I suggest you try the local paintless dent repair shops in your area, if the
paint itself is not damaged..

You'll be surprised at how good a job they can do for you - plus, it's
cheaper than a normal body shop.

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerald Masar" <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2002 09:36 PM
Subject: dent removal ?

> Greetings listees,
> On a recent trip, some (expletive deleted) clipped the left rear of my '90
Westy.
> Don't know where it happened, maybe along a street where it was parked or
someone
> pulling out behind it.
> Anyway, there are two dimpled creases about a quarter inch deep, running
from the edge
> of the hatch opening, across the vertical corner of the body, about 13"
above the
> bumper. There is a lightly flattened area right on the edge, connecting
the two
> creases. There is only the slightest smudge on the bumper, so maybe it was
a truck or
> bus or something with an overhang.
> I can reach the area down through the vent opening, but am reluctant to
hammer on it,
> as it will probably only make it worse.
> I have a high deductible insurance, so that is out.
> Any suggestions from you body work experts, as to how I  might fix it or
how a body
> shop would do it. There are some body shops in this small town, but I
haven't taken it
> to anyone yet.
>
> If nothing else, I will just sand the edges of the missing paint and spray
it to keep
> it from rusting.
> Any comments will be appreciated.
> Jerry