Originally Posted by MPandC
Looking at the attached picture, barring any efforts to planish (stretch) the weld dots after welding, the shrinking effects at the vertical seam will have a tendency to pull the door opening rearward, widening the door gap at that area. (verify with straightedge against folded flange). I also agree with the above comments of the gap being too wide, this allows the panels to pull together unabated. The horizontal weld seam will have a tendency to pull that flat area together (pull front and rear area toward each other), noticeable by an in and out wave adjacent to the weld, and further up (blue circle) you may see an oil can that was likely protruding outward until you pushed it in. The corner where the two welds intersect, due to compounding of the shrinking effects, will normally result in a pucker in the corner (red circle). This pucker may also have a tight oil can on the lower end, the top should be real tight. The transition where the weld wraps from the side to the rear will tend to pull inward as the weld through that area shrinks, another thing that can be verified with a straight edge, hold it perpendicular to the weld.

If my presumptions are correct, all of these defects are attributed to weld shrinkage and failure to adequately planish out the welds. The problem with using filler over an unstable oil can is that it may still cycle in differing temperature changes where it pops the other direction on you.

Wow, a good reason to never use those sort of clamps, way too big a gap. When I have done that sort of work I use as close to exact fit as possible and use a magnet to hold it in position. And have pretty much no gap.


Kicking self for selling off my Taskforce trucks.
Still looking for an LCF or conventional big bolt in decent shape.


As of 10-26-2022, A 55.2 Taskforce long bed now the work begins