Thread: Straightening Tailgate Sheetmetal

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OK, Not really a paint question, but I figured this was the best place to post this.

The tailgate on my International is a single stamped sheet. In addition to the small dents and rust holes, the center "panel" bows out. This is like a subtle crease right along the bottom of the lettering. It's hard to see in the photo, but at the worst point, just below the first "N", it bows out about 1/4".

I'd really like to avoid trying to hammer this flat since my sheet metal skills are so-so, and I'm worried I'll just end up with a bunch of ugly hammer marks, or worse yet, accidentally whacking one of those nice crisp letters. I also want to avoid the need for high-build primer here since I don't want to muddy-up the lettering. I'll error on the side of leaving the crease to maintain the lettering, but if anyone has any suggestions, I'd love the hear them.

Thanks

try to press it out with some wood port a power need to be very careful or set it on the floor and use the weight of the truck and a bottle jack and some thick wood to press out the bow be careful you can turn it in to $hit very fast

Right now, I can push on the high spot with the heel of my hand and it will "oilcan" I'm thinking it the sheetmetal needs to be shrunk, which is something I have never done. I think If I try to press is out, as suggested, I'll just end up with an "innie" instead of and "outie" - If that makes any sense.

For what it's worth, I suspect this could be a flaw from the factory - maybe a result of the stamping. This truck was built as a utilitarian vehicle and as I've observed in other areas of the bodywork, "fit and finish" seem to have come second under building a solid/economical truck.

well i can not put my hand on it so it could just need a heat shrink there is a skill to do this and a lot of so called pro body man can screw it up

Thanks Pat, I do appreciate the help. The more I think about it, I'll probably just leave it alone. With my current skills, I would probably just make things worse. I'm on the learn-as-I-go plan here.

well if you knew of a old crusty body man that work with steel and was not a plaster jockey he could help you. i can tell you how to shrink it but would be hard to do over the net