The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Kick Panel Material

Can someone tell me what original material was used for the two interior kick panels? My 1951 3100 has galvanized metal panels, that I plan on painting, but I see cardboard panel covers in the on-line Parts Supply houses.
Did the original trucks have the cardboard panels?

Bare steel in the kick panel, it was part of the unibody.
There was no covering on them originally.
Parts suppliers invented those for the customizer's.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny, you're correct about the 'kick panel'. Beware of someone chiming in on you calling the cab 'unibody'. I got my butt handed to me for it. The Shop Manual calls it 'UNISTEEL'. I don't recognize any difference between the two terms personally. I am just trying to preserve your self-described "thin skin", from nit pickers.(LOL) Now let's have fun with someone chiming in.

Don't know about "Unisteel" Carl, as far as I know that's a
global manufacturer of steel products supplying many industries
including automotive parts. But, I'm sure they didn't supply AD
cabs to GM, wonder if that opens up a law suit by GM because
they stole the term, "Unisteel?"

Granted technically a "unibody" design is the body and
supporting frame as one unit, my mistake. If it's more
pleasing to the ear and is more technically correct for
some to refer to the AD's body on frame (BOF) cab design as
a "Unisteel" component then so be it. I don't have the shop
manual memorized nor do I carry it around with me for
reference every time someone asks for help.
Every once in a while with trivial or obvious matters I feel
this urge to offer a one or two sentence reply rather then
attempt to cover all the bases for all the different
circumstances for the understanding of all the members of
the group by writing a short story. Every time I attempt a curt
reply someone has to bring up something that was left out
judging it as a mistake in understanding. Most people get the
point and don't need a detailed technically correct description
or feel the need to nit pic or take down someone that's taking
the time to add a little something to the discussion, but there
are always a few in every group.
I spend way to much time here as it is "nit pickin". I'm just
trying to add what I've learned thru experience or research to
the group without posting misinformation.
But thanks for pointing that out Carl, is it time for lunch yet?

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

awful wordy way to say 'sorry I misremembered' Denny .... the shop manual: "A UNISTEEL cab, the most durable type of automotive body structure, is used. In this UNISTEEL cab, the four major panels ..... "

Carl, you may not "recognize any difference between the two terms", but unibody is a generic term for unitary construction and UNISTEEL [all caps] is a GM marketing dept's made up word [uni meaning one] for the same old welded steel cab everyone used in the day

Bill

....I understand all of you WE all get bogged down in the "non-essential" aspects of life in general. We are suppose to ENJOY what we do and ENJOY all the different aspects of getting the job done!!

...lets see now,when did USED CARS become PREVIOUSLY OWNED CARS?
...and Emergency brakes become Park brakes?

Its all a marketing conspiracy Oh, I know the answer to both the questions so please don't be to critical of me. But if you do...... Have FUN doing it.

You taint immune Alvin, you gotta take your turn in the barrel
once in a while. Up here in the north, they're not only
pre-owned cars but 'Certified' pre-owned cars.

So I wonder if Larry the cable guy ended up buying some of
those cardboard kick panels?

DG

Wow, I didn't think my seemingly simple question would spark such a 'spirited' discussion. I learned more than I anticipated with the responses.
I ended up painting the metal kick panels instead of buying the customized cardboard coverups and they look great. I am trying to keep the truck as original as possible and I like the look of the metal panels. Git_Er_Dun !!