Hi everyone! First post here. Hope everyone is doing great.. One of my projects has a frame with no sheet metal on it yet. The running boards are not native to the truck. They are 1950 3100 running boards, but the mounting holes do not line up. There is no logic (like two of them do, so maybe it's the other). Maybe my frame brackets are bent, but they do not look like it. Is there a measurement from the front of the running board to the first mounting hole, or something I can verify to figure out exactly how to move the running board mounting brackets? Both sides are affected. This is something that has to be exact because the rear fender will bolt up to it (someday). Ideas? Deve Deve's TechNet Home Page
Looking for answers on this site is like trying to find frog hair. Check at www.stovebolt.com , at least everyone there is awake.
Welcome Deve. I could measure my '52 3/4 ton, but you'd be better off comparing to a '50 model 1/2 ton. Maybe Ken, Bilbo or one of the other 50 owners will join the conversation. By the way, my designed by Deve, modified by me, HEI is working fine in my '52 GMC 150. Thanks again for the tech support.
I am always here for my friends! Thanks. So far, everyone who has one is thrilled about it. The list is getting pretty long too! Anyhow, if anyone has nothing else to do, I need measurements for the running boards. From the rear fender end of the running board to the first set of mount holes, the second set, the third set and then between the first and third sets, 2nd and third, etc. You get the idea. We need to be able to confirm EXACT locations for those spot welded brackets on the running boards. Measure from the center of each hole. This will help anyone who has deteriorated mount brackets and needs to confirm the new ones are in the correct spot. Thanks everyone!
Original 1950 running boards. Measured from the trailing edge, the rear fender mounting flange. I have noticed my brand new re-pops, from 'Dynacorn", will need a little "adjustment" to fit. The forward and middle mounting points are just right, the rear ones are off a little. Steve.
Very Nice! That will help alot Steve. Thanks. Later in the week I will get some measurements too and we can reconcile the numbers.
Here are some numbers from one laying on its side so measurements were easy to pull. All are measured from the front of the back fender to the center of the bolts in the running board bracket. Rear: 2 1/4 to inside bolt x 4 to outside bolt. Middle: 29 3/4 inside x 31 outside. Front: 60 inside x 61 1/2 outside. Running board and brackets were in pretty good shape so this should be close. Outer measurement was from the very corner of where the board meets the fender. I believe the truck is a 52 or 53 as it has push button door handles. Pillar tag was gone so couldn't tell for sure; black tag--52, blue tag--53.
This is sort of a fun side project for me. I have 3 sets of running boards but two in pretty bad shape, then with the measurements I am getting here, I can get an idea of what they were thinking at GM back in the day. Precision was not on their minds, but since the 5/16 bolts are very loose inside the bracket, there can be as much as 1/8" on either side difference to play with. I took a whole bunch of pictures and am starting on the drawings now. More coming soon... Thanks for this information. And.. Zig.. I guess you had to be there? Kansans anyway!
After getting input from several people (thanks Steve and Evan) and also measuring 3 sets of my own running boards and 4 truck frames, I averaged out the numbers for each dimension. If you measure on your truck you can be about 1/8" off of these numbers since that seems to be the tolerance GM used... plus or minus 1/8". Please look this over carefully and then critique it. I want people to argue these numbers because if they are not right, I would want to know sooner than later. http://devestechnet.com/Images/Projects/RunningBoards/RunningBoards0038lg.jpg I am perplexed that we do not have this information available anywhere. Those frame brackets get bent, running board brackets deteriorate. Who knows why they didn't put it in the FAM. Is there anything else concerning running boards we need? I also have a bunch of pictures concerning running boards here: Frame-Up Restoration Pic Gallery
Deve, you are doing what looks to be a high point restoration so the following may not be of use. What we do on the S10 frame swaps and other "resto-mods" is to mount the box and rear fenders as well as the filler panel from bed side to running board. The board is bolted to the rear fender and filler panel plus having a screw type jack stand under the front. When all looks good the brackets are bolted to the underside of the board and then the holes are drilled, brackets made, or any shims/spacers used as needed. I guess if you have a horse shoe in your butt after the boards are bolted to the fenders and fillers the brackets will line up with the factory frame holes.
I would go that route too, but I feel there is a better way. Measure and install the brackets just like the FAM tells us to install everything else. But for some reason, they left the running boards out of the FAM. I want to be able to install my running boards at any time during the process so I do not have scars on my legs from getting too close! I think we have it resolved now, for the first time in over 60 years! This is what is cool to me. Find an area of our hobby that has not been addressed, then address it with clear and concise information. This one seems to be fixed so I am on the hunt for the next thing!
Yeah, I can relate Zig. This happens alot. Guys enjoy the hobby for a time and then move on. As much as it hurts sometimes to see someone go, some other victim will come along to relate to. For me it was airplanes, then back to old trucks again. This is a comfortable hobby and one that I will be pursuing for hopefully many years to come. I like the company here. Reminds me of the original oletrucks list. Good on conversation that is relative to the hobby and short on personal attacks. just like I like it.
