Patch hole in the bed for stack??

[Mzarlenga]

Hows it goin everyone. Might buy a 94 this weekend that currently has a 6 in stack on it but also comes with a 4 in mbrp exhaust. If I buy it (which I most likely will) the first thing im gona do is take that dumb thing off and install the mbrp. I was wondering what the best way to patch the hole in the bed where the stack went through would be. If anyone has done this please give me some ideas or say what you did. Thanks in advance!

[nasty2005]

Bolt or screw a plate over it then use a mat or bed liner to cover it.

[country_hick]

To fix it correctly so it is almost invisible requires some bodywork. Get a piece from another bed. Very carefully line it up with the rest of the bed so the ribs are in the right place. Then with a weight on top of the new bed floor piece use a marker from the bottom side to mark the hole on the new metal. Next cut that patch a little oversize. You probably will make the mark a bit small on the bottom. Taking off just a very little metal at a time cut and/or grind the patch until it fits perfectly. Now it is time to either weld it in yourself or have someone else weld it together for you. Just be sure to only weld a small amount at a time (under 1/2") then allow it to cool to avoid warping the metal.

I have not had to weld up a stack hole but the above method is what I have done when welding up other holes in a body. The method above needs more talent compared to the other option of using a flanging tool and putting a step in the replacement metal that will sit under the panel. While the flanging approach will work and look fine from the top underneath you will always have that extra metal that does not look so good under the bed. It also needs to be sealed underneath the bed as it could catch crap in that light gap and cause rust. I am not sure you could flange that metal as the tool works with a single flat spot that does not work on angles.

You could always just rivet or screw a plate or other piece of bed in place and call it good. This is not pretty but covers the hole.