The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Body panel advice

Getting ready to place another order with LMC for working on my 3100 Cowls. They sell a complete repair cowl or just the lower section. All that's rusted out is the lower section, but it appears by looking at others folks handywork, they are replacing the entire thing. I'm using a flanging tool to marry the panels together, so I'm wondering how it will look at the edges with a flanged connection. Any expert advice here?

I would suggest maybe a little exporatory surgery on one side since you know you are replacing at least a portion. What you may find when you open a side up is more damage than readily visible and if you waited at least you will know what to buy. In addition you may find one side better than the other you just won't know until you dig a little bit.

I did just the lower part. I would suggest if it is an AD truck that you remove the panel for the fresh air heater and look at the back side of the cowl. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2846271590103315458dzNulz

Only replace as much as you need.

Listen to Brad. There's a LOT more work involved in a full side cowl replacement. The leaded seam has to be melted out and spotwelds drilled out then there's the spotwelds on the seam covered by the hood on the sides. After all that you have to fit the entire leading edge of the door to the replacement and finish the seam.

Trust me, if you can get by with just the bottoms do it.

I’m no expert but I did learn some lessons when I replaced the lower cowl on my 1950 3100

Like stated above, keep as much original metal on your truck as possible. The thickness of the repair panels I bought are off a little.

Hang your door before you final weld to check fitment.

Roger that Czechman. I was looking at your progress and that's where I got my idea, but if you say to stay small, I'm gonna just chop as little metal off as possible. Thanks for all the advice.