Classic Trucks – November 2019

INSTALL FABRICATE UPGRADE

BROTHERS TRUCK

PARTS

(800) 9 77-27 67

http://www.brotherstrucks.com

HARBOR FREIGHT

TOOLS

(800) 423 -2 567

http://www.harborfreight.com

Part 2: This Time We’re Dealing With Damage

Fitment

Fundamentals

TECH

Wo r d s &I m a g e s “Rotten” Rodney Bauman

Roughly a month ago we began the panel alignment phase

of our ongoing ’55 Chevy second-series build. As y’all may

recall, the little ½-ton shorty had been crash-tested sometime

during its workin’ years. The frontend collision bent the

truck’s frame. Along with that it closed the door gaps to the

point where cowl pillars, jambs, hinges, and hardware all had

to give.

Last month we decided we could salvage the truck’s

passenger side door. It’s in its place, adjusted about as well

as possible at this stage. The driver-side door, however, is

seriously wounded. On this type of door it’s common to see

lower hinge pockets torn up. Brothers Trucks offers a solution

(PN LDHB900, lower hinge brace) for that problem, and if that

were all we needed we’d just fix the door we’ve got. When

Have you ever had a solution come to you while sleeping? How about in the

shower? Whether or not we’ll admit it, we all encounter project frustrations, in the shop, in the

garage, or out back under that tree. When that inevitably happens, it’s good to walk away and

maybe focus on another task for a while. This time as we go, we’ll include that in our story.

SOURCES

01 Second-series ’ 55 -’ 59

GM trucks featured a new

“Unisteel” cab design. The

double-wall cowl also serves as

the ventilation system’s plenum

chamber, and it’s strong. Here

the damaged area is as we left

it, after initial rough-out.

72 classictrucks.com