Fixing a dented tailgate?

[codykrr]

I am by no means a "body man"  But my father in law is pretty decent.  but he is also the type to tell you something "cant" be fixed. 

Well I have a small ding right on the top of my tailgate  like something fell on it.  you cant get inside to beat it out, and I dont have the little rods you weld onto it and take a pull hammer.  so any tips or advice?

I really want a 78 tailgate mainly for the narrow banding but dont think it fits an 81.

[thirsty]

This is quoted from firefighter's build thread. Maybe something like this will work for you.

Someone had gotten crazy with the strap when they pulled my new cab off the chassis and dented both sides right above the doors.
I don't have a stud spot welder and didn't want to drill holes in the cab for a pull tool, so I made my own slide hammer that would screw onto threaded studs. I spot welded bolts down into the lower part of the dents and gently pulled the metal back out. I then used a skim coat of bondo to finish it off. It really turned out pretty good.

Here is the dent above the drivers door


Bolts spot welded into the deepest part of the dent


Skim coat of bondo