Door Opening/B Pillar Differences early to late model? (1 Viewer)

[EWheeler]

I have an opportunity to get some tub pieces from a member doing an aqualu tub swap. His tub is from an '78 model with flat floor and my tub is a 12/79 with the raised floor for underfloor fuel tank. My passenger b-pillar and door opening lip is hammered from a likely roll-over event that happened sometime in my rigs past life. I understand the inner and outer rocker pieces are different, but could I use the upper B-pillar and door lip from his '78 to repair my rig? Here are some photos of the damage to my passenger b-pillar and door opening. The replacement rockers for the late model rigs don't go up high enough tor replace the damage on the door opening lip.

 

[1MOA]

I would cut that out repair and strengthen behind it and put some 16-14 ga flat steel over it and make your own panel for that area.

 

[EWheeler]

I would cut that out repair and strengthen behind it and put some 16-14 ga flat steel over it and make your own panel for that area.

The issue is not the big tear in the metal, its the buggered up door lip and b-pillar. I agree that the flat sheet metal repair is simple.

 

[1MOA]

find someone with a metal brake and a english wheel and make that part too.
It also looks like the door jam area could be cleaned and built back up with a bead weld and ground to match.

 

[Shark56]

I'm not positive but I believe the lowers are the same. Do you have the later "thicker" doors.

 

[EWheeler]

I'm not positive but I believe the lowers are the same. Do you have the later "thicker" doors.

Yes, I have the later doors. I am just curious if there was any change to the door opening shape and B pillar compared to the earlier flat floored tubs. Now that I am thinking this through, his '78 came with the same later style doors as my '79. So, I'm thinking door opening shape should be identical.

 

[EWheeler]

find someone with a metal brake and a english wheel and make that part too.
It also looks like the door jam area could be cleaned and built back up with a bead weld and ground to match.

yes, the door jamb area is hammered and needs replaced. That is really the metal that I am after. Easier to just cut out from a good b-pillar and replace my bad metal than have something new made.

 

[GatorPlater]

So you are looking for this piece?

 

[EWheeler]

So you are looking for this piece?

View attachment 2729406View attachment 2729412

Yes! I can get a good one from the tub that is available. Just unsure if the ‘78 and ‘79 B pillars are the same.

Is that a new aftermarket piece?

 

[GatorPlater]

Troa makes them. I think they run 150-180 ish for a set.

 

[GatorPlater]

That is one from a set I got from them for test fitting. Pretty good quality, striker adjustment holes are a little smaller than oem, but the tail goes down further than oem which looks like what you need.

 

[Mike Shull]

If I were you, @EWheeler, I would skip the used tub and buy those pieces from the above posts. If you do go the used tub route, you might see if this member would trade you for the steel needed to lengthen his frame.