The Stovebolt Site Forums Project Journals Completed Journals 1951 Chevy COE Car Hauler on a P30 Chassis

After I got all the steps covered it was time to start finishing the rear deck area.

When I built the walls around the rear deck, I used 1 1/2" X 2" tube steel at the transition points to hold the flat bar at the top from twisting and for any added strength needed. I keep these at a maximum spacing of 4' on center. From their my carpentry background kicked in and I added 1" X 1" tube steel at 16" on centers flush with the exterior face of the 2" X 6" deck perimeter tube steel and the 1/4" X 2" flat bar that forms the top of the sidewalls. I know I went over this earlier when I was sheeting the exterior, but this is why I used 1" tube steel in the intermediate areas. I wanted a clean look on the inside too and not interfere with the hoist. I used 3/8" marine grade AC plywood cut to fit with no joints between the 2" tube steel. Before I secured it in place, I primed it on all surfaces to seal it with a primer that was compatible with the paint on the truck because I want to carry the exterior colors around the inside of the deck too. I made some test panels to ensure that it worked before I did this. I haven't got to finishing the paint here yet but it on the list.

Here are some pictures of it all fitted before I screwed it into place.