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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 280 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 280 | I have given up on the search function I can not get it to give me anything but junk I swear its like using yahoo...have to skip the first few pages of junk.
anyway, the question is quick and simple. What gauge metal is the cab of my 53 1/2 ton? I want to purchase some sheet metal stock.
also if anyone wants to clue me in on how to properly use the search function to actually find anything i search for...please do.
*UNDER CONSTRUCTION* 1953 Chevrolet 3100 1/2 ton-previously abandoned resto. My Project BoltI hate when people leave their brains at home. Seriously when did critical thinking and customer service go out the window? How about common sense and striving to go the extra mile? Idiots, surrounded by idiots it tell you.
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | I've cut out part of my firewall and measured it to replace some, it's 16 gauge. not sure about the rest of the cab but I expect it to be the same.
When you order your sheet metal ask for cold rolled, it works and welds better than hot rolled. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 280 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 280 | i went up to northern tool and looked at their 16 gauge steel and it seemed way to thick. i need to patch my upper cowl area since i cut out the vent but want to make sure its the correct thickness. I don't have a set of calipers though.
*UNDER CONSTRUCTION* 1953 Chevrolet 3100 1/2 ton-previously abandoned resto. My Project BoltI hate when people leave their brains at home. Seriously when did critical thinking and customer service go out the window? How about common sense and striving to go the extra mile? Idiots, surrounded by idiots it tell you.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 486 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 486 | I used 16 ga for most of my patching but I think 18 ga is closer to correct for aything other than the floor. I could get 16 ga scraps for free at work so I liked them a lot.
'64 swb stepside (gone)
'57 1 ton
'53 phone truck
'59 swb
'46 1 1/2 ton
'68 swb gmc
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 280 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 280 |
*UNDER CONSTRUCTION* 1953 Chevrolet 3100 1/2 ton-previously abandoned resto. My Project BoltI hate when people leave their brains at home. Seriously when did critical thinking and customer service go out the window? How about common sense and striving to go the extra mile? Idiots, surrounded by idiots it tell you.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 639 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 639 | I used a gauge on my '53 floor pan (also other areas on the truck) and came up with 18 gauge. I'm going to cut some patch panels I designed on the CnC plasma cutter at work  | | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 280 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 280 | now that is definitely gross misappropriation of company resources. I LOVE IT! They should come out great! I was thinking 18 gauge would probably be the correct way to go.
*UNDER CONSTRUCTION* 1953 Chevrolet 3100 1/2 ton-previously abandoned resto. My Project BoltI hate when people leave their brains at home. Seriously when did critical thinking and customer service go out the window? How about common sense and striving to go the extra mile? Idiots, surrounded by idiots it tell you.
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | No thinking about it... measure the thickness of a good part close to where you want the repair and you'll "know" what you need.
The idea is to replace with the same, and understand that these parts were formed and stretched so as a flat sheet they may have been one thickness but with any shape to it the thickness in different areas can vary some. Simply measure and replace with the same as needed.
16 gauge happens to be within a couple thouthanths of an inch of 1/16" or about 0.0625". I forget the others but you can look it up.
Last edited by Grigg; 08/27/2011 11:35 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 | 18g is 0.045 and close to original. Much easier to form than 16g (but usually not free). Running boards for sure and maybe firewalls are 16g. The original is actually a bastard size of about a non existant 19g. Some places offer the 3'x3' 20g patch panels which are either "paint grip" or corrosion resistant but I wouldn't use them in any kind of stressed area.
Evan
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 6 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 6 | Not sure this is the right area for this reply, but you deserve a pat on the back for the metal work you are doing on your project...that's one of the cleanest firewall overlays I have seen...sure beats hole filling and grinding. Are you planning to keep your wiring low? What did you decide to do about the sandblasting and priming?
1954 Chevy 3100 hydramatic 3-window - owned since 1956
1953 GMC 100 5-window deluxe cab project
1959 GMC 100 Fleet Option project
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