- Joined
- Apr 14, 2004
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Around 1995, the PO of the Karma Cruiser had me replace the glass runs and perimeter weatherstripping on the front doors. Like most early 40s, the lower door skins had stress cracks at the pressure points where the tracks from the upper door frames penetrate. I discussed welding the cracks with Tony and told him that I had an idea for reinforcing the stress points. As I related in the story of the truck, Tony had a LOT of faith in me, even when it came to things that I had never tried before ( like modifying column shift linkage to work with a header)
So I cut some short pieces of 3/8” round stock, drilled some 1/4” holes in the door skin, and burned the rods into the door skin! Tony only ever thought of the truck as a hunting rig, so the fix seemed eminently practical, though cosmetically lacking.
I am at the point in my life where I feel like putting some serious time in to the truck, and I have some touch up paint on order. So the burn marks may disappear soon. But as I was cleaning the doors last week, I couldn’t help but notice the burns, and the fact that the doors never cracked again. This repair obviously stood the test of time.
So I cut some short pieces of 3/8” round stock, drilled some 1/4” holes in the door skin, and burned the rods into the door skin! Tony only ever thought of the truck as a hunting rig, so the fix seemed eminently practical, though cosmetically lacking.
I am at the point in my life where I feel like putting some serious time in to the truck, and I have some touch up paint on order. So the burn marks may disappear soon. But as I was cleaning the doors last week, I couldn’t help but notice the burns, and the fact that the doors never cracked again. This repair obviously stood the test of time.
