The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 1953 Chev 1/2 ton Box Alignment

Hello,

I purchased a 1953 3100 1/2 ton last year and have a rather small problem that I could live with, but I rather would like to fix it. (The truck is littered with little imperfections I dislike and I am going through them one-by-one)

A picture of the tale gate to post (side wall) is attached. The problem is that the truck was nicely restored, but the box wall to floor was not squared before the box was painted.

What options do I have to fix this without getting chipping of the paint? I feel no to minimal and I have no record of the paint being used.


I hope for some reply, Joerg

Try putting the tail gate down and a 2X4 in the pocket and pull it in by hand. It looks like it needs a small tweak.

A stake in the pocket will likely bend the single thickness of sheet metal at the top of the stake pocket. I'd try pulling it with something grabbing around the outside of the bed instead (a padded wood block?)

If you inserted the picture using the attachment manager and the post shows the image tags instead, just edit your post and confirm that the attachment manager show more than zero total files and then remove the image tags and the stuff between them. That should make the picture show up. I just did that on your original post.

Is there two bolts at the bottom holding the rear bottom ,I have heard that some may have been spot welded from factory but if you loosen the bottom then pull the top over ,hold in place then tighten the bottom .

Hello,

each side has three 7/16 bolts go through and I feel that they are more for attaching the tail lights, license plate holder etc. and can't have much clamping strength since the inside of the rung has no bushings or such.

I loosened the bolts and pulled with a ratchet strap from the top of the left side to the bottom of the right side and got it moved 1/8", enough to call it good, no paint chipping off, so I think I let it be like it.

BTW, a 2x4 doesn't fit here, only perhaps a 1 1/2" x 1 5/8" and I feel like klh said, that it will bust and bend the thin top sheet metal.

Thanks, Joerg

The bolts which hold the bedside to the rear cross sill should not be through bolts. They should be short bolts with the nuts and lock washers located inside of the rear stake pocket bracket. Three of these bolts hold the hinges and license plate brackets on at the rear of the stake support bracket, while three more bolts go in the front of the stake pocket bracket. All six of them will hold the bedside in the proper position. Originally the bedside was gas welded to the rear crossmember. Not a good option when the bed is already painted. I don't weld mine. The many short bolts hold them in place.
Loosen these bolts and either have someone push on the bedside while you tighten the bolts, or use a ratchet strap with the hooks inside of the holes in the rear of the bedside where your plugs are now located.

Yes '52Carl, I will try that, but I need to remove the long 5/16" bolts and replace them with six short bolts, probably best with flange nuts from the inside. Will try in February, since I will be away for three weeks now.

Thanks, Joerg

This has nothing to do with the box wall alignment, but with the tailgate.

I asked my wife to make me two fabric socks for the tailgate chain & hooks. The original plastic socks that came with the truck were just ugly, stiff and not nice.

This should make a difference (could have gotten a little heavier fabric, well, next time).

You may want her to make a button hole at the low point of the sock loop to aid moisture escape. I agree the plastic socks are not desirable.

Did chains come with a cover when new?

I'm pretty sure they didn't otherwise all the vendors would be selling replica socks.

Carl, classic Industries has the chains under CX1311 (I noticed that one hook is left and one right and it makes a difference were you mount which with scratching the paint!) and the plastic covers under CX1319. I have no clue if the original trucks came with anything over the chain, but one would hope and assume, because the rattling of the chains against the paint would make a mess in a hurry. I have seen any kind of cover over it from old garden hose over electrician tape to baler twin woven over it (and I have to admit, the one I saw with baler twin was done nice and it didn't look bad).

The socks are from lose woven cotton and shouldn't hold any water. The truck should go in the living room when it rains and my leather couches can sit outside (don't tell my wife!).

Cheers, Joerg

Joerg, I believe that is just the way they took the picture. If you flipped one hook over, they would be identical.

Hello Phil,

I believe your are wrong (sorry to say).

Look at the pictures of the two hooks with chain I have, if installed wrong, the hook-point will hit the tailgate!

I stand corrected! I never noticed that on my stock chains. I’m presently 950 miles away from my truck so I can’t check.

I will be installing new chains once my truck is painted, so thanks for pointing that out!