I'm a little late on this reply... Jim Carter is the manufacturer of the
best floor panels and it seems the majority of vendors get them from him. That
said I've had a couple problems with his. I found them to be wide by 3/4 of an
inch and had to slice them the whole length where the door seal will fit, remove
the mat'l and reweld. If don't do this and merrily weld them in it will through
your hinge pillar off by that amount. I called to point this out but I think
they are getting tired of hearing from me and when they didn't return my call I
didn't pursue it. After a while I get tried of futile complaining. Also the left
panel has the master cylinder hole off location, but still usable. The left
looks very authentic. The right however has the stiffening ribs the wrong width
and depth. This apparently only matters to me as when I called JC and other
vendors they said out of the 45 gazillion of these they have sold I was the only
one to complain. I hear this allot. Also was told it's in the floor, who is
going to see it, blah blah. I may be a little fanatic here but I go to the
trouble of butt welding floor panels, grinding welds and whatever it takes to
make it look like it was never repaired. All this to be given away by a panel
that isn't authentic looking. Anyhow I would ask Chevy Duty to make sure they
are the same ones Carter sells, they aren't perfect but the best I could find.
Grant
50 Chevy 3100
52 GMC 150
Andy Johns wrote:
> Howdy all,
> I'm looking in to replacing the floor and toe board in my '51 3100. All
> this talk about patch panels made me think to ask, has one done this? Most
> of what I've heard is cab corners and such. Chevy duty is about 30 or forty
> dollars cheaper than Harmons or brothers, is the quality just as good?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Andy Johns
> '51 3100
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Charles Culver <sculver@iwl.net>
> To: Deve Krehbiel <dkrehbiel@kscable.com>
> Cc: oletrucks list <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2000 11:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [oletrucks] Body Work
>
> > >I am hoping to get some input<
> >
> > Dave-
> >
> > I'm like you, want my trucks to look really good, but am having a lot of
> the
> > work done elsewhere. My initial project was my '50, which was pretty much
> > rust/dent free from the start. So I basically just had to smooth a couple
> > of places out, and it was ready for the paint shop, where it is now.
> >
> > Then I bought the '56. Unlike the '50, this one did not come from
> Arizona,
> > and was far from rust free. In fact, there are major rust places to
> repair.
> > My plan was to take it to a sheet metal restoration place and leave it,
> > having all the patch panels done, then pick it up when it's finished.
> > However, I went out to visit a fellow list member, who had done all this
> > himself, and was so impressed that I decided to try it myself.
> >
> > I am amazed at the patch panels that are available to fit all the typical
> > places where trucks tend to rust out. And I learned that a properly
> welded
> > patch panel will give you a stronger area than what was there originally.
> > My wife recently bought me a Lincoln 115v wire feed welder, which is ideal
> > for this kind of work, and although I haven't tried anything on the truck
> > yet, with a little practice, I believe I can do as well as anyone. And
> > although I don't have a lot of time to spend on this, I figure I can order
> a
> > panel or two, weld them in, order another one or two, etc., until some day
> I
> > have a solid truck, then off to the paint shop. Might be something to
> think
> > about.
> >
> > And finally, might I recommend a great book: "How To Restore Your
> Chevrolet
> > Pickup" by Tom Brownell, Published by Motorbooks International. My copy
> > cost 20 bucks at Barnes & Nobel. Has a lot of restoration info in all
> areas
> > for 1928-1991 trucks.
> >
> > Good luck!
> >
> > Smokey Culver
> > '50 3600 5-window (mine) & '56 3600 (hers)
> >
> >
> >
> > oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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