Max, ole' buddy, you are running into the same things I did...I even tried using flat metal 1/2" wide, maybe a 16th of an inch thick all around the outer edge on the back side to give it some rigidity. Just trying to shape it was a task, then had to tac weld it. I was painting mine black, so I didn't have to worry about chrome, but finally gave up...just couldn't hold the shape right...I see why Karl had to build his the way he did now that I have one, but I know I wouldn't like it in chrome...good luck, if anyone can make it work, you can...