The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop replacement panels for 47-55 teucks

I was wondering how the fit was on replacement cab panels for Advanced series trucks? Mainly on panels such as the complete passenger side outer cowl panel now offered. Also the inner to outer cowl panels? I know I purchased a pair of the inner to outer cowl panels back in the late 80's that seemed to be to "tall" and would have made the hood hit the top of the outer cowl. I assume they've probably improved since then? thanks John

Don't [censored]-u-me anything. I bought new outer/inner to outer and inner panels. In MY opinion they don't fit good at all. This has been discussed many many times here over the recent YEARS and the consenus is that most guys have to "beat them into submission". I suppose some do go better than others but I think most will agree. Don't get your hopes up!!

** Sad part is that I bought and outer and a Inner to Outer from the same place and the two pieces would not even match up. I sent them back, ordered from another place that was better.

I believe they all come from one or two places. GOOD LUCK.

You have to make the replacement panels fit. Slice and dice and weld. Ray Stanley is the ONLY guy making replacement patch panels that do fit. He's in Wheelwright, MA. Have lots of patience, some beer helps.

Thanks for the input. I know I made the inner to outer panels before, because of bad fit. I thought maybe after all these years maybe they'd improved. I made my other inner to outer from galvanized metal figuring they might last longer. The only thing they don't have the recesses in them for the grooves of the inner panel.... Sounds like I'd better pick up a sheet of 20 ga.....

John

I tried inner-to-outter panels from three places, none of them really fit. I took two back and cut, hammered and welded one that looks good. Take your time and patience. Don

same old question, same old answer...just try to enjoy it, sooner or later it will all work out.

That C shaped piece that fits between the inner and outer panel needs work had to use shrinker, some bag work and slice weld at bottom and space down. all in all still better htan starting from scratch. my outer panels fit well without much work at all.

You can see how I did mine starting here:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/2206394590102454676krfBVL

Have to be honest I loved every minute of it, like putting a puzzle together. The panel fits will be what you make them mine were all off in one area or another take your time double-check and enjoy. Make sure you fit the outer cowls to a hung door because they will not look right if you don't.

Great pictures Brad..... your cab looks to be about the same condition as what I'm looking at. one issue I have is I believe my truck had been wrecked on the passenger's side. That is the one reaason I was asking about the inner to outer and the complete side panel. Someone had sliced right up along the edge of the vent and then slightly overlapped it and brazed it back together. The original hood had also had the edge of it trimmed to get a halfway fit to it all. I have another hood. Did you replace either of your rocker panels or did you just paint them black? I seen on the passenger's side that you might have added a piece ahead of the front door post.

No I did not add anything on the rockers I just cleaned them and painted them black. From what you are describing it was probably a "fence post" wreck. Most of the farm/working trucks I see have this condition as people have backed them up with the door open into a post and then creased this area.

I'm thinking maybe more than that. The frame rail on the passenger's side had a kink in it right behind the rear front spring hanger and the truck has a 4 speed (factory)which looks like it might have hit the dash, there is a dent in the dash where the radio speaker would have been. Gearshift handle or someone's knee... I changed out the frame for another. The right side of this cab seems to have poor alignment between the door and cab ect.... I'm hoping with a portapower and some careful measuring it can be correct to better. I bought a factory assembly manual which gives all the measurements....
But I have seen many truck with the creased outer cowls from the door being pushed around into them...

Brad, Great pictures. I had the same word to do on my '54 cab. A real learning process, didn't know a thing about it when I started. Don

Thanks 54 5-window! I'm going to be starting basically the same thing on my '66 after I get the seat and steering column done proabably mid-month,it's nice to hear somebody else say they had to learn as they went!