The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Cowl Area Sheetmetal

Hello my fellow truckers. Has anyone out the purchased and installed sheetmetal that actually fit correctly? I purchased the right side kick panel and the inner to outter cowl panel for my '50 from CD and after bending and cutting ect.. for a few hours, I have all but given up.. they just dont fit..big gaps, especially at the curved area where the two item meet. I am currently trying to get a refund (good luck) but being the items have been modified, I doubt I will get one. I just want to move on and find a new vendor. Anyone experienced with this problem that can make a recommendation??

The floorboards and outter cowl purchased from ?? that I bought a while back fit like a glove. They were black and mfgd by TriPlus Automotive.. I would love to find someone that sells the same brand for the pieces that I want.

Thanks, ChuckB

Those are the two worst patch panels and I've not seen any better looking ones yet. Cut, grind, hammer, weld, and plenty of seam sealer.
http://www.chuckthetruck.com/page8.html

I second Chuck. I studied his site while I did mine (thanks by the way). I took some pic's of the re-shaping process that might help. Clamp them up, drill a few holes and then start snugging them together using small bolts. With patience you will get all the gaps to close. I trimmed both the front and back of the kick panels after I got the best fit. Good luck.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/377692314/377796041KQKxHy


Curt B.

I used both those patch panels and I didn't have a lot of trouble at all. The inner cowl panel comes with the incorrect curve at the bottom. I flattened the flange, and modified the curve to fit front and back. Because the curve at the front is quite different from the back shape, the metal has to be stretched. I did the stretching at the back as there is more than one radius involved. You can do that by holding the piece at a slight angle to the bench and striking it downward with a body hammer that has a very slight curve. I practiced on a piece of 20 gauge and found that I could make all kinds of complex shapes.

The inner to outer will not fit exactly every time. So, just bend the inner face at an angle to go further in than you want and make another bend to bring it back at the correct angle.

Thanks for all the replies. As long as I know that this is as good as it gets, I can live with it. I will have to do some more drastic modifications. The inner to outer portion that I took off my truck is really in very good shape other than a couple small holes that I can easily repair. I will probably just reuse it. I guess I am lucky to have a truck with just minor rust like I do.

ChuckB

I GET MY PATCH PANELS FROM BOWTIE BITS...
THEY ARE THE BLACK ONE'S FROM TRIPLUS...
NO PROBLEMS PUTTING THEM ON.....

FRAMEUP TRUCKS

I'm in the middle of installing a ton of patch panels in my 53 cab, so far everything I've put in has been Triplus from either Jim Carters or Chevy Duty, Last time at Carters I mentioned it to Jim and he was telling me how all the patch panels had gotten a lot better over the last few years, and how the Triplus one's were the best one's he'd seen over the years.
I've had to make some "adjustment" in all the panels I've installed, I get the impression that they all are "pretty close" I'm just happy that they are out there, makes me think of the cabs I let go over the last few years that would have been saveable with some of the new panels they've come out with this years.
MONGO