The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs What are those little plates called?

On the walls of 55-57 panel trucks, there are these mini access doors held in place by 2 screws. My 57 is missing a couple. What is their formal name, and, are they repro'd?

Here is a pic of the doors:

Access plate or panel? Inspection plate. There are a couple of plates on ebay, but they are not the same.

What is behind them?

I haven't looked in them in detail, but I don't think anything is there but maybe wiring.

Probably just sound deadening. So you don't get the "tink" through the metal walls and also to keep condensation to a minimum.

Most likely access to run the wiring. From the looks of them, they wouldn't be that hard to fab from flat sheet metal.

They are access covers available from time to time on Ebay and Stovebolt. They are 55.2-59. There is no wiring in that cavity. They are access at manufacturing. They are also access for tailgate cable retractors install.
Interestingly, on that wall behind the wooden rails, you will sometimes see the "shadow" of those plates. When the side of the Panel or Suburban was laying flat, the factory painter laid those covers down on the inside wall and painted them.
They have a rolled edge, hard to make. There is a gasket also.

Not for somebody like RPandC. I swear he could make ANYTHING out of metal.
Case in point: Click

Those little plates are similar to what was on my 53 panel. Mine were for accessing some of the fasteners holding the rear fenders on.

my 52 panel also had them but instead of on the side of the panel they were on the top edge......and like Leo mentioned it helps to get to some fender bolts to soak the threads.

A small roller would take care of that. Or, if you are really patient, a hammer and round bar of some sort. Or, make a buck and then hammer carefully.

Small collection of dollys that can be used for rolling edges.