Welding cab gas filler hole - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**8man** · 09-30-2018, 02:46 PM

I'm planning on welding up the gas filler hole in the cab. I've been told you can't just cut a round patch and weld it in, that if you leave the "lip" on the inside it will eventually show through the paint.

Is this true or am I being punked?

mr48chev · 09-30-2018, 03:03 PM

Got me there and I need to do it on my cab. I know that you do need to put some shape in the filler panel before you weld it on. Classic Heartbeat used to offer the preshaped filler panel but I couldn't find it a minute ago. It shouldn't be that hard to shape though.

It wouldn't be that hard to trim around the hole and take that lip out so you can butt weld a patch in though. I wonder if a guy couldn't just tack a piece of metal across it with a hole drilled dead center and use a hole saw to cut that piece out and leave a nice round hole to work with.

_Ogre · 09-30-2018, 05:59 PM

you really need to put the year of your truck in the signature line, saves me guessing

this is what i did on my 58. cut the patch, lay it on the ground and beat the compound curve in with a ballpean hammer, welded said beat patch in with fluxcore welder. haven't seen any lines in 8 yrs / 36,000 miles

MiraclePieCo · 09-30-2018, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8man

I'm planning on welding up the gas filler hole in the cab. I've been told you can't just cut a round patch and weld it in, that if you leave the "lip" on the inside it will eventually show through the paint.

Is this true or am I being punked?

Yes, you're being punked. If anything, leave the lip intact; it will make the area stronger and less prone to welding warpage.

.

**8man** · 09-30-2018, 06:36 PM

Thanks guys.

I'll put the year in too.

mr48chev · 10-01-2018, 12:43 AM

I'd think your experts may have laid the patch over the hole where it lapped over the edges rather than fitting it to the hole as Ogre showed. On my old cab where we overlapped the piece we replaced the top (removed the sunroof) rather than but welding it it showed through the filler and primer after a while. That was because we were under a tight time line and didn't have time to cut and fit it as we went nor did we want to remove the seat and interior pieces at the time.

MARTINSR · 10-01-2018, 10:27 AM

Here are some photos of when I did mine. But welding it in.

Brian

MARTINSR · 10-01-2018, 10:30 AM

MARTINSR · 10-01-2018, 10:31 AM

This was the first thing I did on my cab when I got back to work on it, feels like a hundred years ago!

Brian

**8man** · 10-01-2018, 10:40 AM

Brian, thanks for the pictures.

It looks like you cut the lip out from the cab and then fit the patch panel into the hole.

If that is right, what did you use to cut the lip out? I can see what you used to do the patch.

Thanks.

MARTINSR · 10-05-2018, 01:30 PM

On that particular place, leaving the lip and welding up to it, yeah, not the end of the world. It's not "Joe metal man" kinda work, but it would work and not be horrible or anything like that. But trimming the lip like I did IS the right way to do it. If you will notice it's finished off nice and I could literally finish it without any bondo, it's the RIGHT way to do it. Let me get this straight, I am not going to metal finish this truck, I am not Joe Metal Man, I am going to be covering the truck with bondo so no I am not metal finishing it. HOWEVER, doing it this way, I am a few steps away if I wanted to, so YES it's the right way to fill that hole.

The thing with removing the lip is it gives you a bunch of control. You plannish the welds, it gives you a LOT more control of the repair. If you are MIG welding it, you aren't going to plannish the welds as they are very hard, but you can grind them inside and out and end up with an awesome repair.

Like I said, this is as basic as it gets and a real good like Joe Metal Man Jr. kinda start into this stuff.

Brian

MARTINSR · 10-06-2018, 04:25 PM

I just figured he was talking about screwing the patch panel on instead of welding it.

Brian

DransportGarage · 10-06-2018, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

I just figured he was talking about screwing the patch panel on instead of welding it.

Brian

...then you use the hammer to drive the screw heads down below bondo level! It's been done.

MARTINSR · 10-06-2018, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DransportGarage

...then you use the hammer to drive the screw heads down below bondo level! It's been done.

Or with a dolly on the back side make them into rivets?

Brian

09-30-2018, 02:46 PM	#1
8man Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bryan, Texas Posts: 2,293	Welding cab gas filler hole I'm planning on welding up the gas filler hole in the cab. I've been told you can't just cut a round patch and weld it in, that if you leave the "lip" on the inside it will eventually show through the paint. Is this true or am I being punked?

09-30-2018, 03:03 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,406	Re: Welding cab gas filler hole Got me there and I need to do it on my cab. I know that you do need to put some shape in the filler panel before you weld it on. Classic Heartbeat used to offer the preshaped filler panel but I couldn't find it a minute ago. It shouldn't be that hard to shape though. It wouldn't be that hard to trim around the hole and take that lip out so you can butt weld a patch in though. I wonder if a guy couldn't just tack a piece of metal across it with a hole drilled dead center and use a hole saw to cut that piece out and leave a nice round hole to work with. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

09-30-2018, 05:59 PM	#3
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,677	Re: Welding cab gas filler hole you really need to put the year of your truck in the signature line, saves me guessing this is what i did on my 58. cut the patch, lay it on the ground and beat the compound curve in with a ballpean hammer, welded said beat patch in with fluxcore welder. haven't seen any lines in 8 yrs / 36,000 miles Attached Images __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

09-30-2018, 06:36 PM	#5
8man Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bryan, Texas Posts: 2,293	Re: Welding cab gas filler hole Thanks guys. I'll put the year in too.

10-01-2018, 12:43 AM	#6
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,406	Re: Welding cab gas filler hole I'd think your experts may have laid the patch over the hole where it lapped over the edges rather than fitting it to the hole as Ogre showed. On my old cab where we overlapped the piece we replaced the top (removed the sunroof) rather than but welding it it showed through the filler and primer after a while. That was because we were under a tight time line and didn't have time to cut and fit it as we went nor did we want to remove the seat and interior pieces at the time. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

10-01-2018, 10:27 AM	#7
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: Welding cab gas filler hole Here are some photos of when I did mine. But welding it in. Brian Attached Images __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

10-01-2018, 10:30 AM	#8
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: Welding cab gas filler hole Attached Images __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

10-01-2018, 10:31 AM	#9
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: Welding cab gas filler hole This was the first thing I did on my cab when I got back to work on it, feels like a hundred years ago! Brian Attached Images __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

10-01-2018, 10:40 AM	#10
8man Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bryan, Texas Posts: 2,293	Re: Welding cab gas filler hole Brian, thanks for the pictures. It looks like you cut the lip out from the cab and then fit the patch panel into the hole. If that is right, what did you use to cut the lip out? I can see what you used to do the patch. Thanks. __________________ 8man-aka Robert 1948 on a S10 Frame, small block with a carb 1954 Cab, 53 Front and Bed, 50 Doors, S10 Frame, Power TBD Build thread: "]http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=746899&highlight=wife%27s+48[/URL] [/URL]http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=840204

10-05-2018, 01:30 PM	#11
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: Welding cab gas filler hole On that particular place, leaving the lip and welding up to it, yeah, not the end of the world. It's not "Joe metal man" kinda work, but it would work and not be horrible or anything like that. But trimming the lip like I did IS the right way to do it. If you will notice it's finished off nice and I could literally finish it without any bondo, it's the RIGHT way to do it. Let me get this straight, I am not going to metal finish this truck, I am not Joe Metal Man, I am going to be covering the truck with bondo so no I am not metal finishing it. HOWEVER, doing it this way, I am a few steps away if I wanted to, so YES it's the right way to fill that hole. The thing with removing the lip is it gives you a bunch of control. You plannish the welds, it gives you a LOT more control of the repair. If you are MIG welding it, you aren't going to plannish the welds as they are very hard, but you can grind them inside and out and end up with an awesome repair. Like I said, this is as basic as it gets and a real good like Joe Metal Man Jr. kinda start into this stuff. Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

10-06-2018, 04:25 PM	#12
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: Welding cab gas filler hole I just figured he was talking about screwing the patch panel on instead of welding it. Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"



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