Is this PDR possible?

PDR being paintless dent removal 

Nerf dart for scale

I moved the excursion up top before a bunch of storms came in last week hoping a tree would fall on it and I wouldn't have to deal with trying to sell it. 

Well a tree randomly fell on it today, with no rain or wind, and not casting a fatal blow. Because why I would be so lucky? 

Anyway, is that dent position on top of the fender a candidate for paintless dent removal or am I going to have to find an actual body guy and spend more than the nothing I have available to get it fixed?

My initial thought is no, but I've never worked with one. Really only know if you go by one and have them take a look. 

If you can still open the hood, I'd probably just deal with it for something of that age. 

In reply to z31maniac :

I haven't tried yet on the off chance I can't close it again.

Only been trying to sell this thing since last summer, and already priced well under what I have into it, so I'm leery. I'll look around and see if I can find someone local.

A good PDR guy might be able to get it better, but they can't fix the crease. 

In reply to Steve_Jones :

The crease is the issue. I bet it'd look 90% better, though. The scuff in the paint being the other question. Nor sure how much a PDR tech would be, but somehow I'm thinking $200? Am.i off the mark in the current economy 

The truck isn't on perfect shape. 22 years 151k miles old, most of that used to haul off-road toys, it's had busy life. I'm just hoping for "better". The only people I've been getting inquiries from are confused when it isn't in fresh out of the factory shape at below average price, and more big dents won't help is all. 

I got a call into my mech who is reaching out to someone for me for a price, knowing it won't be perfect. 

Although I night just pull the wheel liner and push it out with a bat. 

Couldn't have crushed the A pillar, that would have been easy to convenient.

I thought Excursions were highly sought after and went for crazy money even with high miles? 151k miles seems like the low end for a 22 year old truck.

In reply to BlindPirate :

It's a V10 from the rust belt that's already had the rockers replaced. Not the most desirable it's turning out.

Diesels are commanding ridiculous money from what I'm seeing though. Guys being happy about paying $20-22k for a 7.3 with 200k+ on it.

I do know where there's a cheap 7.3, but there wouldn't be much profit after I pay for the swap to be done because I don't have the skills or the tools to do it myself.

It looks like the paint is already cracked and scratched bad enough that PDR won't completely fix it. It's what the PDR tech would call "push to paint." They'd basically get the metal close enough that the body guy would just use a skim coat of filler and paint over it. 

Steve_Jones said:

A good PDR guy might be able to get it better, but they can't fix the crease. 

This.  They can make it "decent" but then you'd need a body guy to skim and paint. 

If it were me, I'd check car-part.com for a fender the same color. I was able to find a door for my old Tundra off of a Sequoia in the same color and after an hour of wet sanding and buffing, it went on and matched perfectly. It might be an option for you.

Andy Neuman said:

It looks like the paint is already cracked and scratched bad enough that PDR won't completely fix it. It's what the PDR tech would call "push to paint." They'd basically get the metal close enough that the body guy would just use a skim coat of filler and paint over it. 

Maybe combine this with a local tech school?

Fender is junk. Hood is...questionable. Depends if the underlying framework is damaged. Not a PDR repair.

I think the PDR industry is still a little bit of the Wild West, with some very good people and a lot of mediocre people...if you can find one of the good ones they may be able to correct most of it, but I don't think they could get it back to 100%.

There are some who could make that smooth again, but they are booked for a long time ahead and charge real money for their time. The paint is already done for, so that is not a factor. Good PDR techs are at dealer lots all day or doing high end cars for a lot of $$$ where it is worth it.

That paint is pretty trashed anyways, so there is little harm in doing your best to smooth it out, skim and spray some paint over it.  Do some youtubing and study up on how it is done. If a new panel is available even better. 

I had a truck that color, that paint fades likes a bitch so a used fender may be the best option.  A respray in the factory color will be several shades off of where your truck is now.  Of course it can be blended and custom mixed but more $$$.

It maybe only drops the resale by $500, so I would just live with it if the truck is a beater with a heater as described.