damage report

[dmbrisket 51]

Ok, the department of public works (company that owned the truck b4 me) bondoed the side of my bed, and i knew this, it didnt look like a big spot and i figgured i would get around to doing it right, but, i start going at it, and it is atleast a foot wide by 2 ft long, and it all waves badly. How do i go about fixing this? i mean ive done body work where i cut out a section and put a replacement in, but this is a massive amount of a curvy part of the truck, can i sand to metal, prime, fiberglass it/bondo it again? i have to much $$ into my bed to just chuck it and get a new one, besides i have the long bed so finding one is impossible. Any tips on how to fix this would be great... and i have one idiot mark, on the passengers side, just behind the head and marker lights, its like a door hit it mark, theres no way to just pull it out, what should i do here? go get another front corner pannel? or is there an easyer way to smooth that out?

Thanks in advance,
Doug

[smokey041369]

check with the dealership or autobody shop you can get buy just that side of the bed

[tfortom]

Any tips on how to fix this would be great... and i have one idiot mark, on the passengers side, just behind the head and marker lights, its like a door hit it mark, theres no way to just pull it out, what should i do here? go get another front corner pannel? or is there an easyer way to smooth that out?

Thanks in advance,
Doug[/quote]



I don't know what year your truck is but you can get price references from www.lmctruck.com. One side panel , long bed for 1994-2003 runs about $599.00.
From a recycler would be cheaper and repair by a body shop (Macco ?) might be cheaper still. Most Haynes and/or Chiltons manuals have a section on home body repair if you feel adventurous.

tfortom

[dmbrisket 51]

i have a home made spray booth, and i usually dont get lost on body work, but this section, theres no hole behind it, and im leery on sanding priming and rebondoing in fear that it will just crack away in a year or so

[movin2stereo]

No worries here.A new bedside would be the ticket.I also know that it's costly.I don't know how bad the bedside is cause I can't see it.Worst case would be to grind all the mud work out.Get yourself a 2x4 about a foot long and a body hammer.Beat the dent out while holding the 2x4 block on the other side and move the block to where you are hitting(keep hammering at center of block).Always make sure your hitting the block.After you get the dent out,reverse.Hold the block on the inside while you hammer from the outside.Once you get it roughed out,use a body hammer and dolly.Do the same and make sure to hit the dolly.Don't beat the metal like a mad man because you'll end up stretching the metal and this could make a mess.After your done,grind the metal.Look for high spots and tap them down.Throughout this process keep feeling the metal with your whole hand.This will let you know what is high and low.Once you get it somewhat straight,mud it up.This method will only work if you can get behind the metal.If you can't you will need a stud gun.Now your door ding.Chances are if it is small and sharp,just sand with 80 grit and mud it up.

[dmbrisket 51]

how indipendent is the bumper from the body? i have an aftermarket air dam and i am going to put mar glass over it to smooth out the line, and if the bumper is solid enough with the body, i want to smooth the bottum half to the top, and like you said, hopefully mud up the little mark on the front of the fender... and thanks for the advice on how to get the bed in working order again, ill hopefully get out and do it this weekend, and ive already had to use one of the old fashon pullers just above the stock tail pipe location, swear the people with the truck b4 me need a driving class... btw what is a dolly? i think of this device used to carry heavy things from one place to another, but something tells me, "Doug, thats just not right".

[movin2stereo]

The bumper is indepedent from the body and if you where to mud it up,the mud will crack.A dolly is basicly a small metal block.

[dmbrisket 51]

kinda figgured that with the bumper, thanks for conferming, and the explanation of a dolly

[dugie6551]

I just finished the same sort of repair that you have. I started to sand the rear corner of the bedside behind the wheel and "hit" bondo. SO, being a no-bondo guy I kept going, and going, and going .... and found the same sort of problem. Now the time came to "fix" it with a new panel and finally decided to stop digging the bondo out. I started to pull it out and after a few weeks of sparatic repairing, I decided to re-bondo the spot as a temporary fix until the weather got warmer to replace with metal.

It can be done, but I suggest to work on it in short spurts so you will not get too frustrated and create more damage by hitting it with a bigger hammer ( I had the sledge in my hand cause I was so pissed !!) But I backed off and finally finished the temp. repair a few weeks ago.

[movin2stereo]

Also don't forget to sand the bedside with 80 grit where the mud will be applied and feather out the grinder marks.

[dmbrisket 51]

bondo is just like paint right? rough up the surface to give it something to stick to,?

[movin2stereo]

Correct.

[movin2stereo]

Correct.

[movin2stereo]

Correct.

[movin2stereo]

Correct.