When I first started the body work on my truck I started with the bed, thinking the flat metal panels would be the easiest thing to work. I have completed a frame up restoration of my truck with the exception of the bed. Starting to work with the bed again I now realize these will be the most challenging panels to deal with since they are one thickness and visible from both sides.
The bedsides had lots of small dents and due to my improper technique in removing them I now have stretched areas. One large area in front of the rear fender is a big belly that is about 1/4" higher than the flat areas. It is roughly about the size of the outline of a football (American). It is gradual enough you cannot see it or feel it easily but a straight edge shows it clearly. I have some other oil can effect areas in other parts of the bedsides too.
I have searched and researched ways to deal with the stretched panel and most come down to a shrinking disc or torch heating the area and quenching. Most of the videos I have watched using either method are working a fairly small spot. My concerns with the torch method for a large area is it looks like you can just keep pushing a problem farther out than you started with or end up warping things and ending up worse than where I started. With the disc on a large area it looks like it would take a really long time and with a very gradual raised area where do you start and where do you move to for the next spot.
The fender might break the areas up enough these areas might not show up but on the bedside I am pretty sure it will look wavy unless I can get things straighter.
Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.
Chuck
