The running boards on the truck have always been in good underlying shape. No corrosion. Original heavy 1952 GM metal but they
needed restoring. They badly needed painting but also at some point in the past, after-market step plates had been fitted. These
needed to go. The aim was to return the running boards to their original appearance, paint them to a higher standard than original
GM and try to protect them from marks with a less noticeable solution. Ideally this solution should be as invisible as possible so as
not to detract from the original design. This work was started in May 2014.
Running boards below shown before restoration. Notice the after-market foot plates.
Running boards below after restoration.
The after-market step plates were removed. The method of fitting the running boards was also reviewed and a new method using
metal blocks which were drilled and tapped was developed. This new system meant the running boards (with blocks attached)
could be easily offered up to sit on the running board brackets and fixed with bolts from below. The 6 blocks on each running
board needed to have 3 different thickness so that the running boards were level with respect to the doors and bed. The blocks
are threaded at both ends and so the original method using bolts which clip into the running boards are maintained , however,
the other side of the block was also threaded. The whole assembly can be offered up to the truck and slid onto the support
brackets. 6 bolts go through the support brackets from below into the treaded blocks. One final nut and bolt and washer
was needed between the top of the filler piece and the chassis (see below). As usual stainless steel bolts were used.
The running boards and the filler pieces were media blasted, etch primed (acid etch wash primer), primed and painted.
(At the same time the front bumper filler, scroll down to see it, was done using the same restoration method).
See the "threaded blocks running boards fixing method" below.
After painting long strips of 10mm wide transparent self-adhesive vinyl was used to protect the running boards from marks
and scratches. These strips were ideal as they could not be seen. It was applied to the raised ribbing. How durable this
will be will be known with time. If you look at the two running board pictures at the top of the page and below with the
filler pieces and fitting blocks attached, the clear vinyl is already fitted and so you can see it is not noticeable.
Update Sept 15. After a few months the clear vinyl is still in good shape.
Some preparation is shown below
Running board filler pieces shown above. Front bumper filler piece shown below.
Update 2017 The whole truck was painted to a high standard in 2016 (see later in the site)
including repainting the running boards.
