Aluminum Body work (Aluminium?)

[LCSCHADT@aol.com]

Eliot/Dave,

I believe one of the draw backs to aluminum is that when it bends, it also
stretches (so called "plastic deformation").  When you straighten (or in the
case of a dent in a panel, "flatten"), the dent represents a virtual patch of
metal which is now slightly larger, trying to fit in the same sized (i.e.
smaller) virtual hole.  I guess, if one is good (REAL good?), in the process
of straightening/flattening one can get it to undergo its plastic deformation
in reverse?????

Any (former/current) Austin Healey 100/3000 owners out there that can address
this issue?

With steel, it too can undergo plastic deformation, but as often as not its
deformation is "elastic", it hasn't been stretched and so when
straightened/flattened it is the same size.

Comments welcomed

Larry '87 5kCQ