The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Marrying a 46 chevy panel

I'm working on a 46 panel 1/2 ton--the panel was badly damaged in the front ,(the cowl, windshield frame and door jams --hinged side ). I want to keep the panel body -I've got a 46 truck body and was thinking of marrying the two together. I need to cut along the top of the window and cut the top jam splice on the hinge side of jam,-- "that part doesn't bother me" . I'm concerned about the floor height and how much sheet metal to remove off the back of the truck cab so the panel can slide into the cab. Has any one done this be for ???
Need to get some feed back. Thanks -lc34

I believe the cabs were all the same. The exception is the line above the doors. Compare how the panel looks with the pick up. The floor extends beyond the rear wall of the build up enclosing the gas tank. I think all you have to do is measure how far back from the wall to see how to trim and shape the floor panel.

Lc34 not sure about a 46 but my 49 suburban has about a 1 inch step up between seat area and rear floor so you could make transition that way. Since it won't be visible from outside anyway you could extend bottom floor back a few inches for extra leg room. I would think marrying door & roof lines would be most difficult. Brace the heck out of it prior to cutting to keep it square. Good luck and take lots of pictures to show the results.

MikeE and 49bourdon ----Thanks for the feed back

I did it on my 37 check out my photos things are almost the same. http://s844.photobucket.com/user/wi...rucks/37%20panel/37%20panel%20cab%20swap

"OUT STANDING"--I haven't seen a 37 changed out. The 40-46 Is a little diff. from the 37 --also the 40-46 truck and panel jams are diff. I'm thinking of living the header and jams(lock side) on the panel and kipping the hinge side jam on the truck and making it join at the upper jam splice.-- At the top of the window I'm thinking of cutting about 1" up then put a step for a lap weld so the roof will lay on it. I like the way you did the sheet metal above the window. ---I haven't started yet so It's not written in stone as yet. Love to talk to you and get more pics.
--Thanks goneagain --lc34

That was outstanding work!

Thanks guys. At least on the 37 the roof is spot welded on the door posts and the wind shield. The rest of the roof is bolted down so it was a good time to get in there to clean, paint and put in some new seam sealer.
It was kind of a scary process being new to body work but it worked out so far.
Ive been busy with the honey do list this year so I haven't gotten much done on the panel but now Im back at it. So Ill have more posts coming.

Bill

Thank you every body -- This will help --lc34

My friend in Anderson county Ky.Ralf Brooks had a 47-53 panel in sad shape front doors up.He found a good pick up doors up and put the two together.The pick up roof was lower but he did a great job of putting them together as a hump back like the 30s Mopar ones.He had it over ten years and went to lots of out of state meets.It was red primer for around five years then nice red with HeartBeat express on the side.Sure it made some mag pics at the big meets.