance.

Good luck, is my input. My roommate has one, and while it's really cool that such a light hood was made OEM, it is a little delicate.

I hear ya and I agree but have you ever lifted a steel OE RX7 hood? This must save a good 50-100 lbs off the stocker and since this will be a dedicated autocrosser it's worth the extra effort to me. Plus I simply couldn't pass up the low price.

Oh yea of course I'm just saying I would have to settle for being fine with a dent here and there :p

I'm probably just being negative... I'm worn out from doing bodywork on my car for the last month... and it still not being perfect but just painting it anyway haha

Get a shrinking disc and bump the dents out. Not hard to use and it really works. Hammer, dolly and a slapper should do the job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYXMY07m8Is

this will give you an idea of how it works. There are other you tube videos to watch. If you hate the mess of body filler, you will love this gizmo.

Pete

In the past I have removed the bracing and then smoothed it out on my english wheel.