Shaving the hatch

Darth_Davidicus · 11-02-2009, 12:10 AM

I've been searching around looking for information on shaving the hatch. But, I can't find anything on it...

My box has a rearview camera (previous owner install, but no monitor) that I'll never use, and I plan on taking off the back wiper. I don't want to use the plug method because I want a cleaner look.

What I'm wondering is should I try to tackle this myself, or should I pay someone else to do it? If I can do it myself, where should I look for information? If I should just pay someone to do it, what would the cost be? Just a ballpark figure.

If this has been discussed already please give me a link.

Oh, and be sure to know that I have absolutely no experience in body work.

lonelywanderer · 11-02-2009, 01:06 AM

i just finished shaving the wiper and squirter hole on my car. for the squirter you can plug weld it but for the wiper you need to make a patch out of sheet metal and weld it in. take your time as the metal is real flimsy and is easily warped from the heat when you weld too much at once and in a general area

Padanky · 11-02-2009, 07:38 AM

weld in a piece of sheet metal, skip arount, don't just weld the whole thing at once. If you go to fast you will be sorry.

If you have no experiance, take it to a shop.

JP_Extreme · 11-02-2009, 07:52 AM

Yeah I did the hole plug in replacement of the rear wiper and ever since I did it I have been trying to find a shop to patch it and the water spout without charging me an arm and a leg. I have only really gotten a quote from one shop and they wanted $2000 to do the job so as soon as I got that quote I started really looking at other shops. Just haven't been willing to go around yet and now I have another reason to go since I want to do a stripe on my car. So now I have two quotes to go hunt for.

bbszero · 11-02-2009, 09:02 AM

I saw someone that used JB weld. they attached a piece of sheet on the backside then filled with body filler. I would'nt do it that way, but i guess it worked ok.

Darth_Davidicus · 11-02-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbszero

I saw someone that used JB weld. they attached a piece of sheet on the backside then filled with body filler. I would'nt do it that way, but i guess it worked ok.

I would think it would work fine. After reading about it I may actually try to go this route and not spend all that money on a mig welder... Hm.

bbszero · 11-02-2009, 11:42 AM

The only think i wouldn't like is that much filler, but it's really not that deep, the metal is so thin. I have used JB weld on a couple motorcycle engine cases, and if done right, it lasts forever!

Darth_Davidicus · 11-02-2009, 11:43 AM

Yea, that's what I'm reading. As long as it's done right it can be a permanent solution.

Padanky · 11-02-2009, 01:16 PM

Never tried JB weld, but not sure it would've worked on my project.

I guess just grind the backside so it has something to grab on to. GL

My 1Gen and 2Gen:

lonelywanderer · 11-02-2009, 03:53 PM

idk about jb weld but they do make a metal to metal epoxy that would work. i rather weld in a patch but if you dont have the tools or experience it will be easy to mess it up on both the welding and body work side

bbszero · 11-02-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelywanderer

idk about jb weld but they do make a metal to metal epoxy that would work. i rather weld in a patch but if you dont have the tools or experience it will be easy to mess it up on both the welding and body work side

Isn't that what JB Weld is????

shortbus_8 · 11-02-2009, 07:33 PM

this will work to if you do it right

bbszero · 11-02-2009, 08:08 PM

Hecks yeah, now your talkin' Dave! Good for up to 200mph!

lonelywanderer · 11-02-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbszero

Isn't that what JB Weld is????

i guess you could consider that but when i used to work in a body shop we had a special epoxy to jhoin metal panels

ketchup_xb · 11-02-2009, 09:24 PM

lol @ duct tape. theres cheaper alternatives like buying a 1" hole plug from lowes or home depot.

shortbus_8 · 11-02-2009, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelywanderer

i guess you could consider that but when i used to work in a body shop we had a special epoxy to jhoin metal panels

i used it on the panel job on the inside

Padanky · 11-02-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelywanderer

i guess you could consider that but when i used to work in a body shop we had a special epoxy to jhoin metal panels

Panel bonding adhesive, I used it on my 1Gen fenders. It shrank up and left a ring around the edge of the metal, could only see it up close.

Fender bonded w/ panel bonding adhesive:

Str8crazy80 · 11-07-2009, 03:47 PM

no jb weld that stoff sucks. get a shop to do it right

813_toaster · 11-12-2009, 09:33 AM

the early stages when I completly shaved the hatch (shitty cell pic) but I did it at home with very little welding experience and came out great .... b careful tho are hatch is about as strong as alum foil

JP_Extreme · 11-12-2009, 10:25 AM

Yeah I have been to a couple of shops around here asking about it and they are telling me that it will cost upwards of $1,500 for shaving the hatch.