52 Chev Panel....repairable?

[olcarguy]

This is my 52, I stated this project 15+ years ago. Since then it has gotten better, been forgotten, ignored and just plan abused. Lost my wife of 40+ yrs in 2015. Didn't feel like working on it till I meet a new lady who likes this truck and wants me to finish it....

These photos where taken from the time I first started working on it. Enjoy










More to follow..

[mongocanfly]

It will be alot of work...I mean alot of work.....but yes it can be fixed..
Bout the same thing everyone else has faced...
Before you get carried away cutting it apart for repairs ,be sure to x brace the the body really well..do it in a way that the doors will still open and close

[olcarguy]

These panel are all made by me...

[olcarguy]

The original floor braces are toast so I made a pair. I don't like to by off shore panels that don't fit..and take as much time to modify to make them work. If I can't make it myself then I will bite the bullet and buy, but most of the time its not that hard....

[dsraven]

looks like you have a good handle on things and it is coming along.
I notice you have been using some zinc or galvanized panels. just making sure you have adequate ventilation when welding. i am sure you know the fumes are killer.
like mongo says, cross brace to ensure the doors will still fit when you're done. I like to install the doors, adjust as good as possible as far as gaps. yeah, I know, the door pillars are gone but you can fake it some by using some wooden paint stir sticks around the perimeter of the door as gap spacers, with the door in the hole, then weld in some cross bracing like an X in the door opening before you yank the doors back off. if it's too late then stick a door in the hole quickly just to be sure it will still fit in there before you carry on further. it would suck to have done all the work and find you need to modify the doors to fit the openings.
nice work so far. good fab skills too. did you fab up some of those parts? they usually come as bare metal or black coated. if so you must have a few items at your disposal, like a bead roller.

[edgeleycanuck]

Judging by the job you've done making your own replacement panels, i would say you have the skills to get that cab in shape. Like Mongo says " its alot of work " which is true and also means alot of time. I'm not qualified to provide much advice but there are guys on here with the knowledge and their generosity of time to share it if you ask.

[olcarguy]

Thanks for the kind words guys...Yes I have a well equipped shop, Millwright by trade, body man by necessity. I use satin coat 18ga sheet steel, The galvanizing is very thin, it is plated not dipped. It keeps it from rusting while sitting. I am well aware of zinc poisoning, thanks for your concern.










Yes, I make most of my own parts, passenger side floor pan is the only part I've bought so far.

[mongocanfly]

Some nice repair work going on....

[olcarguy]

I Appreciate your coment, Thanks Greg....

Roy

[NorCalGal]

Looks like you have a lot to teach us. I’ll be tagging along.

[olcarguy]

If you guy's or Gal's have any questions about how I do something let me know...

[olcarguy]

[oldman3]

nice work...Jim

[duramax55]

hi old carguy what material are your rolls in post 9 made off. looks like wood and what gauge is the tin

[olcarguy]

Originally Posted by duramax55

hi old carguy what material are your rolls in post 9 made off. looks like wood and what gauge is the tin

I made the rollers out of some white birch that I had. Made a cardboard pattern and turned them on my metal lathe. I have some pictures of them I hope, will look and see if they are around.....

[olcarguy]

Duramax55....here you go all I've got...

[vintovka]

Your abilities are flat amazing. It would be a crying shame not to finish!

[olcarguy]

Brief history lesson on the work on this panel....I bought it around 2002 started working on it...Things where going well, then my wife took sick with what we learned later was M.S. Work on the truck slowed way down, She passed in 2015. Shortly after I had a motorcycle crash and shattered my right leg. Then I met a nice lady who love my truck as much as she loves me....now we have the time and energy to start back to work on it. Here is a pic of how it looks now.


The hood and fenders are just sitting on there.

[MiraclePieCo]

Looks really cool. As you might guess from my avatar, panels are my favorite. Glad you have the renewed enthusiasm and support.
May I suggest putting some drain holes in that door bottom, like the factory did?

[olcarguy]

I had fully intended to put drain holes in the door bottom but it never got done....I havn't looked to see if I have to redo it....that would suck.....

[Tinbasher]

Really nice metal work and Great idea with the home made rollers! I'm about to dip into my cab, its not quite as rotten as yours was but is still pretty bad...damn those salty Canadian roads!

[8man]

Very nice work. Thanks for sharing.

[olcarguy]

I know it's faster to order parts, but I have found that most of the time you end up having to rework the panels you buy to make them fit. So for the time it takes, I like to make my own...

Prt 1

[olcarguy]

Prt. 2

[vintovka]

Your skills are amazing. You should be a restorer at a museum.