Front Bed Panel Question
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New User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5
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From: Flora USA
Front Bed Panel Question
Hello, I am new here and a couple months ago I bought a 1976 F-100. Yesterday while hauling my Atv in the bed I had to make a sudden stop and when I did my Atv came crashing into my front bed panel and smashed the center of it in so far that it hit the back of my cab and even bowed it in a little 
My question is is there any way I can at least halfway pull the bed panel back into shape? and what about the back of my cab
Thanks!
Brian
My question is is there any way I can at least halfway pull the bed panel back into shape? and what about the back of my cab Thanks!Brian
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
Front Bed Panel Question
It can be bent back but if not done right, it'll still look bad.
First, understand that it's connected to the sides of the bed and either pulled them inward or broke free from them.
You might use a $20 2 ton cable puller and attach it to the front and apply some pressure and then use a hammer to force the metal back into shape and keep applying more pressure to the puller.
You can also use a large piece for soft wood 2"x8"x30" pine and use a car jack between the cab and bed. I found a import car jack works best because they are thin enough to fit. The wood is use so that the jack doesn't cause more damage.
If you don't mind drilling a few holes in the bed, you could attach a bolt with a very large fender washer then attach that to a puller. the down side it that you may have to drill several holes and then fill them with something later.
As for the cab, I'd start by looking at the inside. Mine is double walled there and so it's tough to do anything there.
First, understand that it's connected to the sides of the bed and either pulled them inward or broke free from them.
You might use a $20 2 ton cable puller and attach it to the front and apply some pressure and then use a hammer to force the metal back into shape and keep applying more pressure to the puller.
You can also use a large piece for soft wood 2"x8"x30" pine and use a car jack between the cab and bed. I found a import car jack works best because they are thin enough to fit. The wood is use so that the jack doesn't cause more damage.
If you don't mind drilling a few holes in the bed, you could attach a bolt with a very large fender washer then attach that to a puller. the down side it that you may have to drill several holes and then fill them with something later.
As for the cab, I'd start by looking at the inside. Mine is double walled there and so it's tough to do anything there.
