Welcome back to the channel this week! We are excited to bring you along on a journey as we repair a Tesla Model 3 with structural damage to the rear body. This repair will be completed on the select frame bench using dedicated jigs, ensuring precision and accuracy throughout the process. We will be documenting the entire repair in multiple videos, highlighting each step of the collision repair process.
As we begin the repair, the first step is to use a belt sander with a Scotch Brite belt to clean off all the seam sealer and identify the spot welds that will need to be grinded and drilled out. The spot welds attaching the end panel to the frame rails and rear floor are carefully removed with an 80 grit belt on the belt sander.
Next, the spot welds attaching the lower quarter extension to the end panel are drilled out, and the lower spot weld is grinded off from the back side. The self-piercing rivets attaching the taillight pockets to the end panel are also removed, and the end panel is warmed up to release the structural glue, allowing for its separation from the vehicle.
With the end panel removed, we move on to grinding all the spot welds attaching the floor to the vehicle structure. A hacksaw is used to cut the majority of the floor out, making it easier to separate the floor flanges from the top of the rear rails. The rear frame rail end plate is then removed using a belt sander and heat application to release the structural glue.
The upper and lower rail brackets are also removed from the vehicle structure, and any remaining adhesive is cleaned off to prepare for the installation of new rail end plate and brackets. Our select jigs are then installed onto our bench and attached to the rear rails, ensuring there is no possible remaining damage to the rear frame rails.
The new floor and rear end panel are tested on the vehicle before the select jigs are removed to install the end panel. Once the end panel is installed, the jigs are reinstalled for further testing and adjustments. The rear bumper retainers are then installed to test fit the new rear bumper cover.
During the test fitting of the new rear bumper cover, it becomes apparent that the trunk lid no longer fits properly. A brand new trunk lid is installed, followed by minor adjustments to ensure proper alignment. The vehicle is now test fitted, and we invite you to subscribe and stay tuned for the continuation video coming soon.
Thank you for joining us on this repair journey, and we look forward to sharing more behind-the-scenes footage and tips with you in the upcoming videos. Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button in the upper right-hand corner so you don’t miss out on any of the action. Stay tuned for more exciting content on our channel!
