Removing tailgate skin help

[Little Jerry]

Hi

Can anyone advise how I might seperate / lift the seam edge on the side of this tailgate? I have limited access and obviously cant get a normal spot weld chisel in there.

Is there a tool designed for this or am I going to have to fabricate some sort of stubby 90 degree chisel of some sort

Appreciate any help

Adam

 

[Wildefalcon]

Ease it with a screwdriver, open it a bit. Then slide off the skin from the top.

 

[Agroshield]

Do you want to preserve both pieces?

If not, that makes the job easier.

If the skin can die, sand off the fold and come in with a normal chisel from the 'front'. If the back is not needed, cut away everything that sticks up and come in from the 'back'.

If not, some kind of semi-circular pry bar, just as you suggest, might need to be made.

https://evotec-swiss.com/product/door-skin-removing-pliers/ (they are available in Aus: https://www.alpoz.com.au/product/426801/)

See also:

Another type, not sure how it works - whether it just drives forward or oscillates slightly but the shape of the head is the takeaway here:

Astro Pneumatic Door Skin Removal Tool with Versatile Un-Crimping Head (DS2000)

Get the Astro Pneumatic DS2000 Door Skin Removal Tool. Easily remove damaged door skins with minimal effort. Order now for efficient and reliable performance!

gb.jbtools.com

 

[Melvyn Best]

As above, if you don’t need to preserve the outer skin just use an angle grinder where the skin is bent over , no need to grind the whole area off.

 

[8ob]

A spotweld drill will help, or regrind something flat.

Bob

 

[DaveB]

Clean the paint off the outside before you start to check for spotwelds.
Sometimes the frame and skin are welded together in a few locations before the edge is rolled over.

 

[prepman]

I'm more intrigued with how a new doorskin is crimped/swaged on? I'd grind old off.

 

[Little Jerry]

Thanks guys.

I need to preserve the skins so I cannot just grind the sides off.

I'll give the door skin removal pliers a go, seem like they should do the job, if not, I need to remove door skins down the line anyway.

Regards

Adam

 

[reb78]

I'm just curious - it all looks pretty good in your pic. What's the need to take it apart?

 

[Agroshield]

I'm more intrigued with how a new doorskin is crimped/swaged on?

Tools very similar to those shown. If you go look at the JB Tools one above, you will find its opposite sold by the same people. You can search for 'door skin pliers' or 'door skin tool' to see the pneumatic version (be sure not to make a typo: best not to go looking for a pneumatic fore skin tool)

It is way easier to find the installation tools than the removal tools as non-destructive removal is probably a rare requirement.

 

[Morris]

I'm just curious - it all looks pretty good in your pic. What's the need to take it apart?

This.
I would be looking at cutting a section out of the back if it will allow you to do what is needed. Much easier to refit and disguise.

 

[Little Jerry]

Thanks again for the advice guys, especially Agroshield.

I bought those wide door skin removal pliers (https://www.alpoz.com.au/product/426801/).

Pretty expensive for what they were but after getting a feel for using them I was able to remove the tailgate skin very cleanly so well worth the money.

 

[arther dailey]

Hi

Can anyone advise how I might seperate / lift the seam edge on the side of this tailgate? I have limited access and obviously cant get a normal spot weld chisel in there.

Is there a tool designed for this or am I going to have to fabricate some sort of stubby 90 degree chisel of some sort

View attachment 462198

Appreciate any help

Adam

glad you got it off, are you repairing dents ? or other work? interested as my tail gates got the obligitory dent .cheers