The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop patch panels

Can anyone advise on installing patch panels? I am installing cab corners (inner and Outer) rockers, inner and outer cowl and floor panels (with toe). Also Front body mounts.

The PO did a lot of work on the rotted floor and inner cowl and foot wells. Not good work mind you. So I have a mess of rust and rot holes with sheet metal welded over them making the work all that much harder.

I have welded the rear inner corners, tacked the outer corners and welded the rear part of the rockers in place. Now I am in a quandry. As I look at the cowl and floor I cannot decide what sequence to cut out and install the new patches. I am thinking the floor should come first, then inner cowl and do the outer inner to outer cowl and outer cowl last.

I have looked at Chuck the Truck's web site which is a great site, and I have Brownell's book but neither of these gives this detail.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Rich

Thanks for the compliment. Sounds like you have the sequence right. Or, at least the way I did it.

If you mount the doors you will be able to tell where the pillar/outer cowl belong based on door gap. Make sure the outer cowl fits the door good as well as the fender and make everything else conform to that. The order doesn't matter as much as not losing shape; I did my floors last. Good Luck.

Curt B.
http://community.webshots.com/user/curt160

Listen to I. B Hoggin, mount your doors then work on the pillar / outer cowl for marking your door gap. I didn't and now am paying the price of cutting it all back apart.

Just make sure if you are doing the entire floor at once that you brace everything to keep the cab from tweaking.

Good Luck!

Thanks Guys,
I didn't even consider the fender. I mounted the doors syesterday to get a feel for where the rocker should be and to get a look at the inner part of the post where it meets the door. I stiched the inner part of the post to the rocker based on the gap. I have no idea if it is right.

I do have another post about door adjustment that no one has responded to. How accurate (can)do the door adjustments need to be for this fit. (especially with no weather strip??)

I know I need to do some hinge work. My passenger side is pretty good the drivers side is a little sloppy.

Any rebuild kits or ideas for these??

I have never had good luck with doors. I could spend an hour adjusting a door and get nowhere. My brother could adjust a door in 10 seconds with a 2x4 and a twist of the wrist and it would work and look better then new. Too bad I don't have his help anymore.

Rich

Rebuild the hinges before you fit the doors, other wise they won't fit after you do it. Doors are tough. The factory assembly manual is a good resource.

I would rebuild your hinges first. Most vendors have a pin/bushing kit. Then just put all the door adjusting bolts in the middle of thier travel range and then snug them. Then make sure you have about 3/16" gap all around before welding. Final adjustment and hinge bending can come later.

Curt B.

Weatherstrip changes door fit. It can look great without it, then with wstrip installed it looks like heck.