Originally Posted by
capnjonny
Again I ask "is the down tube in compression or tension?" If it is in tension I would think a dent would be of little significance.
For the most part it is in tension, except during hard frontal impacts.
See the Slingshot bikes.
Your headtube and seat tube look close to parallel.
You can try to roll out the dent if you wish, but I think I'd just leave it alone & build a good "rider" bike. Original paint. Good-enough parts.