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1947-54 chevy truck door/cab dent/hinge

6K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  MARTINSR 
#1 ·
My 53 had a huge dent in the left side cab from the door opening too far. I've looked at other for sale trucks of the same generation & about half of them have the same damage. Why was this so common? What steps can I take now to not do the same damage? Was the right side doors damaged as often? I'm at a loss fellas, any advice will help. Thanks
 
#2 ·
My guess is since the fuel tank opening is on the left side and most people fail to set the parking brake besides leaving the truck in gear during a stop. There have been some roll back incidents catching a gas pump. Or gate post, or garage door edge, etc, etc. My first vehicle was a 1950 Chevy truck, and since it was 30 years old at the time; park brake didnt work and as a young lad was a bit too lazy to bother fixing it :rolleyes:
 
#3 ·
I have owned one of these trucks for 37 years and have seen many with that same damage as well. What it comes down to is of course the door was opened too far, it is simple as that. Trucks are usually used a little rougher than cars and likely it happens because the truck is being used for work and some person jumping out to tend to a downed fence or delivery of firewood or something jumped the gun and opened the door before the truck came to a complete stop. OR, the simple fact that the original door latches SUCK big time. I know I had a friend swing out on the door as I went around a corner back in high School! Luckily the window was down and he hung on and didn't fall out of the truck. But that is likely how these damaged cowls occurred.

How can you stop it, well, don't swing the door open too far. :D But honestly, outside of bending the hinges so they don't allow the door to open quite as far so if it does get "sprung" a little it won't hit. OR install a "check strap" device.



I personally wouldn't worry about it, just don't treat your truck like a truck. :D

But give it a good look see and check to see if the doors hinges may be bent from being sprung. If your door has hit the cowl before there is a good chance your hinges and or mounting points are bent a little.

Here is a "basics" I put together on the subject of sprung doors.
Click here for the "Basics of Basics" Sprung doors.

Brian
 
#5 ·
I am having a case of CRS and for the life of me I can't remember the name of those center link boxes. But it is a vintage stet up used in dragsters.

Brian
 
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