New project! The "Red Herring"

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

Separate note: I cut the rear cab braces (all three of which were damaged) about 5" below the reinforcing rib at the top of the rear panel - it feels like they were welded in there before the rear panel was installed, how to remove them?

Yes these braces were spot welded at the top to the rear panel. Section 1 sheet 42 of the assembly manual shows the part. My main computer is at the repair shop so I can't scan a picture to put up on here. Don't know your fab skills but you may have to make up pieces to add to this and extend down to bottom of new floor pan...Jim

[JJorgensen52]

In roughly reverse order:

Originally Posted by oldman3

Yes these braces were spot welded at the top to the rear panel. Section 1 sheet 42 of the assembly manual shows the part. My main computer is at the repair shop so I can't scan a picture to put up on here. Don't know your fab skills but you may have to make up pieces to add to this and extend down to bottom of new floor pan...Jim

I have the replacement braces, so I am not concerned about that for the moment, I just could not see any spot welds inside the cab to drill in order to separate them from the rear panel.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Farmer Sid replaced the back panel on his truck. Here it is in case you haven't seen the build. Worth a look.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=632938

This build is actually the primary reason I do not want to replace the rear panel - it seemed like there was a LOT of delicate metal surgery involved;

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Can you show the braces? Is the rear panel dented up or too rusty?

The major problem with the rear panel is dents. The driver's side has one that I can work out, but the passenger's side looks like it was caved in at some point, and beat back out with a baseball bat. It was filled with bondo - up to a 1/2" thick in places.

That said, the metal is in good shape all along the beltline at the top of the panel and for most of the rest of it save the dented area.

The rust at the bottom lip I can fabricate a replacement piece for, so that I am not too concerned about.

If you look back at the first photos in posts #14 and #21, you can see a little bit of what I'm referring to about the passenger's side. I realize I haven't posted a good photo, I can snap one this afternoon.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

I have the replacement braces, so I am not concerned about that for the moment, I just could not see any spot welds inside the cab to drill in order to separate them from the rear panel.

Not sure, but I don't think there is enough room to get a drill in to drill the welds. Wish I could put up the picture. As last resort you could cut the present brace near the top and weld new brace on at that point to extend down to the floor...Jim

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Not sure, but I don't think there is enough room to get a drill in to drill the welds. Wish I could put up the picture. As last resort you could cut the present brace near the top and weld new brace on at that point to extend down to the floor...Jim

In looking through some more photos in Farmer Sid's build, it looks like you're right. I suppose the other alternative is I could cut the lip free on the inside, drill the welds, spot the new braces in and then weld it back together??

I think I like the splicing old to new idea best. The tops of the braces were fine, they were bent/kinked at the bottom which is why I purchased the replacements.