Need to replace Cab Mount Supports...help

[Molberg]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=201540
this is from the bodywork section off the mainpage

[airbrushguy]

OK, went out to start grinding and removing rust and came up with another question....
While looking at the piece of the bottom cowl that the inner rocker will bolt to, I notice there is a sandwiching process going on down there. Am I correct in assuming the inner rocker is sandwiched between the two pieces I show here? Top right piece was bolted behind bottom left piece and seemed like remnants of inner rocker were in between the two.
There was barely any evidence to show there ever was anything between these driver side pieces but when I looked at the other side which is barely better, I could see that the inner rocker ends were in there. Was there more to the ends of the factory inner rockers than there are to the repro ones or am I not understanding this?
If you were me would you fix this piece first where it is barely holding the hole for the one bolt, or would you use it as is and weld and strengthen it after all is together?

[airbrushguy]

???

[Molberg]

Maybe these will help.

[Molberg]

The floor/inner rocker piece slides in behind the pillar. The front edge of this panel meets the mating broke edge of lower firewall. The lower forward tab with large hole in it is part of the pillar.(lower fender bolt) That piece in one of your pics laying on the floor is a reinforcement... and should be spot welded in behind that tab.

[Molberg]

Just my experience... I wouldnt do any major steel repairs until you have all the panels laying there to test fit.

[airbrushguy]

Yeah I get your point, and I guess I better order that bottom tab piece as well. Looks too important to use in its rusted condition.
Thanks again, just anxious to get going and parts shipment is holding me back.

[Molberg]

No problem...late reply due to suture removal post surgery yesterday.. sorry

[airbrushguy]

Yeow!, good luck with that, hope all went well.
Relax and feel better.

Now I feel stupid about the ??? post, sorry.

[Molberg]

Originally Posted by airbrushguy

Yeow!, good luck with that, hope all went well.
Relax and feel better.

Now I feel stupid about the ??? post, sorry.

Lol.. no worries. Let me know how you make out

[airbrushguy]

Slow progress....tacked in left inner rocker after cutting floor. Having difficulty getting old support free. Thought I cut all spotwelds but don't exactly understand that extra plate between support and floor. Are there spotwelds on top of floor and on support from below?
Do I need to drill right through all three layers?

[Molberg]

Looks good! I trimmed my floor all the way into the sub fram of the cab... Where the support attatches. You may find it easier to remove that plate... And replace the entire support. Support is spot welded to outside of subframe under that plate as well

[airbrushguy]

Originally Posted by Molberg

Looks good! I trimmed my floor all the way into the sub fram of the cab... Where the support attatches. You may find it easier to remove that plate... And replace the entire support. Support is spot welded to outside of subframe under that plate as well

Is that plate part of the support? My replacement doesn't have that. Should I make new plate before I put support in? Do I have to lift cab to replace support?

I thought it was convenient to have depression/bolthole area in place, so I didn't cut piece out.

I may find later that it would've been easier to replace whole floor, but I'm too concerned about getting rocker lined up properly and the pieces that remain help me judge where the new pieces go.
Thanks

[black_sheep454]

Why not just get a complete floor pan, may cost a little more money but would be much less time and labor IMO

[DD1]

Originally Posted by black_sheep454

Why not just get a complete floor pan, may cost a little more money but would be much less time and labor IMO

I have been reading through this thread as I am in a similar position. I have been having trouble with the cab support replacement, especially as I am not that skilled at plug welding. I may want to just go the route of replacing the entire floor pan. Where did you get your floor pan from? Who would you recommend to get a quality part from?

Thanks for all of the tips on this thread. It has been very helpful.

[black_sheep454]

Originally Posted by DD1

I have been reading through this thread as I am in a similar position. I have been having trouble with the cab support replacement, especially as I am not that skilled at plug welding. I may want to just go the route of replacing the entire floor pan. Where did you get your floor pan from? Who would you recommend to get a quality part from?

Thanks for all of the tips on this thread. It has been very helpful.

I got mine trough a buddy who owns a restoration shop in town. If I remember correctly the part is from AMD metal. It's a very nice piece and well made. I haven't installed it yet but I like the fact that ill have nice clean metal to paint instead of cleaning all the gunk and undercoat off the current floor

[DD1]

Originally Posted by black_sheep454

I got mine trough a buddy who owns a restoration shop in town. If I remember correctly the part is from AMD metal. It's a very nice piece and well made. I haven't installed it yet but I like the fact that ill have nice clean metal to paint instead of cleaning all the gunk and undercoat off the current floor

Thanks, your response is very helpful.

First, I was looking at the floor panels on JEGS, which has the best pricing with shipping I can find. They have 3 brands; one we will eliminate right away because it's way too expensive, over $700.

The 2nd is AMD for $359.96 plus $119 shipping; the third is OER (Original Equipment Reproductions) for $461 shipping included. There is only a $18 difference between the shipped cost.

Since you had a good experience with the AMD, I think I will go that route and pay the extra $18. It's worth the extra few bucks for a recommendation. I have not seen anyone mention OER on this board, so it's probably better not to take a chance.

Also, it never even occurred to me that if I replace the floor, I don't need to worry about undercoating. Nice point.

Thanks for the help.

[black_sheep454]

Originally Posted by DD1

Thanks, your response is very helpful.

First, I was looking at the floor panels on JEGS, which has the best pricing with shipping I can find. They have 3 brands; one we will eliminate right away because it's way too expensive, over $700.

The 2nd is AMD for $359.96 plus $119 shipping; the third is OER (Original Equipment Reproductions) for $461 shipping included. There is only a $18 difference between the shipped cost.

Since you had a good experience with the AMD, I think I will go that route and pay the extra $18. It's worth the extra few bucks for a recommendation. I have not seen anyone mention OER on this board, so it's probably better not to take a chance.

Also, it never even occurred to me that if I replace the floor, I don't need to worry about undercoating. Nice point.

Thanks for the help.

No problem. My buddy with the restoration shop only uses parts from amd so that's what I buy when I get parts too.

[Molberg]

That Plate is spot welded to top of support and under side of pan. Grind around on the floor pan area, around the bolt hole. You'll see the spot welds. Drill em out Don't cut any more floor out than necessary.

[airbrushguy]

Once I get all the spot welds, will I have to lift cab in order to replace supports?
Thanks for your patience Molberg.

[Molberg]

Yep ... Use a block and a floor jack. Where the bolt goes through the support... It also goes through a metal ring. It's inside the support, but part of/spot welded to the subframe. Can make gettin the support out tough. Cut the bottom of the support off.. You'll see what I'm talkin about.

[Molberg]

Remove front and back bolts on one side... Then lift that side with a jack/block. Air chisel come in handy after that. (Bolt for rad cradle too on that side if you're gonna lift it lots)

[RPBurris]

I gotta see how this goes. was wondering the same thing of how to do this without removing the cab.

[Molberg]

I've done trucks where we unhooked nothing. Not even the cradle bolts. Lol. Just support bolts

[airbrushguy]

I'm having a hell of a time cutting the support free from the floor and plate. Thinking of just cutting floor out further to the right and removing support, plate and floor piece at once and separate them while out of floor then tack floor, plate and new support together bolt to mount and weld floor back together...
Sound do-able??