Long time member, read a lot, rarely post. I've got a 50 half ton I've owned for about 25 years and am getting ready to re-paint it for the second time. The first paint job 20 + years ago I repaired and patched some panels that probably should have been replaced. Both cab corners were replaced along with a fair amount of metal work on the lower rear cab panel. Now that replacement panels are available I'd like to replace the lower rear cab panel. I'd like to do it without disturbing the interior panels, has anyone here done this? My plan is to cut off the bulk of the rear panel, leaving a thin strip next to the belt line. This will give me easier access to the spot welds that attach the lower and upper rear panels and a third piece tying the rear panels to the rear upper interior panel. After drilling the spot welds and separating the three panels I think with a little finesse I can remove the remaing sliver of the lower rear cab panel. The new panel would slip into place between the inner and outer upper panels, and then I can plug weld it from the inside. My main concern is a 90 degree lip on the lower cab panel capturing it behind the upper outer panel that may give me some trouble during disassembly. For reassembly I would just trim it off the new panel allowing me to slip it into place. The factory assembly manual has some very good illustrations of how it all fits together. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks, John
The Plan Sounds like you have it well mapped out John ; I'd like to see some pix as that's how I learn , by seeing .
