The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop '40-'46 cab panels

Hello everyone,

Just purchased a '40 1/2 ton pickup with the lower rear panel pushed in apparently from a load sliding forward and slamming into the headboard/back of the cab. My question is this, is the lower rear panel below the beltline on the '40-46 cabs the same? I know it would be a lot of work has anyone drilled out the spot welds and swapped one of these panels out? Any help/ insight on this would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Arnold

Anybody care to have any input on this? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Pictures might help describe what you are up against.....

John

I suppose the spot welds could be drilled out, but that is a big job. Also, the rear cab panel to floor joint is rolled making disassembly much more difficult. The beltline sections are soldered together so you will need to address that joint as well.

I would seriously look at your dent and attempt to massage the panel back into its original contour.

I think the panel in question is the same from 1939-early 47. I happen to have a buddy bringing over his 39 today. I will try to remember to compare some measurements with my 41.

Thanks, John and Paul, I knew it would be a big job but I wasn't sure how that area was constructed. I will have to take a better look at it now that I know. Straightening the panel would probably be easier but it's pretty beat up. Right now I have it stuffed into a small garage stall, I will have to pull it out and have a better look at it, maybe get some pictures of that area. One of the P.O.s welded pipes onto the roll on the top of the bed extending down to the filler panel between the box and running board. This makes it difficult to view this area, kind of why I didn't see it before I bought it.
Maybe I can find a junk one to take apart to learn how to do it, might discourage me from going that route.

Thanks for taking the time to reply
Arnold

I just did some surgery to the beltline on my '40. I had some bubbling on it. Thought I had it all taken care of before priming but guess not. Anyway, I cut about 2/3'ds of the lower part across all the back. Geez, the whole space between the 2 pieces of metal was filled about solid with rust. I can tell you it is spot welded at 3" - 3 1/2" intervals.

Dennis

Hi Dennis,
I am assuming you cut 2/3 of the width of the belt line itself? Is the belt line section of the cab part of the roof itself and overlapping the lower panel or is it a 3rd piece that is soldered in place? I figured I'd ask since you've been in that far. My cab is probably rusted in the same area like yours.

Thanks,
Arnold

Hi Arnold,
I cut all the straight part on the back of the cab. I cut about 2/3ds measuring from the bottom of the lip. So I cut maybe 1 1/4" leaving the top part of the lip. My figuring is there is enough curve left so I could mig weld the new piece in place without much distortion. Bad news is that I cannot planish because no access to that part without also cutting the top part of the lower cab panel. We'll see how it goes.

The cab is composed of the lower part and upper part. They join at the beltline. If you look behind the seat, you can see the curved part where they meet. Both halves are spot welded at the lower part of where they meet. If you try to put something up into that gap at the bottom you can probably push it in about 1/4". That is where the spot welds are. No 3rd piece. Spot welds vary from 3" to about 3 1/2" from each other.

Dennis

Hi Dennis,
Good to see another '40 owner reply. I assume you cut 2/3 of the width of the belt line itself. Is the belt line part of the roof panel and overlapping the lower panel or is it a separate section and soldered to the roof panel? Once you cut away the section of belt line you must have been able to see the flanges of the roof and lower panels spot welded together?

Thanks,
Arnold

Oops, sorry for the duplicate post, slow IPad.

Arnold

What I have left of the belt line is the top 1/4" or so. I cut the entire straight portion across the back. The belt line viewed standing behind the cab is part of the stamping for the cab roof. The back side of the beltline viewed from inside the cab is lower part of the cab. These 2 pieces are spot welded together. The curves are stamped into the upper/lower cab pieces. No 3rd piece.

Dennis

OK, starting to get a better idea how this area is constructed, Makes me realize what's involved here, I know this is a problem area with this era of cabs and mine is probably at some stage of rust as yours. I will have to pull my truck out of it's narrow stall to look closer at it, I'm still debating on finding a better truck to start with or not. How was yours when you started?

P.S., thanks for the info, it's greatly appreciated.

Arnold

Some nice clean new metal...


http://www.allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=7716


http://www.allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=7829



(Work done by Jimmy Hervatin)

Robert,

Very impressive. I swear you metal gurus could fabricate a complete truck... Your skill is enviable, thanks for showing how it can be done.

Paul

Yeah no kidding, I wish I had skills like that! I work with steel everyday, but it's machining tool steels. What Robert has shared with us is more like fine art to me. Beautiful work!

Arnold