Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

If you can, mount the cab on the frame and check your fender to door gap too. I ran into some problems with that too. I used all GM sheetmetal on my truck but my gaps aren't close to what I want.

For sure! On my silver truck, the door gaps turned out pretty good, but I failed to test fit the cowl before everything went to paint. Bad mistake. Had to section it and have it repainted at the very end of the build. Not the time to be doing that sort of thing.

[Low Elco]

I had the same cowl problem. Looks tee-riffic, keep it comin'!

[Vic1947]

Did the spotweld boogie today. Finished around the perimeter of the firewall and spotted the right side kick panel in place. Also massaged the rear lower door pillar and got it tacked into position. You can throw a cat thru the gap, but it will weld out okay using a copper backup. Plenty of room to get behind the panel. Tomorrow I head over to Scott's place and see if we can get the passenger side f/w to match the driver side. The panel and the pinchweld flanges are done and just need final trimming and assembly.

[sduckworth13]

That looks great Vic, everything looks so clean. Your firewall looks awesome!

[sduckworth13]

The patch for the firewall looks excellent, it is a real quality piece of work.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

That looks great Vic, everything looks so clean. Your firewall looks awesome!

Thanks, Scott, we're going to make yours look every bit as good. See ya tomorrow.

[sduckworth13]

Excellent, thank you. See you tomorrow Vic.

[sduckworth13]

Thanks Vic for installing the patch you made for my firewall panel, I'm real happy with how it looks. I should have the finished pics up of the firewall up tomorrow. I appreciate all your time today.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Thanks Vic for installing the patch you made for my firewall panel, I'm real happy with how it looks. I should have the finished pics up of the firewall up tomorrow. I appreciate all your time today.

You're welcome, Scott. Glad to help out. I know you'll put the finishing touch on it.

[sduckworth13]

I will do my best, the patch fits like a glove so it shouldn't take long to get it welded up.

[Vic1947]

Hung the passenger side door and adjusted it as best possible. There was about a 5/8" gap at the back of the door that remained after numerous adjustments, shimming and etc. Mentioned the problem while I was at Scott's over the weekend and he suggested making a cardboard template of his door opening, since his doors had "paint stick" gaps when installed. Took him up on the offer and it confirmed my suspicion that the missing cab corner, etc. had allowed the rear door post to relax rearward. Decided the simplest thing to do was to install a couple of plates to allow me to draw the opening back together with a come along. Made the plates from 1/8" material which turned out to be mucho overkill, but still worked fine. As you can see from the attached photos, the opening pulled back into position and when I test fit the outer rocker panel, it was much closer than originally. I'll attempt to install the cab corner and rocker while keeping tension on the opening. Hopefully when the panels are tacked in and the tension released, the door opening will stay put. I still need to pie cut the rocker to get a good fit, but that's not a big deal. I'm sure the cab corners will require surgery also.

[Low Elco]

I like that trick- it'd probably help Yeller's pass. side. I had to split the rockers too. Good call, Scott!

[sduckworth13]

Thanks Chip.

Nice work Vic, that's pretty slick. I had to pie cut the rocker on my passenger side too. I didn't have to do anything to the drivers side rocker, it fit perfect.

[swamp rat]

Nice!

[Xeen]

Excellent problem solving and ingenuity Vic.
Wonderfull progress I can't wait to see more.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

I like that trick- it'd probably help Yeller's pass. side. I had to split the rockers too. Good call, Scott!

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Thanks Chip. Nice work Vic, that's pretty slick. I had to pie cut the rocker on my passenger side too. I didn't have to do anything to the drivers side rocker, it fit perfect.

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Nice!

Originally Posted by Xeen

Excellent problem solving and ingenuity Vic.
Wonderfull progress I can't wait to see more.

Thanks everyone! Below are some before and after shots of the cab corners. As you can see, the previous installation was a bit rough. I trimmed the right side patch so I could leave the maximum unmolested tin on the cab. Because I pulled the rear cab post forward, I had to slightly modify the floor where the back of the cab corner fits. As I recall, I may have had to do something similar on the silver truck. Either way it fits up pretty good now. Just need to burn off the paint where the spotwelds, etc. will go, then fire up the heat.

[jlsanborn]

Nice work on all of that! The spot welder sure is sweet.

[Low Elco]

Fittin' up good! (Finally!) Are you just gonna loose tack them together and check the door fit before going whole hog? Very nice work, Vic. As if we'd see anything else.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Fittin' up good! (Finally!) Are you just gonna loose tack them together and check the door fit before going whole hog? Very nice work, Vic. As if we'd see anything else.

You bet. It was too far off to start with to risk welding up the patch panels completely.

[Saclandman]

It's almost like I'm learning how to weld just by reading this thread. Awesome work, Vic.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Saclandman

It's almost like I'm learning how to weld just by reading this thread. Awesome work, Vic.

Sometimes I feel like I'm learning to weld while posting this thread, Rich.

The fit-up continues as I tacked the cab corner in and checked the rocker panel. Then, per Chip's advice, I remounted the door for a look at the gaps. Not too bad ...a bit wider than I'd like, but much better than the 5/8"+ gap I had to start with. I'll be able to massage it some more when I do bodywork. [BeaterTruckBeaterTruckBeaterTruckBeaterTruck]

My signmaker bud, Steve Smith, was talking to Jonathon Cornell (who does all my powder coating) and scored me a sweet little English wheel. It's small but sturdy and will do 99% of what I need. Jonathon and his dad picked it up as part of an auction lot they acquired and graciously passed it on to me. Nothing quite like good friends!

[mikeleeshields]

Awesome metal working. You went above and beyond what normal guys do when repairing thr body. Keep it up

[sduckworth13]

Nice work Vic, congrats on the new english wheel.

[jlsanborn]

You're keepin at it Vic, something new and nice every day! Tools are cool!!!

[Low Elco]

The sad part is, he's got a lathe, too, Custom wheels, baby! Nice score, Vic!