Beating your pinch weld flat with a sledge hammer. --Let's discuss!

Thanks for the picture. So you just beat it flat to the inside then and seam sealed it. Thank you.

Welcome. You know me, probably end up writing up somethin.

I don't know man. I know I love my truck and I can't wait to beat that metal outta the way. I just want to make sure I do it right the first time.

I think it was Tyler @Socalduckslayer who once said:

Watch Thor, then make it happen.

 

Nobody has a before/after?

weaaaakk..

I wonder how many guys are seeing sealant rubbed off by the tire which would explain the water entry.

 

Here is an example of @nvdeserted who notched it and then beat it flat. Just another variation.

I'll be honest though, the cuts give me cause for concern.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/nvdeserteds-experiment.163972/#post-3361981

 

I'm not usually one to make this joke but.....

On a more serious note, I agree with @Crom those notches make me a little nauseous.

edit: and that MAY be tripophobia talking.

 

Here is @n0rth 's pics from his build.

He doesn't say exactly what he did here, but it looks like he cut it then alternated the folds (one in, one out, repeat, etc.)

 

I had mine beat inwards, then painted. I've never had a leak there???

 

Mines beaten outward, no relief cuts. Sealed with soft rubberized undercoating.

 

Outward yields more clearance as you are not folding it on top of the other surface. DO NOT cut it, no need too at all. Just pull your wheel off and hit it from the inside to outside. Work the whole thing at once bottom to top, don't focus on just one portion because then you are fighting it. Work on slowly folding the whole darn thing over in one big piece, no cuts required.

 

Wish I had a place I could jack the truck up, I'd like to make this a weekend project... I've basically rubbed all that black factory sealant shit off already...

 

You don't really need to jack it up, just enough to get your tire off...the bigger problem is the 500 sledge hammer on metal sounds that your neighbors will just love

 

My race venom exhaust has them appropriately in check.

 

I was planning on doing my pinch welds soon.... Hmm, I'm not wanting water to get in though!

 

Before



After



No rubbage on my end after

 

How do these leaks happen? River crossing or submerging the wheel well or just driving through a summer shower on the way to tacobell?

 

@LTDSC nice pics, thanks man.

 

The idea was to leave as much metal in place for strength but get rid of the pinch weld, by alternating the thought was it locks it together. Haven't had any leaks and the dupli-cote rattle can bed liner wore off years ago.

 

Automotive seam sealer is the good stuff. Paintable and it doesn't shrink, crack, or come loose.

 

Force will get you everywhere. Hit it, it's not your sister. ...

 

Beat to the outside, no cuts, no leaks.

 

Appreciate all the responses to the thread. Very helpful so far. All three methods listed in the OP are viable.

@n0rth , thanks for commenting.

Good question. What are people doing, or not doing, that is causing water intrusion?