Good information Outlaw, I too am this stage in closing in the cowl vent. A few weeks ago I picked up some 1/4 in. rod and plan on filling with it. I I have some sheet metal and intended to go that route but decide to use the original cowl vent cover because I figure there would be less warping to and less bodo and body work. I think I will cut a strip and weld that in to finish off the front like 56 panelford did. If we didn,'t have this forum we would be wearing out our brains figuring and scratching our heads. And, thank you too Charlie, and also to that link posted that I can't right now.

 

Mid Fifty is actually selling the patches for 56 F series trucks, but they are still trying to find someone to make them. I talked to sheetmetaldirect.com yesterday and they said Mid Fifty had approached them about producing them but they were not interested. I hope China does not pick up the project, but it may go that way?

 

Most of the patch panels are produced in Taiwan by Blue Oval and their patches do fit quite well, better than some of the stuff being produced in the U.S. It does seem to be of a lighter gauge though which is why there is likely crisper bends.

 

Question for you guys who migged in your original stock cowl panel. Your welding threee thickness of 19 guage sheet metal crimped on the welding edge to 19 guage metal. You may have filled the gaps with 1/16, 3/16, or in Mervy49's project, a 1/4" filler rod. Thats got to be a challenging weld, no? When I tacked the 3/16" rod to the front of my stock cowl panel, it was a nice fit. The three thicknesses of 19 guage matched up well with the 3/16". It also closed the gap at the rear of the cowl lid (adding metal to the front made the patch tight on the upper side). The other three sides of the cowl lid are going to be the equivelent of butt welding 1/16 to 3/16. Not looking forward to that. Take your pick, burn thru or poor penetration, they will both be lurking in the puddle.

 

Right on 56, my cab floor panels were from both USA and China. USA heavier panels. China made, thinner metal, crisper bends. All cab corners thinner guage but as you said, fitment pretty good.