Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 5:55 pm Post subject: tail gate repair issue
well I finally got to work on the m38 again. I have been trying to repair the tail gate. bubba had cut a hole center bottom of the tail gate. I didn't think to much of it, figured I would just take some 16 gauge and bend it to the same shape as the center rib. well it isn't going so good.
does anyone have any good advice on how to shape a metal patch that I can weld in? it also has the rounded end of the rib missing.
any help would be greatly appreciated.
a photo of it is on photo gallery page 15, 8th photo of 22 under eaglemn
Joined: Oct 28, 2008 Posts: 99 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 7:06 pm Post subject:
Done this before.
18 ga gold rolled will bend easier and that's close to what was original.
The key is either use a bead roller or hand form the beads.
You can do what is called hammer forming. Make a form out or MDF or Plywood and clamp the steel between two pieces with a groove cut in the bottom wood and a slot in the top piece of wood. Using a hard wood dowel rounded to the shape of the bead and hammer down the steel.
You can also hammer down over a steel rod of the same diameter, but its harder to hide the hammer marks.
Research Hammer forming beads and you will see what I mean.
Joined: May 30, 2014 Posts: 3440 Location: Texas Hill Country
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:25 pm Post subject:
Steve,
I would tackle it in two parts. Fix the one part with the rib, then fix
the higher piece at the bottom with another piece. Trim out the repair
areas back to rectangles and clean metal.
Find a drill bit that matches the rib diameter. A cheap one is fine
as you'll be drilling wood. Cut a piece of 4X4 maybe a foot long,
and drill a hole with that bit in the long end, centered. Now cut that
4X4 in half, giving you a slot to match your rib. Buy a hardwood dowel
to match, or use a piece of round rod, and round the end.
Now lay your 18 gauge sheet on the 4X4 and tap the dowel or
rod a little at a time forming the sheet into the slot you cut with
the drill. Do it a little at a time. Too little is easier to fix than too
much.
Trim that piece to fit the spot you cut out and cleaned back to good
metal. Once that guy is in, cut another piece to fit the bottom piece
that sits on top.
Look up Bretto's posts. He repaired his tailgate by cutting off the
rolled hinge area and welded in a repair piece.
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:10 am Post subject: thanks to everyone for their ideas
thanks for all the ideas on how to fix the tail gate. I posted in the wanted area for a damaged or part of a tail gate that can be used any more.
I think that might be the easiest fix, and if not I can try the other ideas
thanks again to all of you that commented.
steve
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