New replacement part looks too different.
 

Need to replace driver side lower pillar forward of the door. I see that section has 4 bolt holes. Every time I find the new replacement patch panel it has only one big hole. What's the deal on this? Am I missing something? Thanks for your time.

Re: New replacement part looks too different.
 

I guess they figure you'll match it up and drill the holes to the rocker boxes/floor supports and bolt it down?

I never understood why it was bolted, it's not like you can undo the bolts and remove anything without cutting it off. It had to have been something to do with the assembly process when the cabs where assembled.

The big hole is for the fender to bolt to.

Re: New replacement part looks too different.
 

The section with the 4 holes is the front cab floor support. It is spot welded to the floor and the bolts to the pillar, I believe.

Re: New replacement part looks too different.
 

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...+repair&page=6

Check out this thread by a member here. He did extensive repairs and did a real nice job showing details. Post 140 has the part you are working on.

Re: New replacement part looks too different.
 

If they pre-drilled those holes they'd all be in the wrong place anyway. At least this way you get to put the holes in exactly where you want them

Re: New replacement part looks too different.
 

It's also a patch panel part that freuquently gets cut just a little longer or shorter than the portion that was removed from cab, and being off 1/8 to 1/4" or more when this happens doesn't prevent everything else from aligning to much. By not drilling the holes theres no issue with having to slot the holes they could have punched in the panel and you only have to adjust for the misalignment where the rocker panel meets it with a relief cut.
Paul Jr @ GMCPauls

Re: New replacement part looks too different.
 

I installed new lower A pillars in my truck over the summer. You'll be glad you have to drill those holes yourself to make sure everything aligns as it should. If the holes were predrilled you'd never get it to align correctly. I have pics in my build thread on how I did it. Link is in my signature...

Like mentioned above, the big hole is where your lower bolt goes for holding on the bottom of the fender. There will be a piece of metal spotwelded in that hole as well to stiffen it up where the bolt goes through. Make sure you either reuse the old ones by drilling out the spot welds, or you can buy new ones. Take good meaurements before you cut it off or your lower fender mount won't line up.

Gary

Re: New replacement part looks too different.
 

The lower fender attachment point, the big hole part of it, should be cut off and the original welded back in its place. That part of the patch panel is pure junk and barely even similar to the factory part.