Well I got the bed back on and patched in the back with 16 gauge metal patches I made from flat stock and then bent that to match the old bed. I bought a sheet of 16 or 18 for like 75.00.

After I patched the big section, I decided to cover the underside with POR 15, and I sprayed the POR 15 wearing a short sleeved shirt, not smart. Went right over a lot of undercoating and rust and that is after I cleaned the surface from lose undercoating and lose rust for days. I fabricated one brace that was missing and welded up the other stiffeners and brackets for the sides before I spayed. I actually remember how some of the dents got in the bed over 40 years ago.

My tailgate got so beat up over the years that it was never going to be correct; the dents and bends were that twisted with no way to




access them. I am so grateful Chad sold me his old tail gate because what I found out was the tail gate is the most difficult panel to find and the one he sold me cheap is almost perfect.

I painted the back panel red before we put the bed on, but I might have made a mistake there because I think the white band goes around the back of the cab. I might leave it at least for now. My plan is to make the truck a nice stock utility driver. This is my work truck I bought in 1975.

steve