Maybe not "down through the middle" but lap welds are how body sections are joined at the factory.
Tiny, while that is true, lap welds are not done at the factory through the middle of exposed exterior panels where the intent is to finish as an "invisible" repair, such as you see people doing on door skin, fender, and quarter panel repairs. Given exposure to varying temps, ghost lines will result. The factories use pinch welded flanges, or lapped flanges primarily for ease and expediency of assembly, and primarily along outer perimeters (some exceptions). To each his own, your truck, do the repair your way. Unfortunately most people who suggest using a lapped joint as a repair don't mention the "rest of the story". That's all I'm doing, and in the end the owner can do the repair however they please. But at least it will have been an informed decision.
the majority of the rust and rot will be found in, and radiating out from, all those lapped pinch welds that the factory used for efficiency and profitability
Bill
Good point Bill
