The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Replace inner cowl panels on AD

I need to replace the inner cowl panels on my 53. It looks like this involves removing the front clip. Are there some links to show step by step on how this is done? I might discover that the outer cowl panels need replacing too. JC shows a inner to outer panel. Are they usually needed and can they be fabricated? Need advice from you guys who have done this. Steve

You can look through my pictures starting here and yes you will need the front clip off.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129129278/in/set-72157631867396207

Thanks Brad, the pictures are really helpful. I am still trying to find the best way to dismantle the front clip. There must be a link out there that offers tips and techniques. Steve

Per the link above I had to remove my entire front clip after restoring my panel to
repair a catastrophic failure of a staked rope seal retainer in the timing cover of
the 455 Buick I have shoehorned in there.

Needless to say I was not happy, but proceeded. To my surprise it went by the book and with all the new nuts and bolts I used it really came out quickly. I carefully lifted it at the core support with the engine crane and rolled it back out of the way with no problems. Got it off in less than 45 minutes! I used a few tapered drifts to help align the holes for fenders, toe board, etc. while putting it all back together.

Thanks for the link Tim. This is great information. Steve

Thanks for your interest Squire. Would you tell me what tapered drifts are and where to get them? Steve

Steve,

Tapered drift punches

punch set

Hey Tim, so THAT is what they are called. I have a bunch of em', use them all the time. Steve

Czechman has some good shots of his restoration/repair process.

I would like to offer a tip for selecting the best inner cowl panel. First, there is a full panel that has an awful gray primer offered by many of the vendors that does not come close to fitting at the bottom. Some of the vendors sell the lower half of the panel that fits VERY nicely. It comes in black primer. I ended up buying both of them (as I needed the whole panel), cutting and splicing them together for the right side. This worked much nicer than cutting, bending, re-cutting, re-bending, cussing, throwing parts and tools, yelling at my lovely wife and children for no fault of there own trying to get the gray @#$%^&*() panel to fit the left side. I think that panel may have taken some years off the end of my life. Don't get me started on the poor-fitting replacement inner-to-outer cowl (also in the horrible gray primer). With all the aggravation that I suffer from working on these old trucks, nothing makes me smile harder than hopping in and driving one that I built!

...much has been written about that very panel. Consenus is/was that regardless of where it comes from you just about have to beat it into submission. Your now a member of the inner/outer club. Get a BIG Pepsi and do a search on this. HOURS of reading.