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1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

53-55 Rocker Panel Issue

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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 02:00 PM
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From: Sugar Land & Bandera, TX
53-55 Rocker Panel Issue

I tried to order a set of rocker panels from Mid fifty for my 55 and was told that they were on back order until May. So I ordered a set from Dennis Carpenter. The ones that arrived were not actually made by them but rather by Blue Oval.

There is something odd with these that I can not figure out. If you look at the picture, about 4 inches before the "A" pillar attaches there is an indentation. At first I thought that the this was the location for the "A" pillar to attach, but it is too far back. Any Idea why they did this? and what should I do?
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 03:49 PM
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Mid Fiftys catalog shows that as for the 56, but also says that the standard W/O indentation will fit 53-56. The indentation is for reinforcement added to the 56 model.
You might want to call carpenter to verify this with them.
brian...
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 04:14 PM
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take a look at this link where I posted several pictures replacing my rocker,A piller and partial foor in my '54...I agree I think you have there '56 rocker..https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/82...-progress.html
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 08:25 PM
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I called Dennis Carpenter and they are very nice people. They verified that this is the 53-55 rocker panel, the 56 does not have the the little step down down at the front edge. They have no idea what the indent is for either but said that all the 53-53 panels they have have it.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 08:26 PM
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Originally Posted by low54
take a look at this link where I posted several pictures replacing my rocker,A piller and partial foor in my '54...I agree I think you have there '56 rocker..https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/82...-progress.html
I'm getting page not found form thhis link
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 08:35 PM
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That is the rocker for a 56, the 56 has an extended triangle bracket where the 53-55 doesn't. The picture of the one you show is the same ones I bought from Midfifty. The triangle bracket for the 56 goes to the bottom of the rocker on the 56 and only down to the floor on the 53-55. If you go to Midfifty's web site on page 97 you should get the information you are looking for.
John
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by 56panelford
That is the rocker for a 56, the 56 has an extended triangle bracket where the 53-55 doesn't. The picture of the one you show is the same ones I bought from Midfifty. The triangle bracket for the 56 goes to the bottom of the rocker on the 56 and only down to the floor on the 53-55.
Does the triangle bracket on the 56 go outside of the rocker? (closer to the door as appose to inside closer to the frame)
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 08:47 PM
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Yes that triangle bracket sets against the door post and the rocker behind it, that is why the indentation is there. The bracket will fill the rest of the indentation. I welded mine in and filled with body filler to clean it up.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by 56panelford
Yes that triangle bracket sets against the door post and the rocker behind it, that is why the indentation is there.
Well at least the mystery is solved. Thanks. Now how do i get a set of 53-55 rockers with a back order at Mid Fifty
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 08:55 PM
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Not the greatest picture but you can see the greyed section behind the front cowl. That is the triangled bracket I'm talking about
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by TxF100
Well at least the mystery is solved. Thanks. Now how do i get a set of 53-55 rockers with a back order at Mid Fifty
You can use what you have and either buy the brackets or add in another layer that you could form in a vise plug weld them to the rockers you have now, just a thought or wait until Midfifty or another supplier gets you the 53-55"s
 
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Old Mar 12, 2009 | 09:23 PM
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From: Sugar Land & Bandera, TX
Originally Posted by 56panelford
You can use what you have and either buy the brackets or add in another layer that you could form in a vise plug weld them to the rockers you have now, just a thought or wait until Midfifty or another supplier gets you the 53-55"s
I may give a go at fabricating my own. It is just a piece that I will see every time I get in the truck so if its messed up it will eat at me.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2009 | 05:11 PM
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Tx, if the rocker panel you are replacing has a good section to it as I'm sure it has, you could use a piece of it to lay over the section of the new rocker,it's already formed. Drill some holes in it and plug weld it to the new rocker and a few stitch welds on the edges and a bit of body filler and you should have it covered.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2009 | 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by TxF100
I'm getting page not found form thhis link
Hey buddie not sure why it won't come up, but go to page 5 past posts and scroll down the "Some Progress,"
 
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Old Mar 13, 2009 | 06:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 56panelford
Tx, if the rocker panel you are replacing has a good section to it as I'm sure it has, you could use a piece of it to lay over the section of the new rocker,it's already formed. Drill some holes in it and plug weld it to the new rocker and a few stitch welds on the edges and a bit of body filler and you should have it covered.
That is exactly what I did...
 
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