[dug224]

So, I figured out the California body man's approach back in March 1982. I found a dated newspaper inside the tailgate. Basically, he drilled a hole at one end of the dent and cut the sheet metal along the perimeter of the dent except for one side. He then pushed the sheet metal in, stuffed the gaps with newspaper and commenced with filling it with filler. There are two of these repairs in the tailgate and one in the right bed side. Instead of buying a new $400 tailgate, I decided to remove the sheet metal flap, straighten it and stitch it back in. I was able to straighten both tailgate flaps pretty good and was able to reach some of the low spots with my demolition bar and get them raised. What I did not correct was the slight bow in the tailgate which appears to be about 1/4" over the width of the tailgate.