Originally Posted by Doug Fattic

Brandon, isn't it still possible to bend one or both stays a little so they are equidistant? Unless they are heat treated I would think that is possible. Also the down tube dent could be filled with silver (or brass) and filed to remove most of the dent. Of course it might still eventually crack there but this frame could be used as a way to check your wife's fit and ride. When I was learning in England it was routine to fill dents with brass when frames came in to be resprayed.

Another method is to round out the edges of the dent by squeezing it hard in a vise with an aluminum block. That will reduce the size of the dent a little. Then it can be filled with body putty before painting (and touched up again with spot putty after primering).