We are still asking: What did you get done on your Bolt today ????
The question, initially posted May 23, 2005, was:
"Whatcha do on your Bolt this weekend?"
After 51,906,997 views, 7378 replies over 185 pages, this thread in General Truck Talk is a happening! And it's not just weekends anymore.
I have a similar dilemma - I have a 51 Chevy 3100 with the unique single year combo of Vent Windows and Turn Down Handles
I'm looking at the available complete door replacements from Brothers as they are quite attractively priced vs a patch panel with associated repair Their options are listed as the 47-50 and 52-54 for the reasons we know - early is turn-down handles with full windows, 52+ is push button handles with vent windows
The Handle drilling for the 52+ Door would be different, so imagine that is non-starter?
My main question is - can I fit the 51-54 Vent Window parts in the 47-50 door? Or would I have to get 47-50 Window parts if I went with the early door?
I could go with a bottom outer skin patch panel, but the full doors are quite attractively priced
Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums
You MIGHT be able to convert the early doors to fit vent windows into them, but there's some brackets and other things that would need to be installed inside that would be difficult without removing the door skin. You'd also need to get the correct interior window molding. And I'm not sure that the window regulator mounting holes are the same (the regulators are definitely different.) An easier approach would be to get 52-54 doors with pushbutton handles and install the correct latch strickers on the door pillar to match the different latches.
If your original doors just need patching on the lower portion, I would do that. Mine were not rusted on the outer part, but needed patching on the bottom inside. Patch panels for those weren't that expensive, and fit pretty well.
Kevin Newest Project - 51 Chevy 3100 work truck. Photos [flickr.com] #2 - '29 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. First car '29 Ford Special Coupe Busting rust since the mid-60's
... An easier approach would be to get 52-54 doors with pushbutton handles and install the correct latch strickers on the door pillar to match the different latches..
Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums
I didn't say putting the strikers on would be a piece of cake, but it wouldn't involve tearing the door apart. You might need to weld in the portion of the door post where the strickers mount if you got them from a 52 or later cab.
Kevin Newest Project - 51 Chevy 3100 work truck. Photos [flickr.com] #2 - '29 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. First car '29 Ford Special Coupe Busting rust since the mid-60's
I have a similar dilemma - I have a 51 Chevy 3100 with the unique single year combo of Vent Windows and Turn Down Handles
I'm looking at the available complete door replacements from Brothers as they are quite attractively priced vs a patch panel with associated repair Their options are listed as the 47-50 and 52-54 for the reasons we know - early is turn-down handles with full windows, 52+ is push button handles with vent windows
The Handle drilling for the 52+ Door would be different, so imagine that is non-starter?
My main question is - can I fit the 51-54 Vent Window parts in the 47-50 door? Or would I have to get 47-50 Window parts if I went with the early door?
I could go with a bottom outer skin patch panel, but the full doors are quite attractively priced
Thanks for any guidance
Your easiest two options without question would be to find decent original '51 doors, or fix the doors that you currently have. Any other option will require a lot of high end fabrication, and/or require you to buy a lot of extra internal parts.
The factory latches whether for push button or turn down are among the most dangerous and biggest POS ever installed on a vehicle. For $350 you can keep from killing your kid by installing an Altman Trique Latch kit that is the first thing that should ever be done on an AD.
The factory latches whether for push button or turn down are among the most dangerous and biggest POS ever installed on a vehicle. For $350 you can keep from killing your kid by installing an Altman Trique Latch kit that is the first thing that should ever be done on an AD.
I have to agree with you on POS design of our latches. The thing that kills me is that they are not a simple design. Some idiot train pilot had to put a lot of hours into this design. And they all fail over time.
