The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 57 TF GMC Step, floor, lower hinge pocket rebuild.

Where's the best place to start? what should be the order of proceedure?
I think the floor, step, and hinge pocket is the correct order or precedence.
Ideas?

There are several examples out there you can look at that others have done. Just make sure you reinforce the cab with braces between the door openings before you go cutting the floor or step out or you will never get it to line back up.

Floor http://www.customclassictrucks.com/...k_lmc_floor_panel_replacement/index.html

Step http://www.customclassictrucks.com/techarticles/0703cct_repairing_rusted_steps/index.html

"a metal brace was tack welded to keep the door jamb and cab from springing."


hindge pocket install: http://www.customclassictrucks.com/...window_truck/hinge_pocket_installed.html


I am not sure on the order but floor, step, pocket makes sense to me. But use braces and measure a lot before cutting things out.

Thanks so much for the links! A BIG help for sure!
Any idea where the braces (ht.from floor) should be placed? Should I put one from side to side, maybe a couple diagonal ones? It seems wise to cross brace the cab as well as side to side and from front to back. I have pictures of the pickup cabs being built and they used a big jig or fixture to hold all in place whele the cab was assembled. Know that I am working on a GMC Panel.
It seems to me the floor, step, and pocket is the correct order as you need the floor in place to install the step and the step needs to be in place before the hinge pocket goes in.

Rule of thumb: Think of the door opening as a ring of steel, and like any intact ring it takes considerable force to distort. However if you cut through the ring it becomes very unstable and easily deformed. Therefore any bracing should be done to restore the integrity of the ring.

Just to be on the safe side, just tack your parts in place and test fit the door before finish welding. After all, it makes no difference how much bracing you use or where you put if the door doesn't fit and latch when you're done.