Metal bumping advice please

N

NoobDude

Still working my way around this 58 GMC. Cabs ready and working on the rear fenders and bed now. This step side step has me stumped. Which isn't difficult novice that I am. I believe I can see how having a bead roller available might work but have never been closer than You Tube to one. I have a friend with the steel I beams to make a press and I can imagine that might work if I can fashion some dies ( right term?).
Or is there another technique besides ordering another cause I prefer the original...

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Normally the way I fix damage like that is to start when it's still bolted to the vehicle. That way you can tack a tab to it and pull on it with a come-along. Once you get the contour out where it needs to be, you can use regular metal finishing techniques to finish it off.

I'm sure there are guys with a much more refined approach, but that's my take as a collision repairer.
 
Yeah, I pulled and moved things as much a I could while it was still attached to the bed but with all the bends and bead lines it's pretty rigid. Plus since it's on the outer edge there was to much flex.
I'm thinking an arbor type press to straighten things out and hope that opens the small bead at the top enough I can get some round bar or something in there to even it out... but that's why I'm looking for ideas, or more specifically suggestions:D
 
running board repair

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sorry about the order ...I just did some for a 56 f100 and they were hammered. First I made up the vice grips you see here that were the same radius and the same height as the leading edge . Then i carefully bent it and clamped down the deep dents to the shape you see on the dolly. I made the offset dolly that went in the vice . That way I was able to bear my weight on the low spots and hammer off-dolly to pick them up. Later i planished out the small stuff on the same dolly.

I would make a similar die that matches your running board and some vice grips and it will really help alot.
 
finished product

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another thing that might work ...make a tool that works in a air hammer with a offset head to get around the structural parts.
 
Thanks Ryan, I actually have a regular vice grip modified like yours but I need to revamp to your style vice grip for the throat, I see that will help, and you remind me I made a small adapter to go with a small air hand palm nailer that might help but I'm still thinking being able to press it out so how to get it closer feels safer than me beating little dents everywhere. Thanks for the pic's and reminder, I'll be retooling the vice grips tomorrow with a piece of some old bracket that gives me the upper cove and some round bar and see if it gets me anywhere.
 
I've used a torch in similar situations to help me move the metal in the proper direction easier initially then finished it off by hand cold. The heat needs to be managed though but you'll need far less force.
 
Well I spent time making a couple more vice grip tools yesterday and that helped move things a bit and today I formed another bit to fit in my air chisel and found that has done to most to move things along to the point I'm going to hit it with a couple coats of epoxy and then look cause my eye's go crossed looking at the metal after while. I'm quite pleased with how well the air chisel worked. Same idea as my palm nailer but better control.
I only have a plumber torch or a heat gun for heating things and am afraid I'll get more carried away playing with the fire than moving metal if I try that route but I'll keep it as an option if I get really stuck. At least I think I'm out of having to build that press.(for now).
 
maybe back it up with a sand bag

maybe back it up with a sand bag..good to hear that you are getting results. Like bob said heat will help, not red just some heat. working it warm will make a difference. withdraw the heat slowly and you will actually aneal the metal (make it more workable) then it will work harden as you re shape the damaged area.
working it on a sand bag with the rivet gun will help deliver a more solid blow.
sounds like your on your way ..im sure its noisy...good luck
 
I posted up some pic's to the album of how it's coming along. Of course I just used the last of my black and need to order more to finish up, but I feel I've taken a step, or is that completed a step? At any rate it was a new step for me and over coming the limited thinking of I can't fix THAT! I swear I've been looking at that for the entire time I've had the truck thinking I'd have to buy a new one to get it down to less than eye sore. (beholder and all that aside)
Anyway thanks for the help once again.
You guys Rule
https://picasaweb.google.com/105336288856786082079/StepSideStep?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPfo3YLk652jZQ&feat=directlink
 
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