Front Bed panel questions

[custom10nut]

As I’m tearing into replacing the bed wood in my truck, I notice that there’s a gap in the middle of the front panel, between the wood and sheet metal.
Is it supposed to be there? Is it just an acceptable gap?
I’m thinking not, and that it should be straight and tighter to the wood ends.
The middle of the gap is about 1/2 inch and very little gap on the ends.
There is a dent near the bottom center of the panel that I need to fix,so I’m kind of thinking that the bottom got a little bent too.
I haven’t put a straight edge on it yet, so I don’t know how far off it is.
If it is bent (Which I think it is), does anyone have any tips/techniques to straighten it without messing it up?

[custom10nut]

So I got around to putting a straight edge on my panel, and as suspected, it’s got a slight bow in it.
Nothing that can’t be fixed though.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by custom10nut

So I got around to putting a straight edge on my panel, and as suspected, it’s got a slight bow in it.
Nothing that can’t be fixed though.

I have been working on mine and it has a slight bow to it too. I just wedged a piece of wood between the cab and front panel until I get all of the bolts tightened up and it should stay put....

LockDoc

[custom10nut]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

I have been working on mine and it has a slight bow to it too. I just wedged a piece of wood between the cab and front panel until I get all of the bolts tightened up and it should stay put....

LockDoc

That’s a good idea