The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Running Board Step Plates

I bought a set of running board step plates for my 46 Chevy truck. Can anyone tell me where the exact placement should be? Surely there is a template or some measurements someone can give me?

Dan Mascheck
Wharton, TX

I dont know where they go, but im sure Alan Horvath will be along shortly to educate you on his horror story about his step plates.
You may want to hold off till you hear from him and see his pictures. Its not a pretty sight.

I have heard folks debate where exactly step plates should be located. I have heard the same folks give cr%p to a guy who swears they are in the stock location, but do not sit right where he steps on the running board. The best suggestion I have heard is get the bottoms of your shoes dusty and get in and out of your truck several times. Locate the step plate where all the dust prints are. Good luck.

Your idea sounds better than any I have heard. If your foot doesn't land where the pad is placed, what use is it!!

Thanks!

Dan

Those step plates weren't stock, I don't think the dealers even had those in the time! So, in my opinion, there is no stock place to put them!!

You would know before me! I like them and they add to my truck, so I bought a pair and the rest is history!(GRIN)

46Dan, history is about the truck, not about what you like!!!(GRIN)

My plan, if I ever use them, is to use the real good 3M Emblem type tape and stick them on so if I do end up with them in the wrong place, I can move them.

Joe

I saw Alans post on the step plates ...they made a mess !
Maybe before you install them tape them off and put a good coat of paint to act as a sealer and put washer under under the mount screws when you decide where ya like em to keep them contacting the steel under em ?

I had the running boards Rhino Lined to keep them from rusting and make them more durable. My 46 is not original and has a 350 LT1 in it.

Thanks for the tip!

Dan

Dan ,
OK your in my boat mine is far from original also ....350/350 drive line ..with a 383 posi ..
How do ya like the Rhino lining on your boards was leanin hard that way myself ..an tehre is a place not far from here that does that .
Any advise would be cool .
thanks
Rad

The Rhino is fine, but there are several shops I found out later that do the same process with a bit finer texture. Mine has a little larger grain than I wamted. It still looks great. Remember it does add significant weight to the running board. I plan to rhino the inside of the wheel wells to prevent the rocks from star cracking the paint,

Dan

AD_Pickup makes a good point. Although the parts catalogs say their step plates are exact copies of "original GM accessories" (I'm quoting an older Chevy Duty catalog), I also have an undated booklet "Advance-Design Accessories for Advance-Design Trucks" that doesn't mention step plates at all. Based on the illustrations in the booklet, I'm guessing it's circa 1948 or 1949.

I'm going to use 6cylindersovertexas's dusty footprints method of siting the step plates.

I think The idea is sound. I'll do the same! It's surprising they sell them, yet everyone says they were not part of the package in 46. I know somethings were options, but this was not one!

Dan

Dan i can use all the weight i can get .....
even with the posi and 1/4 plate steel bed floor and the 200lb tool box my uncle custom made to fit the bed on wet roads ya have to keep a light foot on the gas or it will break loose an be all over the road and Im runnin BF Goodrich 60's on the back

I fretted over what to do on my bed for some time. The Wife wanted to go back in with polished wood like it had before, but the original owner let it go downhill. After reading a couple of sites that evaluated different varnishes and urethanes, all over time, went bad. Also taking out plenty of stovebolts to remove the old wood, I was not interested in going back with the same!

I opted for aluminum diamond plate with a matching tool box. I have a special wax and cleaner they use on large airplanes that can keep it shining for some time, so that's the way I went! I wish I had the posi, but maybe later. I have the same problem with my truck. I only have a 1996 LT1 from a Camaro under the hood, but it can get loose when it’s wet as well