The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop need help on patch panels

hi everyone; first time using this forum. i have 55 2nd. series i am getting ready to do serious cutting and welding on and know very little about it.live in small oklahoma town not found anyone that knows anymore about it than i do.i am replacing left side lower pillar door hinge pocket, inner and outer, and door step rocker combo and cab corner. my question is, in what order and how do i do it where all of it will match up when completed, any advice about any of this will be greatly appreciated

First off welcome "wadd55".

Second thing is buy some books on the subject and when you feel confident, always measure TWICE and cut ONCE. You can read about this stuff on the internet as well. The eastwood co. offers supplies as well as books and video's on the patch panel replacement although they will not tell you what to do first on your particular application.

Take careful measurments and make a sketch with those measurements. Remove the door if you havent already and go slow...don't rush. Post some pix showing the areas to give us a better idea of what needs to be done and how bad it is. You can refer back to the photos later as a visual reference. I am willing to bet someone on here already did that and can give you more precise advise.

Dave

thank you for the welcome, i have taken the door off as well as the front fender in order to get to both inner and outter hinge pockets. and i have taken some measurments, i haven't taken any pictures yet. the damage is pretty bad on the hinge pocket because i had problems closing door. as for rest of it, i just thought this would be the time to do it to.i will take more measurements and checkout eastwood thanks

Get yourself a copy of the January Custom Classic Trucks magazine. On page 62 it starts the tech article on doing exactly what you're doing. It's even a 55 Chevy TF truck. It has step by step instructions with pictures.
Good luck,
Scott

scott, you are the man!!!

i will do that. i subscribe to classic trucks, looks like i should start another one.

wadd55
Just as new to this body work as you are, but Ive already started cutting and welding.

#1 first rule I learned (from a friends mistakes) Brace everything! Even if you think the panel your gonna cut out doesnt support other areas measurements, if at all possible, brace the area around your cutting area.

Additionally, if at all possible , have the cab sitting on something stationary and take measurements all around your piece
IE: Your front lower hinge pocket, measure that puppy from the hinge pocket to the latch side door jamb, hinge pocket to inner step, hinge pocket lower to hinge pocket upper and so on.

One last piece of advice that you'll hear alot. Cut your "hole" small, and grind to fit.

Good luck!

thanks for advice, i will do that. right now i am on a time out on getting any work done i have been out of town for a couple of days and its cold here and my shop is not insulated, its hard to do aything when your shaking so hard you can`t hold a wrench

When The weather is cold and its "time out" its time to "read up" on the things you want to achieve. I always found if for some reason I could not work in the garage, I would read up on some of the stuff I wanted to accomplish or learn more about. It would motive me when the time presented itself and I had a "plan"on how I would do things more systematically. Use you time well and take your time.

Best tool in the tool box is knowledge and of course this site. Good luck and keep us posted.

Dave

Scott,

Thanks for refernecing Custom Classic Trucks...I will check that one out.