Think I can save it?

[Sigpros]

This is the bed side of my sons 97. I’ve been looking for a used bed but I’m having trouble finding one that isn’t beat up or rusted out. There is a small amount of rust over the wheel well but it’s the only rust on the whole truck. I’m not a body man but my grandfather owned a body shop when I was a kid and I was there a lot. I’m also a die maker by trade so I can run a grinder. Am I better to cut a piece out at the junkyard and patch it? Or try and pull it out?

 

[Sigpros]

Here are the pics

 

[RonD]

Have you tried: https://www.car-part.com/

1997
Ford Ranger
Bed, Pickup
USA
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No, you can't use a 7ft bed on a 6ft frame, lol
You can use a 6ft Stepside/Flareside but also need the rear bumper and tailgate

Click on the picture, there will be more pictures

1993-1997 are exactally the same, but you can also use 1998-2011, same size and look the same, but may have different wiring for lights, but you can swap your wiring over

 

[franklin2]

You can buy one of these. And a little beating with a hammer and a block of wood, you may be surprised how it turns out. Then a little smear of bondo over it and you will be good to go.

Stud Welder Dent Repair Kit

Amazing deals on this Stud Welder Dent Repair Kit at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I once bought a 80's f150 that had brand new bedsides put on over the old box. The old bedsides had been cut off. It took me a couple years to figure that out. So f150's, at least, have individual bedsides available in the aftermarket. Maybe Rangers do too?

 

[RonD]

Forgot to say if there is nothing good with 1997 search in the car-part search change to 2000 Ranger and search again, 1998-2008 beds should come up, later models and maybe less rust and dents, lol

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You have the most common bed possibly known to a North American.

93-11, like almost a 20 year run.

Keep poking around.

I once bought a 80's f150 that had brand new bedsides put on over the old box. The old bedsides had been cut off. It took me a couple years to figure that out. So f150's, at least, have individual bedsides available in the aftermarket. Maybe Rangers do too?

Not sure on the newer ones, first and second gens did but they are no longer available.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The bigger less crinkly dents by the gas door and around the wheel well should be able to get better without too much work, by the tail light is going to be a pain, I knocked a bunch of smaller dents out of my '97 a few years ago with a slide hammer through the tail light hole then some hammer and dolly work, also knocked some dents out of other panels with some hammer and prybar work (all sorts). Depending on your patience level you might be able to get it pretty decent... I tried to look for before and after pics of what I did but I didn't take much as I just got a wild hair one day when I took most of the dents out of the old tailgate after I got rear ended...

Rough body work is a lot easier than you think, just think of what it will take to reverse the force that got it there, on the inside of the bed just reach under with your arm and try to push outward, should get the big ones out, the more dinged the more force will be required and creases are very hard if not impossible to get perfect... by the tail light will most likely take a slide hammer with a hook or the stud welder that was posted above...

 

[Lefty]

I sealed all the rusty bits with POR15 and then laid in an oak floor.

 

[19Walt93]

Here are the pics

A body man in NH would consider that a gravy job, solid metal with dents is much better than a rust hole. Couldn't you hire someone to pull the dents and fix it cheaper than buying a new box and having it painted to match?

 

[scotts90ranger]

If it were me I'd grab a dead blow hammer and crawl underneath, with the hammer sideways push on the inside of the bed outward behind the filler neck to get that one out, you'll still be left with the crease at the top... similar for the one above the mud flap. I got one of THESE and it helped, hard to get a body hammer in the inside... modifying a hook attachment to go where you need would help a lot. At one point I bought a palm nailer with the hopes of using it for inside bedsides and in doors and stuff with an old valve or something as a way to push on the metal but haven't gotten that far yet...