A punk took a hammer to the bump in my bumpside

[heel&sole]

Looks like Tuesday night someone put a few hammer blows in one spot on the bump about halfway between the rear wheel well and forward edge of the bed. So I the bump is pretty well caved in at that point, almost like they were trying to put a hole in it. This is ONLY dent in the entire truck ('68 F100 4X4 SWB). I would like to try and remove the dent and wondering what technique would offer the best chance of success if some of you have done it before. Not sure I can knock it out from the back because of the interior panel of the bed being in the way.

I hate knowing everytime I see it I have to think about some punk getting over on me. I used to have a '72 F100 that was keyed from stem to stern after I let the neighbors know they were getting on my nerves, and 2.5 months after I painted it. Hated being reminded of them for the 3 years I drove it after that...

Thanks for any advice!

[stephen44]

i'm guessing a stud gun & puller might work ?

[heel&sole]

Yes, that is what I am thinking too, but figure there will be more resistance to pulling out since the bump crease has been flattened as opposed to pulling out a flat panel. And I wasn't sure if an everyday type dent puller will be up to the task. But that is probably what I will try once I confirm that I cannot hit it from the back side. Thanks!

[mrsnicks]

If you can get behind it you could probably use a piece of angle iron as dolly.

Patrick

[heel&sole]

That's not a bad idea! My father has just the right piece- an @18" section of leaf spring that has been rounded off. But he is 450 miles away in NC. Using that I might be able to press in from the back and still have enough reach with a dolly hammer on the outside to get some square hits. I don't think my arms are long enough to straddle both sides of the body panel using a regular dolly set but I will see this afternoon. Thanks again!

[Joshpow]

Id consider the angle to knock it out. I worked spot in a bed I had with dollies but it took forever cause of the lack of room to move and reaching around the bedside. Use the hammer on their head if you find out who they are. Another option would be if its too bad cut a patch from a donor bed. Keep us posted.

[hazelnut]

I think i would weld some washers on the center line of the bump and use a slide hammer to pull the dent out.

[heel&sole]

Well, I had no success trying to tap out any of the dent using my hammer and dolly set. After studying it more I think my best bet is to weld 2-3 pins to it with a stud gun and either tap it while pulling on the pins or use the slide hammer. I sanded and primed the exposed area just to keep off the surface rust in the interim while I decide (later today) whether to get a Stud Gun kit from either Eastwood, Amazon, or Harbor Freight.
Thanks for the input!

Yes, I would love to smash the perps skull, but I will never know. The day I discovered it, I walked down the block to see if any other vehicles that routinely park in the street were molested. But it was just me. I am the only guy in the neighborhood with old cars, so I guess my F100 looked too good not to dumb it down a little since it was exposed. Not that it is a show truck or anything. It is just a good survivor that spent all but its last 3 years in the Tucson AZ area.