[MP&C]

Caution: A couple of OT pictures follow, proceed at your own risk!


Sorry for my short hiatus from the shop, after 226K miles my trusty 16 year old truck has been giving me fits with transmission issues. After spending about 3 weeks on and off looking for good used trucks, the year end deals and rebates made a brand new one only slightly higher in price than a three year old model. So.....

Out with the old...




In with the new....




And with the truck shopping headaches behind us, we can get back in the shop ...


Worked on the other end of the lower patch today, to fix the mis-alignment of the beltline trim...





Made a relief cut....








Rear view shows full weld penetration....





Welds were planished, then ground to just above panel surface, and next weld overlapped, and repeat. The overlapping helps to eliminate any missed welds/pin holes.
































All done and cleaned up....








......for a much better fit..





Then media blasted the inside in preparation for some epoxy primer...





.....and did some adjustment of the tailgate fitment.