weld seams - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Coupeguy2001 · 01-02-2016, 07:31 PM

On Task Force trucks,
Does everybody have the seams crudely installed over their doors inside the cab?
A friend mentioned that he wanted to finish the seams like mine, and I never did anything to the seams except scuff and paint them.
Did anybody get finished seams with their truck?

Speedbumpauto · 01-02-2016, 09:55 PM

Welded and smoothed mine over the doors but for some strange reason, I wanted to keep the seam line across the back, so I did. Same logic as chopping the top 3" and going to a lot of work to smooth, straighten and KEEP the drip rails. Go figure.

hotrod1 · 01-02-2016, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedbumpauto

Welded and smoothed mine over the doors but for some strange reason, I wanted to keep the seam line across the back, so I did. Same logic as chopping the top 3" and going to a lot of work to smooth, straighten and KEEP the drip rails. Go figure.

How did you weld them? Occasional tack or the whole thing just like you would do for a patch panel?

I was thinking about cutting the mismatched seam, realign them, and weld. It would be a lot of work overhead.

Speedbumpauto · 01-03-2016, 12:36 PM

Like a patch panel. center, left, right tacks, repeat. I won't take all the credit though. My paint cost more than most, but my paint guy went over the inside just like the outside, including dash, so it's all very smooth.

MARTINSR · 01-03-2016, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedbumpauto

Like a patch panel. center, left, right tacks, repeat. I won't take all the credit though. My paint cost more than most, but my paint guy went over the inside just like the outside, including dash, so it's all very smooth.

You completely welded them with many, many tacks right?

Brian

_Ogre · 01-03-2016, 01:12 PM

i was sooooooo tired of body mods by that time i left the upper cab seams ugly

and... so far no one has noticed

MARTINSR · 01-03-2016, 02:49 PM

Yeah, realistically unless it is a mind blowing full on custom, leave them. Even on a custom I kinda like things like the welds showing and stuff. It makes the custom work look all that much better like "hey, there's no bondo here" kinda look.

Almost like the custom work is original, you know what I mean?

Brian

hotrod1 · 01-03-2016, 02:56 PM

Yeah you might be right (Martinsr) but the inside is just plain ugly. Rob from No Limit mentioned to me that these trucks are just tractors with windows. If you work on them for a while, you really realize how rough they really are. I imagine they were never intended to last 50+ years and to find their way into the custom market. work truck then thrown away. I have even thought of using raptor lining on the inside to cover all the seams. I am not sure that would look good though.

MARTINSR · 01-03-2016, 03:07 PM

I have been working on them for years, I remember when I would have wanted to fill them too. But now, after working on late model cars with all their perfection I like the old stuff's character.

Brian

tbrown5079 · 01-03-2016, 05:54 PM

My painter said he would finish the seams if I tack welded them. Took my time but really glad I did. The ones in the door frames and front of the cab really made a difference. tbrown

hotrod1 · 01-03-2016, 09:36 PM

Did you tack weld the edge of the metal that overlaps or drill more holes and rosette weld them?

Any pictures?

tbrown5079 · 01-04-2016, 09:38 PM

I cut the seams at the door jambs then used a large punch to tuck the edges in then re-welded the seam.

RockTonka · 01-05-2016, 11:28 PM

tack, tack, tack...

hotrod1 · 01-05-2016, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockTonka

tack, tack, tack...

That is exactly what I wanted to see. What about the overlap pieces?

**Dan in Pasadena** · 01-05-2016, 11:53 PM

I've really debated doing this on mine and ultimately decided to leave them as is. There's no limit to the mods I COULD do but at some point I've just got to stop on a driver truck. Hopefully a truly nice driver, but still a driver.

I had a friend who filled his seams with plastic filler. Everyone says it'll eventually crack. Has anyone ACTUALLY seen this happen? On a TF truck, I mean.

bowt1ed · 01-06-2016, 09:58 AM

Anyone tried tooling seam sealer? Too much area to cover...? R/Jim

01-02-2016, 07:31 PM	#1
Coupeguy2001 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: phoenix az Posts: 723	weld seams On Task Force trucks, Does everybody have the seams crudely installed over their doors inside the cab? A friend mentioned that he wanted to finish the seams like mine, and I never did anything to the seams except scuff and paint them. Did anybody get finished seams with their truck? __________________ http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/v...d.php?t=489721 Last edited by Coupeguy2001; 01-02-2016 at 08:08 PM.

01-02-2016, 09:55 PM	#2
Speedbumpauto Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 917	Re: weld seams Welded and smoothed mine over the doors but for some strange reason, I wanted to keep the seam line across the back, so I did. Same logic as chopping the top 3" and going to a lot of work to smooth, straighten and KEEP the drip rails. Go figure. Attached Images

01-03-2016, 12:36 PM	#4
Speedbumpauto Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 917	Re: weld seams Like a patch panel. center, left, right tacks, repeat. I won't take all the credit though. My paint cost more than most, but my paint guy went over the inside just like the outside, including dash, so it's all very smooth.

01-03-2016, 01:12 PM	#6
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,677	Re: weld seams i was sooooooo tired of body mods by that time i left the upper cab seams ugly and... so far no one has noticed __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer Last edited by _Ogre; 01-03-2016 at 01:50 PM.

01-03-2016, 02:49 PM	#7
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: weld seams Yeah, realistically unless it is a mind blowing full on custom, leave them. Even on a custom I kinda like things like the welds showing and stuff. It makes the custom work look all that much better like "hey, there's no bondo here" kinda look. Almost like the custom work is original, you know what I mean? Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

01-03-2016, 02:56 PM	#8
hotrod1 56 - autocross Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Camarillo, Ca Posts: 1,121	Re: weld seams Yeah you might be right (Martinsr) but the inside is just plain ugly. Rob from No Limit mentioned to me that these trucks are just tractors with windows. If you work on them for a while, you really realize how rough they really are. I imagine they were never intended to last 50+ years and to find their way into the custom market. work truck then thrown away. I have even thought of using raptor lining on the inside to cover all the seams. I am not sure that would look good though.

01-03-2016, 03:07 PM	#9
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: weld seams I have been working on them for years, I remember when I would have wanted to fill them too. But now, after working on late model cars with all their perfection I like the old stuff's character. Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

01-03-2016, 05:54 PM	#10
tbrown5079 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Blairsville, PA Posts: 301	Re: weld seams My painter said he would finish the seams if I tack welded them. Took my time but really glad I did. The ones in the door frames and front of the cab really made a difference. tbrown __________________ tbrown's 56 Cameo Build

01-03-2016, 09:36 PM	#11
hotrod1 56 - autocross Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Camarillo, Ca Posts: 1,121	Re: weld seams Did you tack weld the edge of the metal that overlaps or drill more holes and rosette weld them? Any pictures?

01-04-2016, 09:38 PM	#12
tbrown5079 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Blairsville, PA Posts: 301	Re: weld seams I cut the seams at the door jambs then used a large punch to tuck the edges in then re-welded the seam. Attached Images __________________ tbrown's 56 Cameo Build

01-05-2016, 11:28 PM	#13
RockTonka Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 1,513	Re: weld seams tack, tack, tack... Attached Images __________________ 1958 Chevy 1 ton dually 4X4 dump/flat bed My build thread 1966 "Not-So-Original" Chevy Custom Trim Suburban My Time-Killing Project Truck 1966 GMC Extended cab 1 1/4 ton 4X4 My Son's build thread

01-05-2016, 11:53 PM	#15
Dan in Pasadena Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 6,336	Re: weld seams I've really debated doing this on mine and ultimately decided to leave them as is. There's no limit to the mods I COULD do but at some point I've just got to stop on a driver truck. Hopefully a truly nice driver, but still a driver. I had a friend who filled his seams with plastic filler. Everyone says it'll eventually crack. Has anyone ACTUALLY seen this happen? On a TF truck, I mean. __________________ '55 Big Window Shortbed, Drive-It-&-Work-On-It slid down the "slippery slope" to a Frame-Off Rodstoration! LQ4/4l85e/C4 IFS/Mustang 8.8 rearend w/3.73's Dan's '55 Big Window "Build" - Well, Kinda!

01-06-2016, 09:58 AM	#16
bowt1ed Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 494	Re: weld seams Anyone tried tooling seam sealer? Too much area to cover...? R/Jim



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