[dwcsr]

Use the entire panel, its less likely to warp welding close to the bends at the top and down the side where the ash tray and heater panel bends are and go all the way under then cut off the excess. Go slow and let it cool, don't lay big fat beads, fat beads shrink more, I would grind the weld as soon as you put down the gun. That way if it puckers you can dolly it before you move on. I might even go so far as to tack it into place and then weld every 2 inches grinding as I go and let it sit over night to relax it, dolly it when its cold and start over spotting