VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 '40 chevy rubber running boards

I just recieved a replacement set of rubber running boards covers from one of the suppliers,But --there FLAT !!!! Question: how do I make the roll-over on the outer edge and rear (the orginal,or whats left of them seem solid with no seams ?? just cut and glue ?--heat?? magic wand?? Sacrafice a live chicken to the running board Gods ?? If I just cut and glue what do you suggest I use to "hide " the cut area ?? Or am I making a big federal case out of nothing ? Thanks for your time ---John

Sounds like cut, heat and glue - butting the joint together.I would think that if you glued the top surface first being careful to position it correctly -then- after it dries work with the edges.This would allow you more time to "make the joints" on the corners............and I don't mean the BARS.(Wisconsin people know what they are)

Chevmandog and Chev Nut,

Since I was about to order replacement mats myself for my 40, could you tell me where you bought yours?

The reason I ask is that I see that Chevs of the 40's has one pair that looks to be original (NRS - I guess) for $374.00/pair and another that, from the crappy picture and the description of "not as original" for $165,pair. The former seems to be pre-molded and the latter doesn't. Heck of a price difference. But maybe I should still reconsider going with the 'cheapo's'.

DocB

If the replacement covers you have are flat on the bottom they are for non-original replacement running boards that were sold by companies like J.C. Whitney. The reason I know this is because I bought a set in 1971. The top was grooved just like the originals were but the metal was flat. I think you are going to have adherence problems if the metal is grooved and the cover is flat. For some reason I kept the original metal grooved boards and recoved them about 5 years ago with the correct covers. The cover does roll over the edge and the back. The installation of the covers will test your patience to the extreme. "Live chickens" won't do it, but stubborness helps a lot. I still have those flat boards up in the attic and you can have them for the shipping costs. If I remember correctly I recovered them twice with pyramid rubber as I drove the car every day until the mid-90's. Email me if you want the boards or want to talk about the installation. deluxe1940@aol.com

DocB - The replacement mats I installed came from Chevs of the 40s and as usual they were the expensive ones. But I knew to ask about grooved or flat. For just one time I knew what was correct and authentic before I did it. And they are "tough" to install. As is usual with NRS parts, they "almost fit." I thought maybe it was just my "farmer installation techniques" but have talked to others and they have had the same problem.

I dealt with Paul Bowling at:
Buckeye Rubber Parts
8308 National RD
Brookville OH 45309
937-833-2885

He has a solution for 1940 Chev running boards.

BigBob,

Could you tell me more about this guy, what services he offers and where in Ohio he is located (I lived in Cleveland for 30 years and never heard of Brookville)? If he can be of ANY help regarding removal of old mats, purchasing the right replacements and installation of them, it would be a big help.

docb

Hey Doc...

Brookville is east of the Indiana border by ~25 miles on Interstate 70. Paul Bowling takes your "cleaned" metal and puts them in an original 1940 Chevrolet running board mold and recoats them with rubber". If your metal is shot, he has some metal "blanks" that can be molded up but they won't pass muster for show. They look original from the outside, but underneath, they don't look stock. Give him a call, he is a great guy. :)

BigBob,

Thanks. I'll look into it.

Docb

I sure like my running boards!!...Keep us informed on the project.

Another thing that works but is not original, would be to clean the running boards or covers well and have a bed liner company spray them. This is what I did on my "38", it looks nice and cost about fifty bucks for both. Mac

WOW !!! I guess I awoke a sleeper !! My running boards (metal ) are ,being kind ,"not good" As I'm putting out baskets of money already to reach my goal of having it on the road by june this is what I did . 1) I bought a set of metal (smooth) from smoothie fabrication Iron station N.C.Their for the hot rod set so their" full "-front to back fender --had to torch off about an inch. Took the rubber mats and, through a friend of mine in the printing die buisness put the arm on him for some sheet rubber --by luck the notches on the rubber mat measures .155 and he had stock thats .155 ,glues that into the notches after cutting the strips in a bandsaw.As soon as the piggy bank is full again I'll have the orginals done properly --but in the meantime this seems to work ,well at least around town in a "fun car"

Hey, Mac HB, any chance you could post me a picture of the result of your bed liner spray solution? My e-mail address is in my profile. My mats aren't that bad either, but with a new paint job this spring, they will look like crap and detract from everything else.

Doc

Check with your local trailer companies they sell/install/spray the spray bed liners also, cheaper than some other places.

Quality was higher also.