Like most old truck beds, mine has a rusted out front panel lower flange. My panel is in pretty good shape except for the lower 3 inches.
Rusted out lower flange. I am not an experienced body man. I know that I could buy a brand new header panel for about $100 plus shipping, but I have read many posts that say original panels are best.
I can't find a decent original panel at the salvage yard, so I came up with another idea. Tell me what you think of it.
The top of the panel is 4" tall and the top edge is about 1.5". I found a header panel at the salvage yard that I could use for a patch piece. So I was thinking I could cut off the top 4" of the donor panel (including some of the rolled top for a flange)and flip it over and use it as a patch piece to replace the lower 3.25" from my panel. It already has a flange, and if I cut it properly, it will exactly match the bad part I cut off.
Top 4" of the panel The lower 3.25" can be cut off and replaced with the piece from the top of the donor panel after it is properly sized.
Lower section to be removed Can you see my plan? 
