Removing rear side panels?

[jlager]

Does anyone know how easily the rear side panels come out? I want to have someone make some replacement panels and was going to take the old ones out that they can use for measurements. Before I get too into it though, I was wondering if anyone has taken theirs out and perhaps even have some photos of what they look like taken out? I haven't looked super close but I only see a couple bolts at the bottom of the panel.
Referring to the circled area in the attached photo.

[M Wehrman]

it's a curved square. should be easily duplicated by any good fab shop.. Originality is not a big issue with these trucks, as MANY have been chopped up for the awesome axles!

[Uli-RT]

...if your sidepanels are waterproof now, I would not take them out.
The sidepanel is fitted in with a rubberseal and sometimes glued in.
You have to take care not to destroy the rubberseal, otherwise it will be difficult to get it waterproof again.

There should be only some bolts at the downside you have to remove. Rest fits in a groove with seal.

[jlager]

...if your sidepanels are waterproof now, I would not take them out.
The sidepanel is fitted in with a rubberseal and sometimes glued in.
You have to take care not to destroy the rubberseal, otherwise it will be difficult to get it waterproof again.

There should be only some bolts at the downside you have to remove. Rest fits in a groove with seal.

I took the three bolts at the bottom off but it's still stuck in there pretty good. Guessing it's the seal/glue holding it in still. Will probably have to cut the seal from the outside to get the panel out.

I'm taking them off because the previous owner cut out a large piece of the panel to put in windows. I want to restore it to original but need to bring the panel to a fabrication shop so they have something to work from.

[Tamaz]

Quite some time since your last post, but I had mine apart two weeks ago to replace the old rubber sealant that had cracked and was leaking.

Have you got your panels off yet?

The panel is slid into groves at the back and top part and held in place by the three bolts and sealant at the bottom (and maybe back) edges.

If you remove the bolts and cut out the rubber paste the panel needs to be slid forward about 1/2" before tilting it out from the bottom and pulled down.

sidepanel01.jpg (333.59 KiB) Viewed 13649 times

sidepanel02.jpg (239.98 KiB) Viewed 13649 times

[jlager]

Quite some time since your last post, but I had mine apart two weeks ago to replace the old rubber sealant that had cracked and was leaking.

Have you got your panels off yet?

The panel is slid into groves at the back and top part and held in place by the three bolts and sealant at the bottom (and maybe back) edges.

If you remove the bolts and cut out the rubber paste the panel needs to be slid forward about 1/2" before tilting it out from the bottom and pulled down.

sidepanel01.jpg

sidepanel02.jpg

This is great, thank you so much! I had not gotten my panels off yet (delayed by other issues) so this is very helpful. What did you use to seal them back up again?

[geckoadventure]

Use a PU sealant.

[jlager]

This worked well and I got the new panels in. Just need to seal and paint now. Thanks for the help!

[Tamaz]

Nice job! I used some generic car body-paste that is UV-resistant, stay flexible even after fully hardening and is paintable.

[jlager]

Finished sealing and painting the panels and quite happy with the results. Took it out for some exercise this weekend:

[murrayjp]

nice looking rig
is the antenna working or for show