The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 51 Chevy :Panel being restored

We are restoring a 51 1/2 ton Panel. Going to a lot of swap meets and finding parts, one at a time. But no one seems to know where there are the back doors. Ours are in bad shape, unrestorable, but want to keep it original. Any ideas where there may be some?

They show up on eBay infrequently (any 47nd-55st panel-body door will work). Post a Want Ad in the swap section of this forum and it might catch someone's attention.

The doors are not available as repops so you have to find some originals. People have different definitions of "restorable" when it comes to rare parts like this. There is a talented craftsman at Wheelwright Restorations named Ray Stanley "wheelwrightrest@comcast.net" that does amazing work on these types of parts.

I've bought several parts trucks hoping to score some good doors. Today I think I have eight rear doors (four sets) and only one set that is any good.

Good ones are not easy to find. If you can't find a good set of doors for sale, follow every ad you find for a panel or Suburban and you may find some along with more parts. The alternative is to repair some that may seem beyond hope.

My best set came off a $100 parts truck and spent time in a body shop before being really good.

post some pics of how bad "they are" or e-mail me. I am like oldsub and have 4 sets that may or may not be better than yours. i have a parts panel that you may be interested in too
tom

Same boat for my 51 1 ton GMC panel. The worst part of the thing are the back doors!

I have had the same problem with rear doors. The simple fix for dented doors is to cut the inside recessed area out with a grinder, carefully cutting a smaller opening than the recess. This way a piece of metal can be spot welded in place so that the cut-out piece fits in without falling out. You can either screw the panel in and cover it or spot weld it back in place. With the panel open, you can get to most spots with a dolly and hammer. I know there are other methods for doing this, welding pins and pulling them or using a puller. The problem with these methods for me is my exposed welding abilities. I am much better with body tools.

Just like airplanes. If you can hit with a hammer you can fix it!

There is a pair on Ebay right now - search "1954 Suburban" These doors are dented, but dont appear rusty. If you buy something big like this, check into shipping by Greyhound Bus Lines - they are the cheapest. Good luck

Sounds like I'm in the same boat as everyone else. I've got 4 sets of rear doors 1 set that I have is 95 percent perfect and complete. The others would need alot of hammering to get them straight. I've been buying rear doors whenever I find them.

Supposedly fiberglass rear doors are going to be available around mid summer. I guess we will have to wait and see what they will look like. For some people that might be their only option.

I had a post a few months back on what it took to straighten a TF barn door that was severely bent above the belt line. I've been meaning to go back and update the post as there was a lot more work after the initial success. Guess I'll have to stop working on the burb long enough to tell the whole story. The lesson I learned (with a lot of help from the Bolt) is that any door can be salvaged.

"unrestoreable" means you have to either spend money or develop new skills and a lot of patience. The Bolt is real good at helping you with the skills piece. Hammer and dolly can do a lot but when they aren't enough, a cut-off wheel and mig welder work wonders.

I picked up a rear door the other day from Bill's truck shop. I needed the steel rods that unlatch the second door. He didn't seem to care whether or not I returned the shell, but it was in sad shape. I was fortunate enough to get one of the rods out without breaking it. The other one broke, but they are identical so I can weld a threaded end on.

I'm doing a 51 1/2 ton myself doors are good but both top hinges are broken. Any ideas about repair?

Are the hinges broke or is the door structure broke where the hinges mount? Both of the doors on my 58 had the inner structure busted up pretty good. Repair was made by cutting off the skin and a piece of the structure so I could weld it up solid. Learned a few things along the way, if you have the same problem let me know.

Mark

unfortunately the hinges are broke right were the pin goes through. Right down the side of the hole...its hard to discribe. will try to post a pic.