DIY Body Repair Advice Needed

I’d like to get this protected before the snow flies. I’m not sure the best method to pull this rocker panel dent out and looking for input from people with experience in body repair.

We picked this truck up as a project that my son will eventually learn to drive on. We have all the mechanical issues sorted. Now we are working on sealing up any rust spots so they do not progress. My plan is to sand, prime, paint, clear coat and buff out when I’m done. Some filler seems in avoidable, but I have a lot of time to work the metal since COVID has us mostly at home.

I’m willing to pick up tools and develop my skills a bit. Any suggestions on resources, tools or techniques would be great.

 

Old, old school you would drill holes and use a small slide hammer. Old school you would weld pins and use a locking slide hammer. Me? I would grind the rust with 60 g and feather back with 180g, seal it with rust mort or some such product and rattle can a color that is close. Dents tell stories. if you didn't make the dent... well, make up a story.

 

Tough spot to learn on.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jy_cVxfaq28

 

Whelp. It sounds like a stud welder is the preferred method. I saw one other guy cut a plus sign in the middle of a rocker, then pry up and re-weld. Are body hammers necessary to get the area under the door flat again or is it to hard to tell until i begin pulling? For $100, Harbor Freight has the welder and hammer. It's actually the unit used in the video above.

Unfortunately, it's not my dent, so I don't have a good story. It was left by the previous owner. I'd rather tell how I fixed it myself.

 

Body hammer will help as it has a flat face. Might want a palm dolly as well. Have fun. As someone noted above it isn't an easy place to start and that crease by the bottom of the door looks to be a stinker. You will learn and it is a safe place to learn.