For the shaping on this panel I used several tools such as a shot bag, a large wood mallet, a wheeling machine or English Wheel, a Lancaster type shrinker/stretcher combo, a bead roller,hammers and dollies and of course a welder. All of the welding was done by oxy-acetylene torch.

A good view of the buck and the old valance panel.

The new panel starting to take shape. This is actually two pieces welded together. The buck is only used for checking the shape of the metal being shaped. It’s not used for hammering or bending the metal into shape.

The pieces of the panel all welded together into one.

I used inexpensive manila folders to make patterns off of the old pieces. The patterns are then transferred to the new panel for the bumper bracket holes and exhaust pipe cut out. Here the holes have been cut out and the edges shaped like the original. Also the edges of the panel have been ran though a bead roller to “step” the edge.

The panel fit to the body. The pictures make it look easy. It took several attempts on and off of the car to get the panel to fit like I wanted it too. I also had several hours shaping and welding to get it to fit the buck.