Truck cab sidewall and method for making the same

A method of making a truck exterior sidewall comprising the acts of:

• forming a sidewall skin of aluminum having major opposed interior and exterior surfaces, the major interior surface facing toward the interior of the truck and the exterior major surface facing toward the exterior of the truck when the truck exterior sidewall is assembled into the truck;
• forming a sidewall frame including plural frame elements having interior and exterior surfaces, the exterior surfaces facing toward the exterior of the truck when the truck exterior sidewall is assembled into the truck;
• applying adhesive to the exterior surfaces of the frame elements;
• positioning the sidewall skin onto the adhesive containing exterior surfaces of the frame elements;
• at least partially curing the adhesive to adhere the sidewall skin to the frame elements;
• and
• wherein the applying adhesive act comprises the act of applying adhesive without the adhesive reaching other than the exterior surfaces of the frame elements.

A method of making a truck sidewall comprising the acts of:

• forming a sidewall skin having major opposed interior and exterior surfaces, and front, rear, top and bottom edge portions;
• forming an inwardly directed flange along a major portion of the front edge portion of the sidewall skin;
• forming an inwardly stepped transition region between the front and rear edge portions of the skin;
• forming a sidewall frame including plural upright frame elements having interior and exterior surfaces and upper ends;
• forming an upper reinforcing frame element interconnecting the upper ends of the upright frame elements, the upper reinforcing element having an exterior surface;
• fastening the front flange to a door frame;
• applying adhesive to the exterior surfaces of the upright frame elements and upper reinforcing element;
• positioning the sidewall skin onto the exterior surfaces of the upright frame elements and the open edge of the skin on the exterior surface of the upper reinforcing frame element;
• and
• at least partially curing the adhesive to adhere the sidewall skin to the frame elements.

A method of making a truck sidewall comprising:

• positioning a sidewall skin on a skin receiving surface of a sidewall frame with adhesive between the skin receiving surface and sidewall skin;
• partially heat curing the adhesive during a first curing act;
• and
• completing the curing of the adhesive during a second heat curing act, wherein the second heat curing act is subsequent to assembly of the sidewall onto a truck cab and the first heat curing act is prior to assembly of the sidewall onto a truck cab, and wherein the second heat curing act occurs simultaneously with a cab paint curing act.