I was just finishing most of the cab sheet metal inner and outer (pic 1) and I was all happy and then I seen a picture of the mounting of the park brake bracket and realized I had not even thought about this when I installed the rocker panel on the driver side . To my horror the park brake bracket hole for the brake rod was at least an inch and half to the rear (see pic 2) of the end hole of the rocker panel(or sill panel) . What a disapppointment. I felt the only solution was to cut back out the rocker panel (or sill panel) from the A pillar , B pillar cowel panel ,cowl brace and move it forward so the end rocker panel hole, the park brake bracket rod hole and the botton inner brace holes all line up of which I did (pic 3).
Now I have three questions :
1) The cab brace seems to be somehow out. Is the install order first rocker ponel (sill panel) then inner brace then park brake bracket? The reason I ask is the cab brace seems to be pushing the rocker panel (or sill panel) about an inch away from the A pillar.
2) What is the purpose of the all the holes three of four of them on the side of the cab brace?
3) On the passenger side I have the same issue wher the sill end hole does not align with the cab brace bottom hole and does this mattter?
Last edited by klhansen; 10/18/20229:53 PM. Reason: cleanup
That's why it's important to fit everything up before final welding.
If by cab brace, you mean the inner-to-outer cowl piece, that should be pretty much flush with the outer cowl panel, although there's room to move it if needed. Your third picture seems to show it sticking way too forward to be able to get the fender mounting holes in the outer cowl thru it without hitting the back section of the inner-to-outer cowl.
The rocker panel mounting is located using a really hard to find dimension in the FAM, but the parking brake reinforcement should fit fairly closely with the toe board and the rocker. See the attached pic.
As far as the holes on the passenger side rocker and inner-to-outer cowl piece, I think they just put the holes in the blanks for the parts and then stamp a left and a right. Those holes don't really do anything, except help line up the two parts.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Thanks Kevin, definitely a lessoned learned on my part. Your diagram will help and I presume it is in the FAM and I will look it up further on mine, but it will help getting my mess sorted out. At least it is good news I can leave the passenger side as is . And yes it is the inner to outer cowl brace that is out of wack.
You are a few steps ahead of me, I am about to get started on replacing the drivers side panels and including the rocker. Really sorry to hear about the misstep, I hope you are able to back track and resolve the situation.
I am a little lost on placement of the rocker fore and aft. Did you manage to find the "really hard to find dimension" Kevin mentions from the FAM? How did you locate the front edge of the rocker? I have been studying the FAM for several days now before I do anything I can't undo and for the life of me don't see any reference to locating the rocker, other than the height of it which is dictated by the floor.
Paul
1951 3100 5-window with a '55 235/floor mounted 3-speed Some of the story in ODSS Most of it in The Shops Area
Paul, Check out the photo I posted. I have the dimension that you're looking for highlighted.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Well Paul I am probably behind you because I did not use any measurements and hence in the mess I need to dig myself out of. But
like Kevin infers the parking brake bracket hole lines up with the rocker panel hole and the inner /outer cowl brace hole and should be close. Then see if I can pick up any measurements from there.
Paul, Check out the photo I posted. I have the dimension that you're looking for highlighted.
Thanks Kevin, I had assumed (wrongly) that it referred to the fore/aft placement of the inner cowl brace, the curved part, at the height of the #2 fender hole (2). Looking at it more closely it looks like it is from the FOD to a vertical line drawn from the bottom of the firewall at the change of angle. Not being purposefully slow but how does that refer to the rocker which is a little lower and looks to be a little farther rearward? You have been there/done that so I totally accept that the measurement is relevant, I just dont see it elate to the rocker.
By the way, I spent more time looking at your photos of the corner panels, they are indeed very helpful. The rocker placement is my nemesis right now.
Paul
1951 3100 5-window with a '55 235/floor mounted 3-speed Some of the story in ODSS Most of it in The Shops Area
Well Paul I am probably behind you because I did not use any measurements and hence in the mess I need to dig myself out of. But
like Kevin infers the parking brake bracket hole lines up with the rocker panel hole and the inner /outer cowl brace hole and should be close. Then see if I can pick up any measurements from there.
Yes, lining up the holes seems to be the key part. I have spent quite some time now studying the FAM and am expecting to be attacking the corner this weekend. Best of luck on your truck!
1951 3100 5-window with a '55 235/floor mounted 3-speed Some of the story in ODSS Most of it in The Shops Area
That 8.47 dimension is to the small vertical front end of the rocker panel. See the attached pic.
As far as lining up the holes, that dimension to the front of the rocker is the only thing that will get it correct. if you have the rocker too far back, and line up the holes in the inner-to-outer cowl panel, it will still be too far back, as the inner-to-outer cowl will also be too far back. The inner-to-outer cowl is located by the rocker location and not much else.
Yes, I've definitely been there, and have the t-shirt.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
That 8.47 dimension is to the small vertical front end of the rocker panel. See the attached pic.
As far as lining up the holes, that dimension to the front of the rocker is the only thing that will get it correct. if you have the rocker too far back, and line up the holes in the inner-to-outer cowl panel, it will still be too far back, as the inner-to-outer cowl will also be too far back. The inner-to-outer cowl is located by the rocker location and not much else.
Yes, I've definitely been there, and have the t-shirt.
OK, that is VERY helpful, many thanks!! Hopefully it will help Rick also.
Paul
1951 3100 5-window with a '55 235/floor mounted 3-speed Some of the story in ODSS Most of it in The Shops Area
My confusion still is as soon as the park brake bracket goes on there is no adjustments . So the rocket panel hole can only go in one place and therefore the inner to cowl panel hole still needs to align with the other two holes. However it seems the inner to outer cowl brace has some degree of angle adjustment forward or rearward. But it can not change the rocker panel hole in any other direction but to align with the park brake brackets hole.
But this weekend I will get a chance to see how close I am to the 8.47 and if not on the mark visibly see how moving the rocker panel to that changes the alignment of the rocker panel hole to park brake hole.
The two sets of holes do need to line up (inner-to-outer cowl and rocker). See the last picture I posted. The larger hole is for the shaft and the smaller holes are where the support bolts on to the rocker. The Parking brake pedal shaft also has a bracket that bolts to the floor support, so that's another spot where you can check the alignment. I believe the pedal shaft should be perpendicular to the vehicle centerline when installed.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Thanks Kevin that’s what I thought about aligning the holes with the park brake shaft. It will still be interesting to see what the measurement comes out as.I was also thinking the sheet metal holes in the rocker panel and inner to outer brace are slightly larger in diameter or could be easily enlarged to get some minor adjustments
Well success today have it all roughed in.Had to add an extension to the inner outer brace with three new holes this allowed me to get brace aligned properly with fender holes. A quick measurement as provided by Kevin and I seem to be close to 8.48 I am 8.50
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Well success today have it all roughed in.Had to add an extension to the inner outer brace with three new holes this allowed me to get brace aligned properly with fender holes. A quick measurement as provided by Kevin and I seem to be close to 8.48 I am 8.50
Great recovery Rick, kudos.
1951 3100 5-window with a '55 235/floor mounted 3-speed Some of the story in ODSS Most of it in The Shops Area
