Did an "Ah, Cr@p!", now need help

BillLee/Chandler TX

BillLee/Chandler TX

Senior Member
Last evening I was taking the trash to the front gate in the pickup ('04 F-150). Had the tailgate down and backed into a tree as I was turning around in the dark. Damaged the top of the tailgate. :mad::o:mad:
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I will probably just get a replacement and have it painted, but I figured I could take the opportunity to learn something (besides being more careful backing up in the dark!) I need a pointer to a newby primer for basic body work. Needed basic tools, basic techniques. Would help to have someone describe clearly the concept of metal stretching and shrinking.
 

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More than basic tools would be required to repair that tail gate. I think you need someone to recommend a good book on the subject. There's more to it than just writing a paragraph or two. I don't know a good book on the subject but I'm sure they're around,
 
Oh boy.
Metal working techniques are not so easily described as they are visualized by watching a pro.
I would honestly replace it.
Then you can experiment on the damaged one.
I would drill some small holes across the top edge and use a dent puller (which is like a small slide hammer with a screw tip so you can screw it into the holes), and do this with a combination of hammering on the inside face to try to bring the 2 vertical surfaces back together again.
This is not a simple dent, it is compounded by the fact that the damaged area is creased, making it very strong, and thus difficult to work the metal.
The tailgate needs to be removed to work it.
Then you are faced with getting it painted, unless you do that already.
I am sure my nephew, who knows how to do old school body/metal work and not just slapping bondo all over, would approach it differently. But I watch him and I still have no idea how to do what he does!
Use your company name or make one up on the spot and get a new tailgate from
National Autobody Parts Warehouse, you won't get it any cheaper. Just pay the tax and they won't question you.
 
Go to a local body shop, and have them order you a new tail gate and have them paint it unless you wanna give that a try. Aftermarket tailgates are cheaper than factory replacements. You could also just go to a wrecking yard and find a tailgate off a wrecked truck that is still good, if t hasn't been robbed off the truck already. Then repaint the wrecking yard tail gate. Like others have said, you need more than basic tools. Hammer and dolleys won't get that dent out, and I have my doubts about a basic dent puller with a screw. You'll need a big slide hammer with a hook on the end to pull the top lip back up, then I wouldn't even bother with trying to straiten the tail gate. It's going to have a horrible crease across it. I think they might sell a outer skin replacement sheetmetal peice for it. But that's a lot of work to replace also. By the time it's all said and done, you're way to involved with your time to make it pay off fixing it.
 
Hey Bill, to get to the root of your original question, ....it IS fixable however like many are suggesting, there is more to this but I am going to break it down in this simplistic manner to address your question.

What you are dealing with is an 'assembly'. Parts of your "assembly" are damaged. This would be no different than say a faulty wrist pin in which the "assembly" (i.e.: engine) would need to be taken apart for the faulty item(s) to be repaired. What you have is several pieces that have been "shaped" and then assembled. In your instance, the tailgate would need to have the inner and outer skins removed from the tailgate's infrastructure and each individual sheetmetal item returned back to its' prior shape before reassembly. If you want to attempt this project just to prove to yourself that it can be done, start by getting it disassembled and then show a picture of each damaged area and I/we can discuss how each damaged component would be repaired.

.
 
Probably best to ask around for white tail gate ready to go.

As for fixing it, a great thing to try. Can not lose anything, but gain some knowledge.

Let us start with a soda can. Push in the side till it looks like your tail gate with the pointy things. Now lets fix it. Massage the pointy things back around the can. You are left with wrinkles and the can a bit shorter on that side because the wrinkles are making it shorter.

A shop might attach a each end to to pull the length of the gate while working the dent. It is a slow careful process of moving metal up while moving the pointy things along too. When it is basically in shape you then have to work the metal level, it may need some stretching. It will take some careful moving as you do not want to dent the metal that is pushed in, you need to move the metal pushing over a wide area. If you take a hammer and hit the top area inside you will create a lot more work. If you can put a block inside the gate and a C clamp and a long bar on top you can put the pressure to pull the inside of the gate up while you move the pointy things with mild hammer on dolly work.
Put pressure on, move the pointy things, add more pressure and so on.

Great thing to learn on, but a tough area to get right without some experience because it is a high crown.

Oh, if you put any heat on the metal before it is basically back in shape you will effectively ruin your hope for getting it close to correct. As you will have done a major shrink in all directions on a high crown area. A very bad thing to do unless you really have a clue, I have a little idea and would not do it.
 
Dog:cool: here,
"Refusing to give up is a VIRTUE only to a POINT, knowing WHEN to give up, is the beginning of WISDOM"!----Whutever that means????? Buster T.:cool:
 
My dad replaced the grill insert on a 58 Ford for a friend. I was only 16 at the time, but just for kicks and giggles, I took the old one and straightened it out and fixed it to where it really looked pretty good. It hung in our garage till we moved several years later, never did get re-used, but I had fun making it look "like new".
 
Bill i was in the body shop business for over thirty years. Brent was correct in his statement to you about how to do it. It can or could be repaired. While it indeed would be a learning lesson but at what cost. If it was one of the last ones like some model a or. T parts that are just unattainable that would be different. But thank fully for you you have the option to find another. And replace it. But if you do go that route you need to check the structures where the tail gate hinges on for additional damage. It was a fairly hard hit and it was concentrated in a confined area and you may have some addition damages just beside the tailgate. And by the way I had some young guys make a bet with me years ago about a gate that was just about as damaged as yours that it could not be repaired under any conditions. Me. Being just a little older and probably as dumb took them up that i could repair it. It was repaired and i probably spent as much time and aggravation as it would have cost to buy 5 new ones from a ford dealer.
So good luck which every way you go and by the way if most of the people that you know who own a pickup told the truth many have done the same thing, i bet we replaced more tailgates on trucks as any other part . It does just happen trees and posts just jump in the way
 
On the bright side, you're lucky that you impacted it in an area away from the corner. Had you backed the corner of the gate into the tree you would have bent the hinge in the 1/4 panel. Don't ask how I know.
 
I'm a autobody tech at a Ford dealership and have fixed many F150 tailgates. Yours would just be replaced, but if you wanted to attempt it hear is what I would do:
Since you have some access, I would use this dolly-
http://www.eastwood.com/long-handle-spoon-dolly-model-1052.html, and a 3-5lb sledge with a short handle and use brute strength and drift the majority of the dent out. Use a straight edge across the top to ensure it is all out, then hammer and dolly the rest, getting it to shape.
That dolly will get a lot out, To get the sharper edges you can make your dolly out of practically anything. (Old leaf springs , chisels ect.)
F150 tailgates are extremely ridged panels, it will be very difficult.
If you remove the tailgate yourself, use caution they are fairly heavy.
An alternative to a wrecking yard are companies that put on aftermarket truck bodies (for construction and the sort) They usually have beds and tailgates in new condition.
 
Why does everyone think that is hard to fix?:eek:

There is a guy in Nigeria that will sell you a "Handy Dandy Tailgate Fixer-upper" for only $50.95 plus shipping - make sure to tell him that it is for a Ford.

Send cash by midnight and he will eliminate the shipping!:p
 
Thanks to all for the comments and suggestions, even the humor was appreciated!

As I said initially, I will likely (now 100%) get a replacement. But using the damaged one as a learning opportunity to "see what I can do" with it is very tempting, even if the result is 100% junk.
 
Congradulations on wanting to take on such a task. I applaud you. I would look on you tube to actually see how it is done. It should also be comforting to know you can always get another if needed.

GO FOR IT!!
 
And I'd be quick to take Brent up on his offer........good luck! If you take it on, please post pictures. :)
 
Bill, If I can figure out how to that kind of metal work repair, certainly you can. Even if it is just for the challenge in it. Shucks, if it were not for that kind of challenges we might as well curl up and die. Life is fun. Besides it keeps us aout of bars and away from ugly womin. ken
 
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