Sheet metal thickness

[mikes48]

Can anyone tell me what thickness sheet metal they used on the body panels for the 48 pilothouse trucks?  Thanks.

[Los_Control]

I wonder how accurate you are shooting for?

I'm using 18 gauge for patches, really seems to be a nice size to work with.    I think it is about as close as we can get.

16 gauge would be so thick it would be murder to shape it.

20 gauge is getting thin, pretty sure my replacement floor pan is 20 gauge .... I'm worried I will have oil canning after installed if I do not add support.

I think modern vehicles are using 20 or 22 gauge .... tinsy thin metal.

 

18 gauge is pretty sweet if you want to just make some patches.

 

[Lingle]

I agree with Los, when I did my firewall patching, I had friend that at the time worked a metal shop, the gauge these trucks were built with isn't available anymore so 18ga is slightly thinner but not so thin as to be a problem.  that is what I plan to do for my sheetmetal work is 18ga.

[ggdad1951]

Honestly, it depends on which part of the truck you are on, and on that panel which part of an assembly.  I've seen variations from 0.030 to 0.074 and in gauges that really don't exsist anymore (say BETWEEN 18 and 16...a 17 guage?!?!?).  For example, doors have about 4 different thicknesses used on them depending on what that section is doing.

[Los_Control]

Thats a very good point also.  Different thickness in different areas ..... I would think a tail gate is at least 16.  While bedsides the elusive 17.

 

Most patches you only see one side, make it flush.

[kencombs]

I suspect the metal thickness varies due to the stamping process stretching curved areas.   Maybe even compressing others.   At least it seemed that way when I was welding in patches on my cab, fenders and radiator support. 
 

most of my patch metal cam from old Case garden tractor hoods or some 19ga stainless that I had on hand.  The Case hoods are near 16.  That worked good for the lower firewall and body mount area.  

[mikes48]

Thanks everyone for your input. I hardly have any patches to do... basically where the rivets are on the front fenders and a little at the edge of the fenders by the doors. Everything else is good. 

[Tooljunkie]

I got stuck with some 16 gauge. Its no fun to work with. But welding? Crank up the heat! 

[mikes48]

Definitely much easier welding the thicker material!