I'm getting ready to start taking the old rusty cowl panels off my 55 and noticed that they dont look like they were welded in place they are the original panels... my question is can i get these off without doing to much damage by trying to peel off the panels or should i try to go ahead and cut them off....

 

Can't speak to the '55 but my '50 was spot welded. Drilled out the welds and welded in new panels.

Tom

 

If you clean up the edges you should see where they have been spot welded. You can purchase cutters to drill out the welds. Clean up the surfaces and drill holes on the edges of your new patch panel and plug weld. If you are replacing the complete cowl patch panel it is easier to get to the spot welds at the top seam by cutting the old panel off just below the seam in order to make it easier to drill out the 4 or 5 spot welds

 

None of the sheet metal was welded solid, it was all spot welded together.