I am getting half way decent at hammer and dolly and use good martin tools , however this 18 guage on dads 53' cab seems to be made of tool steel. What about hitting the area with a little propane soldering torch heat to soften it up before hammer and dolly? I have heard of old schoolers doing this and just wanted to ask before I tried it. I sure have been amazed how much easier you can hammer and dolly metal that is close to a hot weld. Thanks a million to everyone.

Id do it cold

That's what I thought I would hear. I think I will try some TIG welding as Ron Covell recomends these mig welds don't distort but are hell to hammer and dolly. I just welded the gas tank hole shut with a patch (because we are mounting under the bed) and I swear I need a sledge hammer to get it up to an acceptable filler ready level!

Oh well if this stuff was easy everyone would do it and I would be bored with it!

Yeah, the mig welds are definately hard to hammer cold. If you can get someone to help you try a very small torch tip on a oxy acetylene setup and heat a 1 inch area of your weld till orange, hand the torch to your helper to hold for you and then hammer and dolly that spot while hot. Take the torch back from him and do another inch of weld. The mig welds can be hammer welded like you would do with gas welds but a propane torch will not create enough heat in the concentrated area. The area you are working has a good curve in it and should respond well to the hammer welding. I have a hook attached to my torch and a stand I place near my working area so I don't need the extra helper there to hold the torch. If you do this right there will be very little grinding that will be needeed when done and the area will be extremely strong. Bob