Hot Rods Shrinking Metal

Is it possible to shrink 10 gauge metal? I have a chassis that was damaged in shipping and the inside boxing plate was stretched out about a 1/4 inch in an area bout the size of a baseball. I'm thinking shrinking isn't possible and I need to cut the damaged plate out and weld in a new section? I have to replace a tranny mount but I also have a gouge in another cross member about the size of a 50 cent piece that I'll probably have to make a patch for to save it. Trying to do the best job for the customer at the lowest price to me. Dam trucking companies very rarely pay damages?

 

If you can get behind it to coax it along, I think it could be done. Cutting and patching is probably faster with predictable results. IMHO

 

Heat is your friend. Manipulate it with heat and if that doesn't work then patch as needed.

 

Yes, you can shrink 10 gauge.

 

Baseball??? Cut it out and patch it!
Imagine, if you will: You are the 'Ramrod' in a high-dollar rod/chassis shop. 'Heat-and-shrink???' I think not. You direct the damage to be cut out like a cancer, replacing it with fresh new 'skin'...
My shop? I would never have done the repair with heat, as it affects the properties of the metal in an adverse way.

 

You can straighten and bend at least as thick metal as in the beams in bridges with heat shrinking (demos on Youtube), so yes, it's absolutely possible. If it's the best solution for this particular situation is a completely different matter.

 

he was told by his heart Doctor not to electric weld anymore...so that might have led to his question.

 

yes ! it is known as the five dimes and the quarter trick!

 

We could shrink stretched metal in the side of a battleship with the right equipment

 

^^^ exactly, it could be easily shrunk and repaired.

 

When I was in a fab shop, sometimes we would have to shrink 40 foot I beams to straighten them out after welding on them.

 

Figured out how to shrink the bad spot. Cut it out and weld in a new piece. Looks good and was quick.