When I got my 3600 the left side running board and splash panel were missing. The previous owner had been T-boned and the running board took the brunt of the impact. Supports were also missing. I learned pretty quick these longer running boards were very difficult to find, even used.
We have no more local wreckers and the closest (there's one 2-1/2 hours away and another 6 hours away) focus on newer vehicles for the collision repair sector and I could have spent a month of Sundays trying to find one locally in someone's backyard. I just don't have the time to spend.
I finally located a company that makes new reproduction "Long Box" running boards (for the 3/4 ton, can't speak to the even longer beds). I got these on the "eBay" of all places but I think it is the manufacturer. The only difference I can see is they don't have the beads rolled into em. BUt that's OK. The sheetmetal mounts (between the running boards and the frame supports) the company recommends be glued not welded, which surprised me. I presume because of the flex? At any rate I used panel adhesive, having some experience with that before and no way they will be going anywhere. I got the replacement splash panel from Chevs of the 40s, fit fine.
The support kit I got (the ones that bolt to the frame, not with the running boards themselves) had one of the three that was wayyy too short, I ended up having to weld an extension on that one. Always something.
But the running board itself, it fit really nicely. Very pleased. Heavy gauge steel too, I'm gonna say 16 gauge?
Anyway, I got the board set last year and finally got them prepped, painted and installed. Last bolts went in tonight. No, I haven't done the other side since there is a board on that side. I might later just so they match.
Too much snow out there to take it outside for proper photos yet but looking forward to spring... well... around here that can mean a lotta rain so I better be careful what I wish for I guess.
1949 Chevrolet 3/4 Ton - Still Solid. Regular Driver OT Vehicles: 1925 Hudson Brougham Super Six 1950 Chevrolet Styline (Parts) 1952 Canuck Pontiac Sedan Delivery (Well Underway) 1973 F250 4x4 Highboy 1977 F250 4x4 Lowboy
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
I got them from a seller called "ammuscle" American Muscle Car LLC and I **think** they actually make these themselves. I could be mistaken.
1949 Chevrolet 3/4 Ton - Still Solid. Regular Driver OT Vehicles: 1925 Hudson Brougham Super Six 1950 Chevrolet Styline (Parts) 1952 Canuck Pontiac Sedan Delivery (Well Underway) 1973 F250 4x4 Highboy 1977 F250 4x4 Lowboy
Yes, those longitudinal ribs in most running boards (not NorthCoast's reproductions) are called beads in the sheet metal trade, put in by a machine called a bead roller, although they may have been stamped all at once on factory running boards as part of the forming process.
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.
Beads then. I would think that they served as stiffeners.
Yes they would have. These new ones are a heavy enough gauge steel that I can't imagine it would matter.
I have a bead roller and have tried rolling those beads out over long lengths using a fence, but they end up warping the steel beyond salvation.
So, I'm quite happy to have these.
1949 Chevrolet 3/4 Ton - Still Solid. Regular Driver OT Vehicles: 1925 Hudson Brougham Super Six 1950 Chevrolet Styline (Parts) 1952 Canuck Pontiac Sedan Delivery (Well Underway) 1973 F250 4x4 Highboy 1977 F250 4x4 Lowboy
