1972 F100 rust pile

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Are those tire marks in the driveway?    

Kool short video. thx

[kb426]

Mid day at O&S. Corner dent knocked out. There wasn't a straight shot. It took a little large hammer effort. I used to cad to come up with a roll pan - hitch marriage. I think a divorce is eminent. The bumper hitch is going to be replaced with something else. The bed is back off.

[WZ JUNK]

I wondered about the roll pan and if it would be removable or just a weld in place.  The weld in place would be much easier and faster.  I am thinking about something similar for the Ranger.

I am scheduled to start on the Ranger next week.

John

[idrivejunk]

Those bed corners are tough to persuade.

And, hmmm.... ~:)

Which do you like best?

[kb426]

End of day at O&S. I would have gotten more done but ran out of argon. This is the roll pan I like the best. I gave up on the step bumper. I will build something that works with the pan. I need to decide where to put the tag. The original Ford location was on the left side. I've seen them on both sides and in the middle on custom trucks. I need to figure out if there is a reason to do one of those choices. In case you're wondering, the pan is 67" long and I have a 4' brake.

[idrivejunk]

End of day at O&S. I would have gotten more done but ran out of argon. This is the roll pan I like the best. I gave up on the step bumper. I will build something that works with the pan. I need to decide where to put the tag. The original Ford location was on the left side. I've seen them on both sides and in the middle on custom trucks. I need to figure out if there is a reason to do one of those choices. In case you're wondering, the pan is 67" long and I have a 4' brake.

I was imagining the pan dropping down like a step bumper, angled at the bottom going down to a reciever in the middle and obscuring more suspension. You could invert a fold-down tag bracket in a pocket and tilt it up a little to access a partially hidden reciever underneath. If you want to see some virtual world options, say show me and I'll edit your ideas onto a pic. Me, I like white tailgate letters on that. And if you put the tag to one side, stick the tiny interceptor badge somewhere on the other side near the tail light on the gate.

Just IDJ-isms for you  

[enjenjo]

On my GMC the rolled pan was similar to what you have. About 5" from the licence plate I cut the pan and curved it down and made a recess for the licence plate that dropped just below the hitch, and put a chevelle licence plate bracket with the hinge on the bottom. Without the hitch in, you didn't know it was there. But when towing I flipped the plate out, inserted the hitch, and hooked up. In over 20 years I was never hassled about it. I know I have a picture of it somewhere, but that was pre-internet, and I can't find it.

I also re-skinned the tailgate with a flat panel with louvers in it, and wrapped it over the bottom replacing the rotted out section. I made a new handle on the inside to release the tailgate.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

With OE front bumper...  I would not go too custom on the rear end side.  Roll pan is good.

I was wondering about a small custom rear  bumper , nerf bars, something not too large , yet it is there.

just thinking out loud.

[kb426]

Thanks for the comments, guys. The step bumper is history. I'm going to measure for Frank's idea or just a receiver underneath the roll pan. If I do Frank's deal, the tag will be centered. I don't like to see a fuel tank from the rear but it's visible from the side so it may be better to forget about that. If I was to paint the tank black, it wouldn't stand out. Lots to think about. Off to work.

[idrivejunk]

If you can get away with having the tag facing the road while towing, by all means yeah.

How about a plain white blade bumper with reciever behind tag and a short maybe black valance or skirt that wraps around from wheel to wheel, bolted to bedsides and roll pan? Could have cutouts for angle exit tailpipes. Could have matching short black air deflector out front, too.

I am fairly certain a patch for the lower tailgate is available but I know thats no fun. And getting a good bed floor to gate bottom gap can be a pain.

[kb426]

Break time. Roll pan for now. Tag is centered. Bottom of the plate will hang down almost 2"

[kb426]

Matt, I'll think about the air dam. I believe I'm done with tail pipes.

[kb426]

Well, looky there. It's five oclock somewhere. One of the pics is a make shift dent puller. There were 2 places on the top of the tail gate where it had dented and bent inward. That's tough to straighten with the equipment I have. A skim coat will fix them now. I removed the tail gate and fastened the roll pan to the bed. I put the tail gate back on and I have a 10th of an inch hump in the middle on the pan. I'll address that before the tail gate goes back on.

[idrivejunk]

That looks great!  

[kb426]

Thank you, Matt.
Stopping point after a task. I hope I'm finished with rust repair on the tail gate. I used a grinder and wire brush wheel on the back side and didn't find any areas other than the 2 I repaired. The pics are of the normal rust repairs.