This is a generalized comment because I don't know what this piece is or where it goes, but IF I could by a piece that replaces the area for $60, I would never screw around with all that shrinking, hammering on rocks, bending, anviling, stretching, bending stuff. I would feel plenty lucky it was available and would be the EXACT shape I needed. Especially if I was not adept at forming/shaping and did not have the tools.. The unused part of it can be used for a piece that is not available. In my experience, this is how people get bogged down and take 5 years to complete a project. While having fun making a sheet metal part they forget that a year later they will wonder why none of the other stuff is done. If this area can be seen and is painted along with the rest of the truck, it's a no brainer to buy the patch. It will be work enough to cut, fit, weld, grind, sand, fill and paint even a store bought patch. I have made and welded in patches that were not available, they were fairly simple types. I have "fabed" many mechanical parts. I do not have many tools or the expertise for complicated pieces like curved outside body parts. I see Robert is an expert and even he understands there is an opposite view in this case. Shows he is a true common sense professional fabricator.
