Pat 12 gets a nose job

[Bob Carriere]

HI Phil

I am currently going through the smae frustration. Grants keeps laughing at me for putting on 2 pieces remove one installing two more and then thebolt hole do not line up.

Fortunately I have other less molested cab 12 to refer to. Yes ...... their is a specific order to installing the sheet metal andnow I think I know.

First of all the 3/16 floor panels that have been in place for years have to be loosened up ....only to realize that the nice hole I cut into the floor plates for the 2 speed T case was too tight and gave me no flexibility at all...... so I removed about 5/16 of an inch on two sides and that made a whole difference. Having removed all the sheet metal panels previously installed Grant and I started to pull, pry with alignment bars and tapered punches and in some cases with 4 inch long bolts to pull everything together...... now all of this work is ONLY for a trial fit..... it all has to come off for the official 5/16 domed slotted fine thread screws...... and also to fit the antisqueak/rattle tape on all metal to metal surfaces.

I don't know how you do it all alone particualrly some fo the frame/floor bolts as I was glad to have Grant work the top side while I crawled underneath to hold the other end of the bolt/nut. Your name did come up many time deuring the difficult fitting.

So it is round bulding inner fender, front inner panel, then remove half the inner fender bolts and do the top inner foot well,....oops forgot to insert the front fenders at this point......yeck !!! then the nose vent panel without forgetting to install the funnel and short peice of duct macterial then over the radiator cross piece then the outter nose panel..... and that is only for one size.

Now I do have a few bolt holes I cannot instal a bolt as the fender support bracket is now in the way.... not sure I can take ther backet off now... and all of this is for one side only..... and the engine cover has to be remembered...

I am sure I will have to remove some panels to get this job done.

Wish you where closer Phil.

Cheers