Introduction and bedside repair question

[Tumbleweed1C4]

First of all, let me say I have already learned a lot from this forum and spent many hours simply enjoying myself like a kid in a candy store looking at build threads, all as a lurker for several years until I finally just joined. I have an ongoing lifetime love affair with these trucks, and previously owned a 1967 Grapefruit 2wd LWB, and a 1972 K5 Blazer which I turned Hugger. Both are sadly gone, they didn't survive a military career, but I retired, started a new career and replaced them with a Omaha Orange 72 GMC SWB 4X4, which is currently in pieces and my project, and another Hugger (I like 'em Orange!) 1972 Blazer that is a nice driver that I hope to restore once the GMC is running. Big Dreams.






I have started working on it again, and the bedsides have some damage on the lowers due to somebody jumping the truck as it was a mud bogger, sigh. I have straightened them out and sanded the area down, and removed a bunch of bondo somebody put in instead of hammer and dolly work. I ordered patch panels, but I started hammer and dollying it to straighten as much as I could to see if I could save it, because a lot of the metal is in good shape other than the dents. I am a total newbie to the hammer and dolly, so I don't know how far I should go with it before doing more damage than good.



It is not smooth, I took out the big dents, but should I keep working on it, or get it close and use filler to smooth it out, or wait for the patch panels? I know those are all viable answers, but given my lack of experience I am looking for experienced opinions. I want to do it, but I also do not want to be working on the bedsides for a foolish amount of time, because I have a long way to go. I am going in the next couple of days to look for some other tools that may help. Any advice?

[Tinkermc]

Welcome to the Forum and thanks 4 the pic's

[BrianG]

Welcome to the board from a fellow Michigander!!!

I probably can't help much with your bodywork questions though. If it were me, I'd keep as much as the original metal as possible though, and only use the patch panels if absolutely necessary.

Also, look on Craigslist for parts. There have been some short wide boxes on their recently. (Not mine, just trying to help)

p.s. I'm (re)building a 69 4x4 swb and am also planning on hugger orange. I've got a long way and way to much money to go for mine. Hopefully in the next couple of years if it fits into the budget.

[9teen69]

Welcome to site - as you already know...tons of helpful folks around here.

18 yrs in I know the military toll...two ex-wives - only thing that survived is the Camaro. Well and 3 awesome boys---two became Marines.

Have fun with the Blazer...sweet color!

[70cst]

Heu Tumbleweed1C4 ...

Just wanted to say to the forums and from Ohio.