AD running board filler panel question
 

This truck('54 3100)came to us in a box(actually, quite a few boxes). Getting the bed pieces ready to go and noticed a difference between the left and right filler panels that fasten to the running boards. Can't really find a good pic that I can blow up to see if they should be like this.

http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps0612c712.jpg


Held them up to the fenders with this result:

http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps34f6da6e.jpg

http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps0edb24ea.jpg


These were never attached to the truck since we've had it. Have I got 2 different years here or has someone modifed one or the other of these pieces?

Re: AD running board filler panel question
 

If someone modified one or cut a long bed one down they did a pretty good job outside of the notch.

This is a shot of Cole Porter's old red truck that I snagged off Ebay when it was for sale there. It's high enough resolution that you can save it to your computer and expand it so that you can study the filer in detail.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...er53Chevy3.jpg

Re: AD running board filler panel question
 

I see that both LMC and Bow Tie Bits list different part numbers for the '47-'53 and '54-'55.1 aprons, but as far as I can tell from the crappy catalog pics the difference is in the bracket where it bolts to the fender and both years appear to have the notch.
I might be money ahead to just get a new one for the right side.

Re: AD running board filler panel question
 

I've never priced a reproduction but that is probably the way to go. The more that I look at that one the more I think that someone either shortened a long bed filler or cut the damaged part out of that one. You see some real quick and nasty fixes on these trucks if you are around them long enough.

Re: AD running board filler panel question
 

47-53 and the 54-55 are both different. The 47-53 are taller than the 54-55. I put a 54 bed on my 50 frame (frame was modified) and I had to make up the filler between the board and bed side. I'm attaching pics. First pic the 47-53 is on the right side, 54-55 on the left, one in the middle is my modified one. I also did some other changes to get the look I wanted. All of them had the notch that matched the fender design. Hope this helps...Jim

Re: AD running board filler panel question
 

I use to work in Salinas when I was a paint rep, seeing that truck drive by just about floored me. Depending on when that photo was taken, it may have the paint I was selling as I donated a gallon to him for it. Cole is a brilliant artist, EVERYTHING he touches could hang in the Smithsonian if you ask me.

Brian