Inner cab Corners true purpose

[thump16]

I read an article on classic trucks about repairing cab corners and they stated that the inner cab corner had no effect on structural integrity of the cab. I have new inner cab corners to install but i was wondering if I need to install the whole piece or just cut out and use the upper/front portion?

[NEWFISHER]

I think if I ever looked to buy a truck and the seller had gone to all the work involved to replace rusted panels, but cut short replacing the inners, I would second guess the rest of the work that was covered in paint and pass on the sale. Just my .02

I would also want to replace them just because they were once there and I was returning the truck to the way it should be.

[dubie]

The cab corners was actually the first thing I look at with any truck. Someone replaced both cab corners on my 56 before they made patch panels and still went through the work of fabricating and installing inner cab corners as well.

[mr48chev]

Do you mean not go to the trouble of fixing it or just leave it empty where they were?

If they are bad I'd repair them as correctly as I could just to know that it was done right if for no other reason.

As Dubie mentioned above, those little sins and neglected spots can come back to haunt a guy if and or when he goes to sell the truck in the future.

[dicer]

If there was no reason for them, GM would not have spent the time, material and money to originally put them there. So I suppose that writer that says they have no effect on strength, was part of the original design team in the body department. Don't think so.
Just try to take one out and you will see they add plenty of extra support in that area, and I agree with newfisher.

[G&R's57GMC]

If you leave the inner cab corner off the outer corner will be unsupported and the cab will be open to the world.

If you opt to leave the inner corner out you will have to fab a plate to close in the floor to the outer sheet metal. If you go that way, you might as well have replaced the inner corner and done it right in the first place.

[Chevette]

The "true purpose" of the inner cab corner is to make the outer cab corner get all rusty. I installed new outer corners and nixed the inner corners.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Chevette

The "true purpose" of the inner cab corner is to make the outer cab corner get all rusty. I installed new outer corners and nixed the inner corners.

I agree with you on that. The inner cab corner on the 55-59 is a water and dirt trap. I nix mine also and welded the open area inside the cab closed. By the way I did install new ones and when I cut them out as high as I could from under the cab, there was already crap stuck between the inner and outer cab corners. IMO not a good design. If you keep them from a stocked perceptive I understand, but that does not change the fact the area is prone to rust right along with a lot of other areas. Why do you think the cab corners are a common place of rust on these trucks? Well moisture and dirt being trapped between the two panels has a lot to do with it.


If you been through enough of these trucks you will see what was causing the rust. I don't buy the if GM spent time to design argument. GM did not expect these trucks would still be around today. They were farm trucks to be used and abused and junked after they out lived their usefulness. If it rusted after 10-15 years who cared it was time for a new truck. I can tell you many bad ideas about these trucks. Poor door fitment and the cowl vent design was awful (hinge pockets rusted out due to dirt and leaves), the interior cab corner was not closed and remained open (how much crap have you found in your cab corners?). And lets not talk about how today we may not like the idea of riding around in a truck with the gas tank in the cab with us.

There are lots of poor ideas done to these trucks from a rusting stand point. But than again how was GM to know we would still desire them 50 years later.

[dicer]

What causes the rust is lack of seam sealer, and water and salt that gets into the spot welded seam, hard for water to come from inside the cab, it comes from road spray. And there is plenty more places besides the inner corners. With out the inners a rock flipped up could mess up that area real quick. It also shows poor workmanship at resale.

[Kabwe]

Speaking of workmanship and craftsmanship. I see that you have the expertize to tell people how to build their rides but yet I've never seen any pictures of your work. Not one. But any opinion that differs from yours, you feel the need to attack. We are trying to eliminate what we believe is a problem area thats all its not personal but you want to make it personal. You said that its our poor workmanship, so lets see yours. Chevelles, Dubie, G&R's57GMC, thump16, Newfishers, and I have posted our pics for all to see. It does not matter if you think its good or bad work the pics are up there.

I say since you know so much you should start a build thread and show everyone on here how things should be done.

[Kim57]

I'm with Bam on the cab corners. When I get my cab layed on its back to do the bottom that's one of the things I'm going to eliminate.
Kim

[Kabwe]

thump16,

The article is correct in my opinion. The inner cab corners are not connected to the outer cab corners in any way. If one has ever replaced cab corners on a 55-59 cab they know that if you cut out the outer cab corners the inner ones will remain in place. They are not connected by weld, rivet, or bolt. Using Seam sealer will not help the moisture issue at the bottom of the outer cab corner. It is a moisture trap that causes rust over time. Now how much time is up for debate, but than again so is eliminating the bottom of the inner cab corners.lol

Here are some pics from my buddy's BCToyBox's thread. You can find it here http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=432758


See that is the inner cab corner still in place. Look at the cancer this is stocked from the factory.

See he cut the bottom half inner cab corner

Well the outer back on.

[OrrieG]

I rebuilt my inner ones but left generous drainage openings. I then made a cover for the top inside cab corners and sealed them up good. Since they return to the back of the cab I believe they do have some structural capacity to keep that part from deforming.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I rebuilt my inner ones but left generous drainage openings. I then made a cover for the top inside cab corners and sealed them up good. Since they return to the back of the cab I believe they do have some structural capacity to keep that part from deforming.

With all due respect, I don't believe there is a right or wrong here just personal choice. I rebuilt my inner floor section also and then I cut the the flap that hangs down after I installed the outer corner. The bottom of the inner cab corner just hangs and its not attached to anything. I agree with you about the floor section though.

Also remember when you built that filler piece on the inside of the cab. that is the outer cab corner and nothing was connect to it, its simply a single walled panel.

A drain will do okay but I rather not worry about it.lol The hinge pockets have drains also but they became clogged over time and rusted out.

I've have flipped my cab on its cab corners many times without the inner flap and its still as straight as the day I put them in. The cab corners have a radius I seriously doubt it is weaker because of eliminating the inner flap which is not connected to anything. Its very easy to bend a flat panel its much harder to bend a curved one, let along compound curves. You have to be in an accident to bend that cab corner and in that case you need a new cab corner anyway.lol

Now all that said, I do believe a lot of this stuff is over thinking it. It took many years for our cabs to rust to the point that they have, so it may be a mute point. I probably would not be around by the time it rusted up again.lol But I did not like those inner cab corners so I got rid of them.

[GMtrucknut!!]

I have to agree with Kawbe it is a matter of personal choice, I replaced mine but if I were to do another I don't know if I would !! That is the greatest thing about building a truck , IT'S YOUR TRUCK BUILD IT HOW YOU WANT!!!! LOL

[G&R's57GMC]

Consider that these trucks spent most of there working life ridden hard and put away wet.

A lot of dirt roads just add the dirt & dust to every part that could collect it and the owners didn't clean them out. Add worn weatherstrips and leaks and 20 years later you've got rust eating the sheet metal.

So here we are today 58 years later rebuilding these trucks and addressing all the damage done.

When we get these trucks back on the road as hot rods they will be treated with care and kept spotless. So the problem areas will most likely never see the the dirt roads, fields and rust problems as long as builder maintains them over the next 10, 20 or more years.

Build them as you like and have a great time driving them.

[thump16]

Thanks guys,

I have the 1955-59 GM TRUCK CAB REAR INNER PANEL LARGE REAR WINDOW coming from classic industries next week since my rear pillars were jacked from shade tree welding, I decided best to replace the whole thing instead of patch work. I still have the other patch panel inner window assembly and bracing(smaller pic) but the complete assembly is gonna be so much easier. I was going to modify the inner cab corners before putting on the outer back cab wall. I will not be selling this truck but I trust the judgement of the seasoned builders on this site, I just don't want to put money into it only to have rust all over again.

[BC Toy chest]

HAHAHA I had no idea I was going to get dragged into this. Any way for whatever it's worth it's a matter of preference on the inner cab corner. I drove my truck for years with those rusted out inner cab corners not being attached to anything at the bottom. What the photos do not show is the primer, rust resistant paint and sprayable bed liner I treated the remaining portion of the inner cab corner and back side of the replacement outer cab corner as a anti- rust barrier that will out live me. I will also make a cover for the open area inside the cab as seen in Kabwe's picture below. As far as integrity or structural strength I do not see how that's going to negatively effect the truck by not having the inner cab corner. The new cab corner once welded in is ridged enough. I was rear-ended once and the car that hit me was torn up and all I suffered was a broken tail light lens, Look at my back bumper. The second photo is where I cut out the inner cab corner.

[BC Toy chest]

Well at any rate Inner Cab Corners seem to be the least of their problems. I was told in an e-mail the white GMC came a loose from a tow truck and tumbled down the high way. Don't know if that is true or not.

[dwcsr]

The inner corners do give stability to the outer corner and most of these trucks came from the factory with an attached gravel guard on the cab corner. Without the inner it would rip the outer corner out in short order. A lot of trucks no longer have these guards because they rotted or were torn off 30 years later.

The outer corner does have a lot of metal hanging down not to have some support. But for today's purposes I don't see the absolute need for them if you close off the opening it leaves on the floor. We no longer use draft tubes so in cab fumes are minimized and these will never see the mud and rough terrain they once did see.

On the 72's they don't use an inner but again they don't have the length of metal hanging under the floor line.

[dicer]

I'll do the picture deal someday.
I don't have time to look up the page, but in the assembly manual it clearly shows, the inner corner spot welded to the bottom rim of the outer corner. Thus adding strength.
If proper attention is payed to sealing it up and corrosion prevetative measures are taken, they will never rust out. I'm suprized you don't all remove the inner roof panel as well, you would be very suprised at the massive rust in that area.

[Kabwe]

BCtoyBox,

Yeah I dragged you into it because your pics are more detailed than mine.lol

Originally Posted by dicer

I'll do the picture deal someday.
I'm suprized you don't all remove the inner roof panel as well, you would be very suprised at the massive rust in that area.

Once again you can not post without a sarcastic or negative tone. Yet those on your side of this debate have not felt the need to be sarcastic or negative. They only stated their opinions. I think the inner roof panel and the inner cab corners are two different animals all together. Well you been here for two years preaching your gospel of how these trucks should be done so I say show us how to do it the right way. Talk is cheap.

BTW I have replaced my roof on my truck and the inner roof panel was not rusted out. Surface rust yes, but not rusted through (and my truck was setting in a trailer park with no windows for years). The outer roof panel was rusted through in the eye brow area.

dwcsr

I respect your opinion and I don't think its wrong to keep the inner cab corners factory, but I also don't think there will be any ill affects to cut the bottom half off of the inner panel. Well maybe if you are doing a stock rebuild they are mandatory but not on a rod. But from a strength I don't see it. That inner panel does not even touch the outer panel in this area, thats why people put a filler panel.


With all due respect (and I have a lot of respect for the very informative post you have posted through the years) I will agree that we disagree on as far as strength is concerned.

[Kabwe]

Dicer,

It seems you are on some kind of mission to offend people with some of the post you have posted. Talking about how we should save the original frames and keep them stocked.lol Posting that crap about how we are messing up our rides. Cars have been cut up since there were cars. Hotroding or modding is never going to stop and it sure is not a new phenomenon. We can cut up, chop, slam, anything we want because we paid the money for the truck and have to build them how we like them not how you like them. We can cut it in pieces if we want to its our truck and our money. If you want to save frames and stocked truck go out and buy all the stocked trucks left and keep them that way.

I have nothing against stocked, modified, kustom or whatever I'm just a carnut. I may not have the same taste as some of the people on the forum but I respect any guy who has the talent or desire to build a ride at home in his garage. I have read and enjoyed post by OrrieG, Newfisher, dubie, G&R's57GMC, dwcsr, Kim57 and a lot of other guys on this site. Some of these guys do not build the stuff I would build but that does not mean they are not talented and I find them to be very informative. The style of build does not matter they share information freely and that's what this forum is about. Its not suppose to be about your personal taste or what you think is a good idea. Answer the question that was put forth if you can contribute to helping someone accomplish their goals. If you've never done a clip and someone is asking about clips then that post was not directed towards you. Period. If you don't modify and a post was talking about how to perform a certain mod the post was not directed towards you. I've seen post that were not directed towards what I do and I read them and came away with more information than I've had about the subject. That feels great.

I really don't understand your need to be rude and disrespectful towards what people plan or have desires to do to their trucks. Build your truck the way you want and let others do the same. Whats so hard to understand about that. You are not the only person that can speak their mind and people that are trying to build their trucks should not have to put up with your idiotic idea that everyone has to like and want the same thing.

By the way I have never had an issue selling a modified car. The people who like modified cars are looking for modified cars and the people who like stocked cars are looking for stocked. Every time I drive my 55 210 to a car show or a meet and greet the offers start coming. Its actually makes it hard to keep vehicles because the offers can be quite nice. It does not matter if you build stocked or modified you can never get back what you put into them. Its takes time blood, sweat, and tears.

[ScottRussell]

To add fuel to this fire... My 59 is totally modified and I like it that way.... It is still a work in progress... I replaced the outers and did not replace the inners... i also made corner blocks inside the cab to make the floor flat and keep the elements outside the cab... you can check out my work, i also am not afraid to post pictures...

My 67 Camaro Convertible is also highly modified, looks great and runs 10 sec 1/4 miles...And gets tons of trophys at shows... i am sure my truck will do the same when finished...

Cheers, Scott

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

dwcsr

I respect your opinion and I don't think its wrong to keep the inner cab corners factory, but I also don't think there will be any ill affects to cut the bottom half off of the inner panel. Well maybe if you are doing a stock rebuild they are mandatory but not on a rod. But from a strength I don't see it so. That inner panel does not even touch the outer panel in this area, thats why people put a filler panel.


With all due respect (and I have a lot of respect for the very informative post you have posted through the years) I will agree that we disagree on as far as strength is concerned.

I agree that the top of the corner adds no strength to the corner and should be covered . What I meant was the the bottom where the outer and inner are spot welded together the two make the corner stronger. Much like a box has more sideways strength than a straight piece of paper. But again we don't use these trucks as farm and off road so I don't think a full inner is absolutely necessary.

You can disagree with me and it won't hurt my feelings you do/have done some very nice fab work so I have no argument in you disagreeing with me at all,,,,As long as you agree that I'm right