My 58 Fleetside

[Russell Ashley]

What Coupeguy said.

I would just add that it will be a lot easier if you have a helper. I just re-installed my fenders and having someone to hold up the front of the fender while you get it into place and get the rubber gasket under the inner fender lip will make it go better. Also will make it less likely to scratch the paint at the cab and front of the door.

[longbike]

Hey Green looking good!

Where did you get that fender patch panel from and could you please measure it from bottom to the top? The ones I got didnt have that wheel opening lip that wraps around to the inside!

Thanks
Jeff

[Green 1959]

Grumpy's in Phoenix, its about 18 inches tall

[longbike]

Thanks buddy!

[zellway]

Looking good! Cant wait to see it in green!

[Green 1959]

The new driver's door, new rear end 3.38, the dash is coming together.....

[Green 1959]

This is the door with the holes that need to be welded and then da-da its done.

[Green 1959]

Hey guys a question, can I get some ideas on how to sound deaden and heat block the doors? I took them apart this weekend and found that there is not a good way to get in there.

[Daze57]

try the self adhesive sound deading stuff - hushmat;dynamat etc. you dont need a big piece - jam a piece in there make a rough cut to fit then heat gun it to stick - that does make a difference

[Green 1959]

It was the best of times it was the worst of times...... Truly the worst of times, my new door has a badly bent window frame..... Going to try something crazy.. Also the dash is now painted.

[Green 1959]

Also if anyone has any cool tips on aligning doors that would be cool, I took the hindges off and now nether side will line up right. I'm sure I just need to spend more time tweaking it and I'll have to cut the window frame off the left side to finish.. But any wise words are greatly appreaciated.

[Kim57]

One thing to keep in mind is that these doors didn't fit that well from the factory. Gaps of an 1/8" or more are common. it takes a lot of work to get them nice.
Just be patient and you'll get there.
Kim

[OrrieG]

Based on what others have done you like Kim said you usually have to add and subtract metal to get even gaps. Earlier serial numbers are usually better, later as the dies started to wear out things got worse. They also designed these with lots of wiggle room so as they flexed and got beat being used things would not bind up. Remember these were designed and used when most of the rural areas still had dirt roads and they were driven over irrigation ditches, plowed fields, etc.

If you are going to start cutting up window frames make sure you have glass handy to make sure you are not making any problems with gasket or glass fitment down the line.

[Green 1959]

The problem I've having now is that the doors are too close to the body on the front side and the fenders stick out 1/4 inch. Ill post pictures so you can see, I'm giving up for this weekend, too tired and frusterated to try to continue.

[Green 1959]

Here are the problem areas folks.... The drivers side door and fender, the second picture is just at a diffferent angle and the third is the passanger side. How can I get the fronts of the doors away from the body? I moved them as much as a I could. I'm I just missing something???!!! urg
Also I chopped the top of the driver's door.....

[longbike]

You know what Green I now got that same problem, tonight I just replaced the lower front fender extension like you just did and the patch panel bows out farther than the door now, "what the heck do you do now"?

[Green 1959]

As soon as you tell me, I'll tell you.

[OrrieG]

I might be able to help with the drivers side. See the area circled below with the dent? Didn't you find it odd that it was dented? That was done on the assembly line. After they had finalized the fender dies they found that the inside vertical brace interfered with that inner panel. Instead of redesigning and retooling they issued the guys installing the fenders a ball peen hammer to adjust the inner panel. It looks like your fenders have been replaced and you might need more relief so it will pull in. My fenders had never been off my truck and I wondered why that was beat up. I was getting ready to fix it when I came across a thread written by a guy who had , then ended up beating them back in to get his fenders to fit. Mine are beaten different depths on each side.

On the passenger side it looks like the inner brace has weakened or been replaced without using the door for reference. You might have to pie cut the brace to flatten and get the reverse curve (notice how the drivers curves back in below the accent line?).

[Coupeguy2001]

Lee,
Tell you what I did.
I ground the inside of the hinges a little bit on my left door and added shims that I made from 1/8" steel on the outside side of the hinge where it meets the door to take up the gap between the metal that the bolt goes through, and the narrowed hinge.
Someone told me a long time ago that the hinge bolt areas crack on doors because the hinge is too narrow for the hinge channel in the door.
The best thing to do was to take an inside micrometer and measure the hinge channel in the door. THen measure the hinge. make a shim to take up the difference. A few thousanths don't matter, but .030 or more and the hinge areas in the door crack.
My shims were 1/8" thick and about 4 1/2" long, and had 3 holes in one, and 2 holes in the other.
I held the door up with a jack covered by a rag while I managed to wiggle the shim up into position in the door. I made the shim a little narrow, and had to manipulate it into the right spot.

I wouldn't grind more than 1/8" off of the hinge, and it was hard to get the grind area straight.
On your fenders, maybe you have an excessive gap between the fender and the rear vertical brace, or it slipped down before you welded it back on.

[Green 1959]

Thanks Coupeguy and OrrieG. I'm going to try both of your advises, might be a little while before I get to do them. Going to start school full time next semester and a baby on the way for December.

[Green 1959]

What a day!! THe windsheild looks great right? Nope its shattered.... Put glass in the back of the 53. What is the deal with the back window in these trucks? I got new glass and a seal but am having a hard time putting it in. What is the proper why to put these in?

[longbike]

That sucks!
Did you use the rope to pull the seal over the lip from the inside?

[Green 1959]

Yes and we were done with that part. It just wasn't fully seated so I was pushing it and wa la shattered windshield.
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[Green 1959]

I got the rear glass in
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[Green 1959]

The rear glass in. LIke a ghost!! Painted the right fender and grille thingy, shot the primer and then the white for a guide coat