The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop has anyone here changed a pillars on a 55-59 gm?

I am currently getting started on 59 gmc fleet option truck my great grandfather bought new. If it was not for those two things i wouldnt even bother as the body rot is terrible. I think I can handle the cab corners and rockers, but the a pillars look kinda beyond my skills. has anyone here changed any out before? oddly enough the floors are in great shape.

No takers huh? well I pulled the doors off and the lower door hinge pockets are pretty much rotted out too. any one change those out as well?

Matthew - the lower hinge pockets are usually rotten on this series, the necessary patch panels are available from the vendors: the face with the opening and the inner pocket .... replacing the whole pillar [assuming you mean the "dogleg"] would be pretty major even for a very experienced bodyman, it's composed of at least 3 individual shaped pieces that are critical to the door and windshield openings .... some pictures would help get better advice, but it really sounds like you should be looking for a replacement cab!!

Bill

I agree with you. the only reason I have not junked the truck is because of its rarety and it was bought by my great grandfather. I am trying to at least keep the cab as its had four generations of boudreauxs sitting in it at one time or another. I know its a dumb reason but i am hard headed lol. I really want to get her back on the road while my dad is still alive.

well you can still have the original doors they entered by and the seat they parked their butts on not a dumb reason at all, family history is why a lot of folks here are saving an old truck

the corners, rockers, steps, and hinge pockets are all pretty commonly replaced, but the top of the pillar really is a major, cutting up to the leaded seam in the roof - might be easier to find a better cab and cut the roof above the windshield and replace the whole cowl down to the floor .... if you're good with welding

Bill

If I can't find a good replacement cab I will be replacing mine, along with the floor, cab corners, rockers.....

That would be the best thing to do and keep most of the things together untill reassembly.

I replaces floors, cab supports, rockers, and bought piller patch panals on a 68 GMC cab and it was alot of work. The hardest thing is to keep your door gaps when welding it back together.

http://www.justsheetmetal.com/classic_body_tr47.asp
Yeah after goofing around with drill spot welds and slow moving on my project it keeps making these look good.

I just finished this repair on my daughters '59 Apache 3200. I have the repair photographed and documented on the link in my signature. I also have it on my Photobucket.

http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x362/vilage-idiot/

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x362/vilage-idiot/Pillarpost003.jpg

I had never done this type of repair before this one. It wasn't too bad , but everything needs to be held in place perfectly while the old is cut out and the new welded in otherwise it will move and nothing will ever fit again. As you can see from the pix i had to replace the inner, outer as well as the step (on both sides). if you are a confident welder take your time and measure as well as document the correct locations for the patch panels. I got my patches from LMC and they fit well right out of the box with minimal fitting required. The panels sadly were imports I was unable to find any made in the USA. Good luck if you decide to try yourself. And keep us posted.

thanks for the responses. Its gonna take me a while to get all the parts I need. It looks like the only thing I will be reusing is the cab the inner finders some bed panels(maybe) and the radiater support. the doors are shot and the hood I dont think is worth fooling with. Ive got alot of work to do.

btw village idiot thats a nice looking truck

Matthew:
Thanks I appreciate the complements. My daughter is getting really excited as we are close to makin' her run'

Nice pictures & nice work.

Alan's 57,

Thank you.

man it just keeps getting worse. I pulled the windshield and the top pinchwelded lip that holds the windshield rubber in place is rusted out completely. oddly enough the bottom is fine and the roof skin is perfect. I dont see any places for it to have leaked. I dont know why it would have rusted out so badly at the top. Oh well thats just more work for me to do

the top pinch weld gets the condensation dribbling down from the doubled panels of the roof as well as moisture collected by the deteriorating rubber ..... and leavings from mice accessing the area via the pillars

Bill