Bent Rear Dropout - Help!
 

I've got a Bianchi steel frame from the 1980's that I want to build up, but the right rear dropout has somehow been spread open a little. It's not bent. It's as if someone were riding along and something caught the bold or nut on the axle (sorry, not good with the terminology) and caused the bottom of the "C" shape to bend downward. I don't know if this makes sense, but can this be repaired, and if so, any guess how much it will cost? Also, is it something I could do?

Thanks to all who can enlighten me.

I think so too. I generally take the attitude that, if the frame can't be used the way that it is, I have nothing to lose by trying to fix it.

Instead of hammer and wood, I would try bigass adjustable wrench and rag to pad.

thanks to all. I actually have taken it to Performance Bike. They said it would be about $20 bucks, so I figured it was worth that to have a professional do it. But it's encouraging to know that I shouldn't be afraid to try to fix some things myself.

Steel can be bent. Aluminum can be bent, too, but it might break because of the bending. That's oversimplified.