Door sill shape question?

[todds112]

Kind of an obscure question. Anyone know why the door sill is a circular shape? The door is square, but then it looks like they have added a plate?

Looks like it would make it harder to get in and not bust your shins all the time. Is it to strengthen the cab? A throwback to the WWII dueces that didn't have doors?

 

[WillWagner]

IIRC, I read somewhere that it is for reenforcement of the cab. 90 degree angles will fail, a radius won't.

 

[blacktop_one]

I've been tempted more than once to cut the forward radius out of the driver's side so I could stop catching my foot on it every time I exit the truck. Maybe I'll just trim it down some.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Yeah, I have seen some cabs they were cut out of. Big gaps at the top of the door. Some didn't latch anymore.

 

[Barrman]

My 1952 cab which was surplused out of the military around 1958 according to the story I got from the last owner had no braces on the front of each doorway. It has smaller ones on the rear.

My 1953 which came out of the military at the same time has the full brace. My 1953 or newer replacement cab has the same rear brace and what looks like a put in later front brace.

The left picture below shows the 1952 cab with just the rear brace. The right picture shows the 1953 or newer replacement cab with the same rear brace and a welded in front addition. This all leads me to believe the trucks came with just the rear, the cracked, braces were added that worked and then we got the single piece brace we all know about today.

 

[hndrsonj]

I have seen 3 of the early gasser cabs where the front radius brace unbolts. Like Gimp said, they are for strengthening the cab and you will eventually have issues with doors if removed.

 

[txdodge43man]

Barrman thanks for the pictures this is info I did not know about these trucks. Learn something new every day

 

[todds112]

Interesting. I've always been intrigued by "design archeology". Kind of like the Jeep CJ5's carried the hood notch and recesses on the tubs from the M38's design for years. One reason I like MV's is that form usually follows function. Purpose built and they show it.