Deve,
I read an article in Classic Trucks (or maybe Custom
Classic Truck) about this very thing. It seems that
the factory tolerances for doors was somewhat looser
than one might expect. To correct the problem on the
project truck they were working on they both added new
metal in some areas and ground metal off in others.
The areas they were working on were the top of the
doors. In one instance when the edge of the door was
ground to give the correct gap the door skin
seperated. The guy just welded the skin back
together, ground down the weld and was ready for
primer and paint.
I will try to find the issue and let you know so that
maybe you can get a copy and see the before and after
pictures.
Byron
--- Deve Krehbiel <dkrehbiel@kscable.com> wrote:
> No new pics on the website yet, but have been
> keeping pretty busy on the
> project. My focus has been metal work and this has
> proven to have a pretty
> long learning curve. You dont just buy a welder and
> weld. There are a few
> things you need to learn. (duhh!!). Altho I
> purchased the right equipment, I
> had no welding experience so a few mistakes had to
> be made.
>
> I spent the last month or so welding new lower
> inside door panels into both
> doors. I chose the passenger door to start. I knew
> where a set of perfect
> replacement doors were for cheap just in case, and
> then set about the task.
> Just using good doors would be a real chicken &^#@
> thing to do since this is
> a learning experience so I was determined to
> succeed. The first door was a
> disaster. Warped the crap out of it. The whole
> inside of the door bowed
> inward so bad that there was nothing anyone could
> do. I still didnt toss the
> door. Instead I removed the patch panel and bent
> everything back into shape
> (looked great again) and proceeded to try again with
> the same panel. This
> time adding some structural iron to support the
> weld. Thru advice from you
> all, and a few local experts, I learned a few tricks
> and the door came out
> perfect. WOW! No bondo needed whatsoever. A perfect
> welding job after the
> grinding operation and the minor flaws will be
> covered with a few coats of
> the primer/filler. I hang the doors after doing this
> on the cab to make sure
> I have a good fit.
>
> After doing both doors and hanging them, I feel
> great about the patch
> panels, but a little concerned over the fit. The fit
> has nothing to do with
> the welding. I have a 49 too and the doors are hung
> sloppy. Seems that they
> hang fine if you arent a perfectionist, but if you
> are looking for a uniform
> 3/16 inch gap all the way around, forget it! In some
> places you get a nice
> even gap. In others, its wider than it should be.
> Adjusting the door doesnt
> help. Anyone have any expereince with this? I know
> the drivers side outer
> cowl panels have been replaced and there might be
> additional gap there. How
> does one remedy this problem? Any advice would be
> much appreciated. Plan is
> to do this right no matter what the cost in time. A
> month just to weld in
> two patch panels may seem excessive, but I wanted it
> right and I wanted to
> do it myself. Those two things are hard to reconcile
> sometimes!
>
> Thanks again!
>
> Deve Krehbiel
> Hesston, Kansas
> 1950 3100 * 1949 3600
> www.speedprint.com/Deves50/index.html
>
>
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built
> between 1941 and 1959
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