The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Front Panel Slot

We are working to get a '49 3100 back on the road. Our work currently is focused on trial fitting the box, fenders, running boards and splash aprons. Then it all comes apart for final paint.

The front panel of the bed has 2 flanges that attach to each side of the bed. Obviously there are multiple round holes that align to connect the sides to the front.

There is also an elongated slot in each flange of the front panel near the bottom. There is no corresponding feature in the front end of the side panels.

What is the purpose of those slots?

We were able to reuse the original front panel. I do not see those slots in the replacement panels available these days.

Thanks for the help.

I recall those slots when I took my bed apart. I don't recall any bolts in them.

I think the slots may be there to make people ask questions.

A look back in truck model history may lead to the answer. If they continued using the punch machine setup from an earlier model truck for the AD trucks, changing that setup for the new model which did not require the slots would cost time. Time is money.
A similar deal puzzles me with the front and rear bumpers with the extra, unused center hole. There was even a dummy bolt for plugging the extra center hole. It was held on by a push-on 'dang it' clip.
Carl

Chances are the American made panels using American made tooling used them for tooling holes. The Chinese tooling doesn't need them.

If the goal was to make people ask questions they succeeded!

Thanks for the confirmation that there is no functional impact for those slots. I did wonder if they were related to tooling or some other step in the manufacturing process.

I tried to look at backwards compatibility but hit a road block Both copies of the 29 - 54 Master Parts list that I can access do not have page 779. The online manual has a blank image for that page. The CD copy I have has 2 pages 780 but no 779!

The problem we have is that the outer portion of the slot on the right side somehow got broken away over the year. So we either need to repair that or decide to fill the slots on both sides.

I also agree with "why the center hole in the bumper". Lots of years and models (cars & trucks) have that

Symmetry? And yes, I know it’s symmetrical without the bolt too, people with arsses who are smart. 😉 My homemade bumper bracket has a hole for it!

I’m also guessing tooling line up as well like Bartamos. This is not quite the same as the slots, but I once read a thread about the two little holes on the top underside of the door opening on an AD cab. Someone dug out an old factory photo showing a special jig that slipped into this two holes which allowed the cab to be lifted quite level. I’ve never tried them, but it made sense once you saw them in use.