Replacing cab corner and B pillar - is this gap normal?

[ItWillBeSlow]

All,

I am almost done with all my passenger metal work. I have replaced the bottom of the A/B pillars, the inner rocker/edge of floor, cab corner, and am currently "working" the rocker to get it to sit right.

After finishing the cab corner, and while working on the rocker, I noticed this 1/4" gap between the cab corner and the bottom of the B pillar. This is completely open to the outside. The other side is too rusted/bondo'd for me to compare to factory. These are tri-plus parts that appear to fit fairly well otherwise. This is my first attempt at this work and all seems to have gone well do far, I believe everything to be in the correct position and fairly well lined up. The B pillar/door seam appears straight all the way down and does not appear to be kicked forward at all, especially enough for this gap.

Ideas?

[Richard]

Not to uncommon to see fitment like that from the factory. You will see very large globs of sealer applied in those areas in un-molested trucks. Even the rocker to cab corner would have 1/4" plus gaps. Of course you have the choice to tighten up the gaps or even eliminate them. It is your truck. Anyone that says those gaps are not correct has not seen a lot of these trucks.

[Davidf]

Yes, that’s normal. Outer rocker cover covers the gap.

[ItWillBeSlow]

Thanks guys. I am surprised to hear this is normal, that is a large gap to fill with sealer. The outer rocker will visibly cover it but it is still a large opening for moisture and noise to come in, I am assuming no one is leaving it as-is.

What is everyone doing to close this up?

[bhemingson]

you have to make up a filler piece. My '72 had so much sealer in there it looked like they used a soft serve ice cream dispenser.

[clay68c10]

I’m just finishing up my corners and rockers. That “gappy-ness” is about the same as mine. It’s more that what the factory panels have overall, but you work with what you have.
The biggest difference I noticed is where the corner and rocker meet on the outside. The repro parts just don’t have as crisp of an edge stamping as the factory. Again, you have repro parts so that’s just the nature of the beast.
At least it’s down low so your eye isn’t drawn to it.

[Davidf]

the cab corner in rear (where meets floor pan also has a large gap filled with seam sealer from the factory.

For the gap (this thread), I seam sealed the outer rocker cover to the cab corner only.

[kidatheart]

Nice work!

[ItWillBeSlow]

Originally Posted by kidatheart

Nice work!

Thanks! Its my first attempt and I am happy so far. I'm looking forward to getting to the other side and knocking it out a little quicker with one half under my belt.

[May70]

Had the same issue.

I basically redid that whole pillar patch. For the DS I probably wont even bother using the patch panel I ordered. More pics will be in my signature link to my project, once I get a minute to put them all up.