body panel removal question

[chucks1967]

I need to remove the right tail light panel off the bed to do some repair. What is the best method to separate that panel from the bed without doing lots of damage to the rest of the bed side. Once it is removed how do you get to the area to spot weld the seam back in.. Noob question here but I would appreciate some help. thanks guys.

[chucks1967]

Any one?

[LILRED66]

A seam seperator is the only method I know to use without damage. The only way I know how to put it back is with a spot welder with long reach tongs on it or you could weld the seam.

[Alan's Classic]

Do you have any pix of the damage? There might be another way depending on how it's damaged.

[chucks1967]

I have 3. This is a bed from the junkyard. I have another panel to go on it its place,but if I can do the repair without taking off this piece it would be great. however I don't have a slide hammer stud welder and really dont want to have to fill holes with a screw type slide puller. but if you guys have some better ideas please I'm all ears. My thought was to get this one off and replace it with the one I have in the garage.

[Alan's Classic]

From what I can see in the pix and if it were mine I would cut the damaged area out and hammer and dolly the damaged piece and weld the same piece back in place. I would stay away from the seam if at all possible unless you plan on welding the seam solid. Just my .02

[chucks1967]

where should I make that cut? if I do cut it I will have to make up that missing material somewhere when I weld it back.. what is the reason for not separating the seam?

[Fred T]

You'll have a hard time getting the seam flat again.

If you have a welder you might get away with welding a tab on the dent and pulling it out with a come-along. That should get it out enough to hammer & dolly.

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by Fred T

You'll have a hard time getting the seam flat again.

If you have a welder you might get away with welding a tab on the dent and pulling it out with a come-along. That should get it out enough to hammer & dolly.

I think Fred T's idea is better. But if that doesn't work I use a thin cutoff wheel (1/16" thick) to cut around the damage. Repair and weld back in. I only do this on areas that I have no other option. It does take some patience. I mentioned stay away from the seam because it's too much trouble to access the pinch weld area. I hope I haven't confused you.

[chucks1967]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

I think Fred T's idea is better. But if that doesn't work I use a thin cutoff wheel (1/16" thick) to cut around the damage. Repair and weld back in. I only do this on areas that I have no other option. It does take some patience. I mentioned stay away from the seam because it's too much trouble to access the pinch weld area. I hope I haven't confused you.

HA confusing me is not that difficult these days... I think Im going to try the Idea of pulling the dent out then trying to hammer and dolly it out.. just got to figure out how to get in behind it.. as you know not much room to work back in behind it. Ill take some pics as I go along...

[kizer]

Could you use a stud welder and just slide hammer out the dent?

[chucks1967]

I would if I could get my hands on a stud welder... that would be perfect.

[Fred T]

Looking at it more. It's been ages since I worked on a fleetside of this vintage. If there is access from below you could make a dolly from a piece of round bar. Put a handle on it to hold it up. Make another holder that is bent to go through the light socket hole so you can pull the dolly toward the hammer. It will take a second person to hold the dolly up while the other hammers.

I used to have find solutions for how to assemble aircraft structure.

[chucks1967]

its limited space behind the panel just a hole about 1 1/2 in. I think im going to try to find a stud gun... I think that is my best bet.

[Fred T]

That would be easiest. If you have the slide hammer you could weld a stud and pull. These dents on corners can be bears to get straight. This old steel slowly work-hardens.

Reading back through the post. It looks like you have another end piece. You could always cut out the dents and weld in a patch. And you don't have to have a spot welder to do blind welds. Just drill a hole in the outer sheet, clamp the parts together and fill the hole. There's always several ways to skin a cat.

Let us know how you do.