The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop replacement cab mount fit on replacement floor

I just purchased a bunch of replacement panels. Floor with toe boards,rocker panel, front cab mounts,and lower door jambs. When I check fit the front cab mounts don't quite fit the floor panel and rocker panel well. the bend angle at the floor cutout and rocker panel lip seem to be off. Is this common for this? Anybody give me a direction to go on this? Thanks...

Is the cab on or off the frame?
There are a number of variables in the problem and they all multiply the number of possible fit problems.
Replacement panels can be made by different companies out of different thickness material and bent or fabricated to different tolerances. Use 2 or more together and the differences add up.
The cab it's self has shifted it's shape over the years especially with rusted out panels.
If I'm doing a frame off or repairing with the cab in place, I always fit and tack the new floor and mounts in place with the cab on the frame, doors on and closed, and use the frame mounting holes for alignment. The only alternative is squaring the cab shell with a lot of measuring and welding a lot of temporary cross braces inside the cab.
Jack and shim body until everything is square.
Cut, bend and grind new panels until everything finally lines up.
I often pop rivet some of the flanges together for temporary positioning before tack welding and use a lot of clamps before I fire up the welder.
Personally, I use a spot welder as much as possible for floor panel replacements.

All good advice from Jim. Instead of pop rivets I used self tapping screws. Really eyeball from under your cab to make sure of gaps etc.

Body is still on frame. All panels were purchased from same place. I am test fitting panels on a bench to get a rough idea of fit. I did brace side to side and supported where frame mount is bad before I cut it up.Thanks.

not sure what your truck your working on

if its a AD here is a good site
http://www.pbase.com/czechman/arightside&page=all

if you read his notes almost every repair panel had to be reworked.

DADS50 That is a great link. Pretty close to most of my questions. Thanks a bunch..