METAL BODY REPAIR - OD1653 - LESSON 1/TASK 1
work should also study body construction diagrams in manuals published by
the leading auto manufacturers. Such study, plus repeated examination of
actual vehicles, is the best course to follow in gaining a thorough
familiarity with vehicle construction principles.
The successful auto body technician likes to do mechanical work and has the
ability to plan, stepbystep, each job through completion. Seldom are two
jobs the same; so the technician should be creative in planning the work
procedure. Because the outer panels are shaped to relate to the total
design of the vehicle, the technician must also have an artistic
appreciation for the work. Pride in work is very important in a field where
a slight imperfection can ruin a whole job.
Typically, the technician begins by removing trim components, body hardware,
and accessories in order to gain access to the damaged metal by a process
called bumping, using dolly blocks and special hammers. If damage is more
extreme, hydraulic jacking equipment may be used to align a damaged area.
Tiny nicks and dents are usually removed with special pick tools.
Each damaged vehicle presents a special repair problem because of the many
kinds of damage which may occur. The technician seldom works at one
particular job for any great length of time. He or she is expected to be
skillful in many widely different areas of work, and to have the ability to
see the entire job through to completion. In order to be successful, the
technician should have a good understanding of vehicle construction, seeing
how and why the parts fit together to form the total vehicle body. Pride in
workmanship is very important. Failure to do quality work at any point
during the repair may cause great problems later on.
2.
Body and Frame Construction
a.
(1) Bodies. Passenger cars and truck bodies differ a great deal in
construction because of the different purposes for which they are intended.
However, each has an inner and outer construction. Outer construction is
considered that portion of a
2
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