Is There An Easy Remedy For Bent A Pillars?

[Junkman]

I have a Jo Han Javelin snap kit that was badly packed. So in the better part of two decades, the rood was pressed down, so now the a pillars are bent outwards. They are rather fragile, but not broken yet. Is there a way to get them straight again?

[Zoom Zoom]

Depends on how brittle the plastic is. Newer kits have a more pliable plastic that seems pretty easy to reverse this kind of damage. Older kits w/more brittle plastic are potentially more trouble. I would as carefully as possible attempt to bend them in the reverse direction, and be prepared to see them break, or not fully straighten out. Not sure if you could possibly glue a strip of strong/thin piece of metal behind the pillar to strengthen it. I've been known to replace A pillars from one kit onto another to restore. Pics of the damage would be helpful.

[george 53]

Take the body and run it under hot water upside down so that it floods thr roof from beneath, using your thumbs, push frpm the rear roof pillars towards the front pillars, trying to push the front of the roof back into its proper positon.it might help if you use the glass from the kit(old Jo Han right?) and use it to help,by running you thumbs along the runners that hold the windshield to the backlite.the a-posts should line up with the edges of the wind shield after a little while,when they do run the whole thig under cold water to set it,usethis same process acoulpe of times till it takes its original shape.make the water hot enough to where its is hot but not hot enough to burn yourself. this does work for me,but it is a trial and error type of thing,just press hard enoigh to straighten the roof pillars out. hope this helps.

[djway3474]

I saw a guy cut a groove on the back side of the pillar wide enough for some thin brass rod. He put in some super glue, placed the rod then squeezed the pillar straight. Bingo. Staight pillar.

Dwayne

[m408]

Plastic has a "memory". When it is disfigured, it wants to go back to its origanel shape, if it can. George has the right idea. Heat it up in some hot water, move the parts that are bent, let it cool, or rinse in cold water. Repeat as many times as required. Might take a while and several cycles, but it will work. Same thing works for warped bodies etc...

[bobss396]

I saw a guy cut a groove on the back side of the pillar wide enough for some thin brass rod. He put in some super glue, placed the rod then squeezed the pillar straight. Bingo. Staight pillar.

Dwayne

That is exactly what I do. I use whatever I have laying around, something around .020 or .015 round stock works well. You still may have to do some body and fender work on the pillar after, but it'll be stable.

Bob