Can this a be fixed with hammer and dolly?

T

Tungsten

Promoted Users
Looking at a truck. Has some damage. Could a beginner get this nice again with a hammer and
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dolly
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Is that a buckle over the wheel well or a reflection of a building roofline? It "appears" like it's pushed in above the wheel well as well. If so, may be easier in the long run to replace the bedside.
 
If you were to attempt it, you would need a stud gun. Hammer and dolly would be secondary and access is limited in many places. In addition to pulling up lows you would actually use the stud gun as a dolly, holding tension on it in a low and hammering the highs around the low.
If you have little to no experience though, it would be better to replace the bedside. It's more straightforward. But if you want to learn then try repairing it. Go slow, don't start slugging it out from the backside and make a bigger mess. Work out gently what you can from the backside. Then using the stud gun. start with the lowest areas, gradually working them up with the stud gun. Use the weld studs for leverage to work down the high spots. Go easy, work slow, gradually pull the lows up. Use your hand to feel the lows and highs.
 
Try it, or you will always be a beginner. Removing the fuel door should allow enough room to get your arm up there to hold a dolly. Chris is right about the stud gun working the best, but that can be worked out with just a hammer & dolly. If your goal is 100% dent removal with hammer & dolly then don't even start it, but if you want to get close enough to skin some filler and block, then try it. If you make it worse then you can then replace the whole side.
 
Thanks guys,just going by pics as haven't seen in person.
New side panel was what I was thinking but curious if something like this could be done by hand.
Assuming rust is there somewhere Id think replace is the better option.
 
Kawickrice said:
I have a stud gun but can't seem to get the studs to hold when pulling, is there a trick I am missing?
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Make sure the metal is clean, you’re getting good ground connection, and cook it a little longer. What size stud?
 
It looks as thought the bottom corner of the cab is dented as well.
If you attempt to straighten all of this be prepared to spend many hours working on it. Also be prepared to be a contortion artist as reaching up into close spaces to support a dolly with one and while trying to accurately hammer with the other gets old quickly.
 
'68 Coronet R/T said:
It looks as thought the bottom corner of the cab is dented as well.
If you attempt to straighten all of this be prepared to spend many hours working on it. Also be prepared to be a contortion artist as reaching up into close spaces to support a dolly with one and while trying to accurately hammer with the other gets old quickly.
Click to expand...
Well because of the fuel door is the only reason Id think its possible.
Welding or gluing a new patch panel was the next option.$900 Canadian
 
If it were me, I'd maybe call a PDR guy and just explain to him it doesn't need to be "perfect" just good enough that you can skim coat it and move on.

And that would be if you were dead set on repairing it.....otherwise, buy a new bedside or a complete bed for that matter if its affordable.

Trying to fix that as a beginner is going to yield you nothing but headaches and frustration. Just looking at the shadows and where the dents are, there is a lot going on there.
 
Being in the northeast myself I can agree, rust free boxes are indeed gold so that’s probably not an affordable option. OJs advice of a pdr guy doing a push to paint on it isn’t bad. It’s definitely repairable but not for a beginner. It looks as if someone has already pushed some of the dent out to make it look a little better. And I would imagine there’s some rust in that bed. A skin would probably be your best/easiest option.
 
i remember a guy here who loaded his 38 ft trailer 3 high with late model take offs. he was from somewhere up there. he paid for his pheasant hunt and vac with folks by selling beds or he would take a couple ltd's or thunderbird up there.
 
I vote to try and fix it. It will be a great experiment for you. Will develope a very personal relationship with the long block...
 
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