[dusterbd13]

so the back cab wall in my 64 is rotted out along the bed seam. underneath on the floorpan is sold, but in between its just gone.

no one reproduces this panel that i have been able to find, which means i get the joy of custom sheetmetal work.

ive been trying to figure out what i want to do. part of me wants to cut the section out of the cab of the truck to make a stprage compartment like the 80s version had. part of me wants to hinge the bolt on lid, fix the wall,m and make a toolbox. part of me just wants to seal the entire compartment up.

so what did you guys do with yours, and why? what would you have done differently?

michael

 

[Alan F]

I'm more of a purist. I'd find a used panel and install it. You can't argue with the way the General did it. I had a '71 once that was converted. The smugglers compartment had a piano hinge on it. It wasnt sealed and anything you put in their rattled around and was heard very loudly in the cab. Could it be fixed, sure. But I always felt the cab was compromised. Did I mentioned it leaked water, air and noise?

 

[Tony65]

I wish I had bought one of those panels back in '96 when they were selling for $100. I figured that I'd get one next time around. I didn't realize at the time they were original GM panels. Anyhow... This time I had to replace the panel. I ended up purchasing the window patch panel for the top, then just had a local sheet metal shop bend up a flat panel with the lower flange pointing towards the bed, and the side flanges pointing in towards the cab. I was going to form the ribs with some dies I made for a beed roller but chickened out since the panel was .050" thick. Instead I had the sheetmetal shop bend the ribs .. just lenthwise as I trimmed and formed the ends, then welded the ribs to the panel. It was a royal pain doing it after I installed the panel. Would have been a lot easier to do it on the bench. I also forgot my notes when I went to the shop and accidently had them made about 1/2" too wide. Overall it looks ok, but certainly not original.

If you have an extra inner panel from a tail gate, I think those ribs might be close to the front panel ribs, but I think you'd need two panels.

As far as the smugglers box, I'm putting in a hinged lid for outside access. For me it seems like it would be more benificial to have exterior access for jack, tool and chair storage.

 

[dusterbd13]

the flange and below are what are rotted out on mine. it appears that you bought one. where did you get it? i can rebuildt the flange on the upper panel, but the lower is much more complex. on your picture its black.

and my truck is more daily/work truck. wont be garaged, so we have to take that into consideration.

michael

 

[Tony65]

Dynacorn makes the black panel. It's called a bed divider and is available through many Chevelle, El Camino parts dealer. I got mine from NPD. I think the Dynacorn part number 1428F.

They do come with the two small panels for the cut outs at both ends, but for some reason they punched a small triangle through them, so you'll need to make your own or weld a small patch into them...

http://http://www.npdlink.com/store/products/1965_chevelle_panel_set_rear_compartment_division-146486-7377.html[/URL]