"Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...

[jaros44sr]

Nice work on the dash...the problem I see, or don't see is the step up. There is no metal behind the 'B' post. That looks more like a rip than a hole.Possibly at some time that 'B' post was shoved to the outside of the vehicle, maybe an accident? How did your doors line up?
I had to replace the metal behind it, but I have no idea what it was supposed to look like since mine was gone. Where I cut my 'B' post there are still spot welds to a 3/4" flange that is attached to the step up. What you can't see in the pic is a very small offset to the front, it makes that area alot cleaner for lining up to the 'B' post

How does it look from the back side?

Possibly like this

[71jimmy]

Forgive my jumping in with a question here. I'm also working on this area on my Jimmy. Been following all the varies posts and have gleaned great info from them. The one item I've not seen discussed is what I have circled in the pic from Jarros44sr.

I don't think anyone makes a patch panel for this area. Has anyone repaired this area? How/what have you done? Any ideas appreciated. Thanks

[DURRTY]

These 2 parts go into that area http://classicheartbeat.com/catalog/...%20support.htm

and this

http://classicheartbeat.com/catalog/...nt%20panel.htm

I think on gmc pauls website there are pics of these parts installed

[jaros44sr]

Don't know for sure, but I think the parts Durrty is showing might get tied into the torsion box.

The part you are referring to is not available as far as I know, it is really the back side of the 'B' post. That is why mine is still open, I haven't tackled it yet. It isn't a very hard pc. to make, just haven't got roundtoit. I'll take a pic of what is left of mine in a minute...

[Chevyman63]

Could this be it?

http://www.tri-proautomotive.com/ser...t-dooor/Detail

Update: I just looked at it and I was wrong...that piece is behind the one that I put the link to.

[jaros44sr]

Sorry, I had to run and do Christmas shopping

Here's some pics of the area in question I think, they are a little blurry since its white paint









The second and third pic shows it best, the rusty pc. should continue forward about a 1/2" to 1", then bend at a 90 degree towards the interior. After this area is done then the lower forward 1/4 panel patch goes on top of this.
It should extend all the way down to the rocker panel, but I don't know what it looks like, so just wing it

Hope this helps

[RustyParts]

Originally Posted by 71jimmy

Forgive my jumping in with a question here. I'm also working on this area on my Jimmy. Been following all the varies posts and have gleaned great info from them. The one item I've not seen discussed is what I have circled in the pic from Jarros44sr.

I don't think anyone makes a patch panel for this area. Has anyone repaired this area? How/what have you done? Any ideas appreciated. Thanks

I don't mean to hijack, but here's what I did to repair this area. I had my bedside off when I did this, but I believe it can be done with the bedside in place. I did it with three pieces of plate.

The first piece I replaced was the piece with the hole in it. I used the hole as a reference and scribed a line across and cut it off the bedside.

I then cut off the flanges from this piece so I could use what was left as a pattern.

Then I tacked a square piece of metal roughly the size I would need to replace the rotted piece onto the bedside where the hole is and using the old piece I cleaned up, I placed it against the new metal and traced out an outline of what needed to be removed.

I checked the contour before I cut any metal by laying a yardstick down the side of the front quarter panel and moving it down checking the line traced onto the new metal.

The next piece was easier, I cut a piece of plate using the measurement off the flange still left on the bedside, appox. one inch and long enough to go the length of the first piece and bending it as I tack welded it.

The last piece has an additional lip on it so it was a little more trouble. Again I cut another flat piece long enough to go the length of the first piece and I allowed enough width for the lip along the outside.

I tack welded this piece the top next to the bedside and using a straight edge against the "B" pillar I drew a line down the metal so it would line up with the "B" pillar. After I scribed the line I allowed another 3/8" past the drawn line for the bent lip.

Bend and tack the piece in place.

Using my cutoff tool I cut a series of notches about an inch apart down to the last line drawn for the lip this would allow me to bend the metal for the lip. Bend the lip using a pair of vice grips and weld the lip up and grind down.

Recheck the alignment and weld up the cracks. It's really hard to put in handwriting, but if you study the pics you can understand what I'm talking about. Hope this helps out and apologies for the highjack. Rusty

[jaros44sr]

Thanks Rusty, I thought that you did alot work in this area of your Jimmy. Good description and pics....thanks for the help. J.

[Big J]

No problem Rusty, we're all here to help. Everytime I see something like what you had to replace, I thank God and my uncle for being able to purchase the green tub, lol.....

I got some more work done today. Rebuilt the drivers door hinge and welded up a small crack in the door below the top hinge. I also finished up the blazer door conversion.... Got the patch cut out for the drivers floor but gave up on welding it in, lol.... I figured it was about time to hit the couch, lol... Don't think I'm lazy, I also rotated the tires on my car and cleaned it out in between workin' on the blazer lol....

I know the plate around the door latch isn't pretty. Keep in mind I'll be sandblasting everything and epoxy primering it all.....

[jaros44sr]

Hey J, any idea how much bed patch matrl. you need yet? Since your knocking the he!! out of the floorboards, I figgered you'll be working on the bed soon, LMK...J

[Big J]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Hey J, any idea how much bed patch matrl. you need yet? Since your knocking the he!! out of the floorboards, I figgered you'll be working on the bed soon, LMK...J

I'm guessing I could use a couple 12x12 pieces, hopefully less, lol.... How much can ya part with? Another question.... I seen in your thread you just used some seam sealer. What kind should I get and how much does it cost?

[71jimmy]

RustyParts, nice post on the B pillar repair. You do nice work. Do you remember off hand what gauges or thickness metal you use?

Thanks

[Big J]

Originally Posted by 71jimmy

RustyParts, nice post on the B pillar repair. You do nice work. Do you remember off hand what gauges or thickness metal you use?

Thanks

Send him a pm, he might not see this......

[RustyParts]

Originally Posted by 71jimmy

RustyParts, nice post on the B pillar repair. You do nice work. Do you remember off hand what gauges or thickness metal you use?

Thanks

16 or 17 GA. Picked it up at lowes.

[Big J]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Nice work on the dash...the problem I see, or don't see is the step up. There is no metal behind the 'B' post. That looks more like a rip than a hole.Possibly at some time that 'B' post was shoved to the outside of the vehicle, maybe an accident? How did your doors line up?
I had to replace the metal behind it, but I have no idea what it was supposed to look like since mine was gone. Where I cut my 'B' post there are still spot welds to a 3/4" flange that is attached to the step up. What you can't see in the pic is a very small offset to the front, it makes that area alot cleaner for lining up to the 'B' post

How does it look from the back side?

Possibly like this

I'll crawl under and get some pics of the backside. Who know if it was ever wrecked, lol..... The doors shut fine. The rocker boxes are still mostly intact. At first a rip is what I thought but its not a rip. More like a weld gone bad. I'll post up when I do some more investigation/cutting.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Big J

I'll crawl under and get some pics of the backside. Who know if it was ever wrecked, lol..... The doors shut fine. The rocker boxes are still mostly intact. At first a rip is what I thought but its not a rip. More like a weld gone bad. I'll post up when I do some more investigation/cutting.

Sorry about hijacking your thread, just trying to answer 71jimmy. I typed before I thought...

If your rocker boxes are in tact, you my not see that area. The rear mounting plate of the torsion box comes all the way up into the second brace of the bed... J

[Big J]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Sorry about hijacking your thread, just trying to answer 71jimmy. I typed before I thought...

If your rocker boxes are in tact, you my not see that area. The rear mounting plate of the torsion box comes all the way up into the second brace of the bed... J

No problem, theres a difference between hijacking and helping someone. You had me worried about what might be hiding so I walked over to the garage, crawled under and snapped some pics. Its all good! Not rusted out at all, surprisingly. The drivers and passenger side are both solid. I took a couple pics of what one of the previous owners did to install some steps, cut a big square out of the rocker box.

[Chevyman63]

Originally Posted by Big J

I took a couple pics of what one of the previous owners did to install some steps, cut a big square out of the rocker box.

That really sucks! Are you going to patch those up or replace the entire box?

[jaros44sr]

Wow. that is prestine, except what the PO did. I'm glad for ya. That area did and is giving me fits J.

[71jimmy]

Your are lucky, those look great The inside fender pieces are pretty rusty on mine. I will need to make something, not sure how yet though. I don't think anyone makes a patch for this piece. It has some nasty bends/folds in it. If someone sees this and has tackled this, maybe they could open a new thread. I think the torsion box will be easy to fix. Good luck.

[Big J]

I'm going to clean up what they cut out of the boxes and weld some plate back in. Shouldn't be a big deal. I'll pour the Por-15 to it before closing it in. I need to finish the dash first. I tend to have a.d.d when it comes to this stuff. I'll start on this part then look at that part then find something else and before I know it I have 10 little projects going on........ Anyone heard the A.D.D song on the Bob and Tom show? Funny stuff....