running board alignment
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
running board alignment
when I got my truck project, there were no running boards, but I have acquired two over the years..
The left one fits like a glove..
but the right one... when the existing bolt holes line up, there is about 2 inches between the board and the front fender, and there is a huge gap at the back edge of the cab, quite different than on the left side.
were there different board mount locations on different trucks?
I pulled both sets of hangers, sandblasted and painted them. and just now re-installed, almost two years later.. all the hangers look identical to me, so I doubt this is misinstalled hangers..
anyone have any other ideas to look at?
thanks
Sam
The left one fits like a glove..
but the right one... when the existing bolt holes line up, there is about 2 inches between the board and the front fender, and there is a huge gap at the back edge of the cab, quite different than on the left side.
were there different board mount locations on different trucks?
I pulled both sets of hangers, sandblasted and painted them. and just now re-installed, almost two years later.. all the hangers look identical to me, so I doubt this is misinstalled hangers..
anyone have any other ideas to look at?
thanks
Sam
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda, Maryland
What year is the truck? Are the dimensions of the two running boards the same? On my truck ('53) there's supposed to be a gap between the running board and the front fender because there's a rubber spacer that goes there. It's about 1" thick.
What do you mean about the gap at the back of the cab? Does the running board reach the rear fender?
I agree that it's probably not a problem with your hangers. On my truck they are identical and there's only one set of holes where you can mount them to the frame. And if the holes in your running board match up with the holes in the hangers, then you've probably got it right.
Do you have any pictures of the right side?
What do you mean about the gap at the back of the cab? Does the running board reach the rear fender?
I agree that it's probably not a problem with your hangers. On my truck they are identical and there's only one set of holes where you can mount them to the frame. And if the holes in your running board match up with the holes in the hangers, then you've probably got it right.
Do you have any pictures of the right side?
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
55 truck. the distance from the back of the fender to the door edge is the same on both sides.
On the drivers side, there is a maybe 1/4 inch gap between the front edge of the board and the fender.. and the board mount holes line up perfectly, all 4 at once..
On the right side, if I use the front hanger holes, there is a nearly 2 inch space between the board and the fender.
If I use the read hanger hole, then there is a 3/4 inch space between the board and the fender edge.
there is a filler panel on the back inside edge of the board that goes to the bottom of the bed. This panel has a curved edge on it at the cab body.
On the drivers side there is a 1.5 in gap between the body and this curved edge. On the right side, when using the front hanger hole, there is a 3 inch gap. if I push the board forward so that it is 1/4 in away from the fender (like on the drivers side). none of the mount holes line up, but the curved panel is about 1.5 in away from the body..
almost like all four mount holes on the board are in the wrong places. oh, and I can do the two fronts or the two backs, but not all 4 as the holes don't line yup.
Yes, the hangers are in the only locations that bolts would go thru.
will take pictures..
Sam
On the drivers side, there is a maybe 1/4 inch gap between the front edge of the board and the fender.. and the board mount holes line up perfectly, all 4 at once..
On the right side, if I use the front hanger holes, there is a nearly 2 inch space between the board and the fender.
If I use the read hanger hole, then there is a 3/4 inch space between the board and the fender edge.
there is a filler panel on the back inside edge of the board that goes to the bottom of the bed. This panel has a curved edge on it at the cab body.
On the drivers side there is a 1.5 in gap between the body and this curved edge. On the right side, when using the front hanger hole, there is a 3 inch gap. if I push the board forward so that it is 1/4 in away from the fender (like on the drivers side). none of the mount holes line up, but the curved panel is about 1.5 in away from the body..
almost like all four mount holes on the board are in the wrong places. oh, and I can do the two fronts or the two backs, but not all 4 as the holes don't line yup.
Yes, the hangers are in the only locations that bolts would go thru.
will take pictures..
Sam
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
I'm not sure what the cause of the problem is, but the fix seems obvious enough. You need to weld plug the old running board mounting holes and drill some new ones.
Have you matched the two running boards back-to-back? That might be interesting.
Have you matched the two running boards back-to-back? That might be interesting.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda, Maryland
Randy, that's what I was getting at - only you said it better.
Sam, you need to make sure that the right side running board is the right size, and that the holes are in the right place. Before you get crazy, though, remember that there can be a lot of slop in those hangers. Before you start welding, loosen up the bolts where the hangers mount to the frame and try fitting your running board bolts in. Then get everything lined up and re-tighten the hanger bolts. You'd be surprised how much play there is there.
Sam, you need to make sure that the right side running board is the right size, and that the holes are in the right place. Before you get crazy, though, remember that there can be a lot of slop in those hangers. Before you start welding, loosen up the bolts where the hangers mount to the frame and try fitting your running board bolts in. Then get everything lined up and re-tighten the hanger bolts. You'd be surprised how much play there is there.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,297
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
The hangers on my 52 are not all identical -- I posted about this about 5 months ago and others were seeing the same thing. I don't know if 53-55's are the same. The front hangers point slightly forward at the outer end, the center ones are pointing almost perpendicular to the frame, the rear ones point to the rear slightly.If yours are like mine, putting them in the wrong places would account for what you are seeing.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,013
Likes: 9,953
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Originally Posted by jgurland
On my truck ('53) there's supposed to be a gap between the running board and the front fender because there's a rubber spacer that goes there. It's about 1" thick.
I wonder if the 48-52 trucks are similar
Bobby
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda, Maryland
Originally Posted by bobbytnm
Is this 1" rubber spacer between the front fender and the running board designed to take allow movement between the front sheet sheet metal (which as I undertand "floats") and the running boards (which are hard mounted)??
I wonder if the 48-52 trucks are similar
Bobby
I wonder if the 48-52 trucks are similar
Bobby
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,297
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
The 1" rubber described is between the edge of the fender and the plate that fills in the gap between the front of the running board vertical edge and the fender (on 48-52's). (It is the fender welting). There is no rubber between the fender bottom and the running board horizontal surface.
I'm thinking of putting a piece of thin polyethylene between the running board and the fender, low friction and doesn't hold water (don't want my fiberglass to rust!
)
I'm thinking of putting a piece of thin polyethylene between the running board and the fender, low friction and doesn't hold water (don't want my fiberglass to rust!
)
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
Well, more info.. the running boards are identical in terms of where the mounting holes are cut. and when manually pushed forward to touch the front fender the measurements are the same as on the driver side. 7+1/8 to the front mount hole from the fender and 36+1/2 to the rear mount hole from the front fender..
too bad the hangers aren't there.
the outer hole on the front hanger is at 9 inches and the outer hole on the back hanger is at 37+1/4 inches from the front fender..
so for some reason these didn't mount nicely, or are slightly bent.. nothing I can tell when they are set on the floor side by side. I have no idea which ones came from where on the truck..
SO, it looks like I have to shim the trailing edges at the chassis to force the arm more forward.
weird..
Sam
too bad the hangers aren't there.
the outer hole on the front hanger is at 9 inches and the outer hole on the back hanger is at 37+1/4 inches from the front fender..
so for some reason these didn't mount nicely, or are slightly bent.. nothing I can tell when they are set on the floor side by side. I have no idea which ones came from where on the truck..
SO, it looks like I have to shim the trailing edges at the chassis to force the arm more forward.
weird..
Sam
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
Originally Posted by ALBUQ F-1
I'm thinking of putting a piece of thin polyethylene between the running board and the fender, low friction and doesn't hold water (don't want my fiberglass to rust! )
)Sam