Advice on how to work a fender fitment issue

[aviator8]

I went to hang my fenders to find I have a bit of an issue on one. This fender was previously banged up a bit and I hammer dollied it the best I could the worked the remaining imperfections out with filler. The problem I have it that this section indicated with the chalk marks sits a little too high with the peak at the middle chalk mark. Since this is a double curved area I did not want to start pounding on it as I have no shaped instruments that would match the curves. Also I didn't want to flatten or crease the rolled edge. I tried two methods to correct and mad a little progress but I'm not getting much now.

First I used pliers and tried to wedge against the inner surface but with w piece of cardboard folded a few times so as not to mess up the finished side. I rolled and pull the fender down slightly using the lip.

Second I used a slide hammer with a vice grip attachment and moved back and forth along the area using a couple hits at each point to try to bring it down.

I'm not getting any movement now and I think it is due to the compound curves in this area making it very resistant to movement. This area will have fender beading that will slightly hide this area and it is tucked in between a narrows point between the light and hood so it probably wont be that noticeable, but I would like to make it better if I can.

Any advice on how I can address this?

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

If it's high there you would need to shrink it. I'm hesitant to advise to one thing or another without being able to lay my hands on it. If you have a acetylene torch, try briefly heating small spots in the high area and let them cool naturally. Brief meaning just a couple of seconds using a welding tip. Don't force cool, just let it cool naturally. Do one, let it cool, see what changes.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

It should start to gradually come down. You want to go slow and not try to do too much at once.

 

[aviator8]

I dont have an acetylene torch but do have a map gas torch.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

Another option and might actually work better is to make a shrinking disc (if you don't have one) out of a phenolic backing pad or the backside of a grinding disc. Run the disc over the area for a few seconds then stop and let it cool naturally. You should see it start to come down in that area.

Being that it is on the edge and the edge itself is high does complicate things. Before doing anything else though I would try lightly bumping tapping on that edge to see if it comes down some. More than likely will have to do a combination of trying to bump the edge down, then shrinking.