The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop vent panel repair 49 chevy 3800

On the driver door there is a fresh air vent . Open's from handle inside. Well that panel was smashed in at one time and the people who sanded my truck pulled out bondo from that area and then I saw that someone had braised the vent door closed . It looks like there must have been a skin on that vent door too because with it braised closed the vent door itself is flush with the panel where it is realatively flat . Below that it is dented in pretty bad but its not rusted. Not sure if I should grind that down and use fibrec glass and filler on top of that or what. Not sure If I want to grind that braise out to try to get the vent to work ,or not. Anybody have any suggestions?

....the crease/dent below the vent is probably from the door swinging open to far. A common thing on the AD trucks. I am not familiar with the 49 but I THINNK there may be cowl panels available where can replace the bottom section.....but not sure if one is available with the vent hole in it? A little checking around, even cutting a section out of a parts truck, would let you sleep better at night. (ask in swap meet if someone is parting out a truck your model)
Its just my opinion but I'd use as little bondo or fiberglass as possible..... and one question should be ask first...do you want a vent there??

Thanks much . I sent you a reply but on the wrong post. I thought I saw a replace panel in a catalog once but can't find it . I'll keep looking . In the mean time I may just cut through the braising and see how the vent works and go from there. Thanks again.

Some of what you need may be here...
http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cart/index.asp?cat2=9877&path=1947+%2D+Early+1955+Truck+Parts%2FSheet+Metal%2FCab+Sheet+Metal

Yep , you said it . Jimmy carter has all I need. Thank you. By the way nice panel truck wow that was a lot of work . Wonderful job,.

I didn't see a drivers side repair panel with side vent door hole on JCs site. Did I miss it?

Nope Carl, they don't make them. Must be to much tooling to
punch out the hole and spot weld the seat into it. Only
alternative is to find a donor and cut out that section
for a transplant.

dg

Yeah, they just have a blank panel .No vent in it.

[quote=Denny Graham]Nope Carl, they don't make them. Must be to much tooling to
punch out the hole and spot weld the seat into it. Only
alternative is to find a donor and cut out that section
for a transplant.

dg [/quote
I am glad to hear that (sorry about that, OP)), because I went the donor route, and would have been really ticked to find out that there was a replacement available.
Carl