VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans Installing wood in a 35 1/2 ton pickup

Any tips on installing wood in a 1/2 ton p/u ? I purchased a kit from rodman. But my wood was basiclly gone before I puchased this project. Do you start with the cowl pillars and dash support piece and drive they up from the botton of the cowl together? Any tips , Ideas , suggestions are welcome.

Thanks for any help...

I always start at the front and work back. The key is to get the doors to fit well. Once that is done other parts will normally fit in place with little or no adjustment.

I always recommend that the chassis be level where the body is installed. It is common for the frame to be a little lower at the front than the rear particularily on trucks. Once the frame is level you can then level the main sill and easily determine if the other parts are installed correctly.

Do you wax the pillar post to aid in installation? Do you install both pillar posts and the dash support wood as one unit?

This info was given to my by 35 Pickup Man a wile back. Hope it helps..
"All the floor wood is assembled first then the back wood structure from door opening rear posts around the rear to the other rear post. The platform (floor) must be level and back vertical so you can fit the back corner sheet metal panels ( adjust wood components by planing or sanding with belt sander). Use your two back panels to adjust the corners so that the overlaps are correct with the corners. I epoxy prime all the sheet metal panels before assembly so that all surfaces are covered. The rear corners are put on first then the back panels (lower first) Pre-drill nail holes first to prevent wood splitting. Cowl wood is assembled first before installing to floor and truck frame as the door posts and dash member are but together first and slid up into the cowl from the bottom. Roof panel installed last."

You mentioned that you got your wood kit from "rodman". My 35 pickup had been stripped of all the wood before I got it so I'm going to need a total kit sometime soon. Could you give me more info on your source.

Auto Wood Restoration, Jim Rodman, Hanna, Indiana 46340. Phone: (219) 797-3775

Thanks for the info, Junkyard Dog. I'll make a call.