[TheForge] sheet metal repairs

[terry l. ridder]

hello

the ford f-150 pickup bed needs to be either replacements with a
salvaged one that is in better shape or have the rust cut out and new
sheet metal welded in.

The VA has decided that i need a mobilty scooter to allow me to be
independant. This requires that a mobility lift be installed in the
driver side forward corner of the bed. the probelm is that the bed is
rusted and i have doubts that the bed would safely support the lift.

used truck prices are greatly inflated. I am not going to spend tens of
thousands of USD, so that I can transport a $3,000.00 USD mobility scooter.
There is stupid and then there is really stupid.

i think it would be easier to repair the bed if it was removed from the
truck. there  are six bolts which hold the bed on. must boddy shops just
cut the head off the bolts and use new bolts. The bolts are secured
using thermal lock tight. the bolts have to be heated to several hundred
degrees in order to be removed.

has anyone repaired the rusted bed of a pickup? what are the things to
look out for?

There are body panels available for the pickup truck. some people butt
weld these  in place to the original body metal which has been cut away.
some people weld the body panels over the original sheet metal. I would
cut out the rusted metal and use the replacement body panels either
slightly overlapped or just butt weld.

several people have used salvaged beds for the replacement sheet metal.
mostly for the wheel well curved pieces.

I am looking for suggestions and guidance before jumping into this
project.

some links
www.pickuptrucksalvage.com




-- 
terry l. ridder ><>