Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Any updates?
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Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Hey guys, this truck has been at a standstill for quite awhile as you can probably tell! :whine:

But I have a little more money saved up to start buying a few parts we want and a few things we need.

As for the body, our body guy is still slowly working on it when he has time. That is our biggest hold up at the moment.

We are also trying to mount up the a/c compressor which may lead to re-doing some of the accessory brackets. And we had to pull the tires and wheels to put on another truck, they were gettting old and started to form flat spots so she's sitting on trailer spares for now...:waah::waah:

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

I just read your build.. and all I can say is WOW you guys have some mad fab skills. keep us posted. subscribed. if ya need a hand turning a wrench just holler. Coop

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Moving slowly forward, but progress non-the-less. I'll post some teaser pics and let my boy fill in the details...

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

and more...

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

last few for now...

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

these pics are great! they will be a helpful resource for those that want to build extend/crew cabs!
interested in hearing what problems and solutions came up.

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Well we got the inner skin cut, fit, and glued together (we didnt weld from fear of warpage) and we got the outer skin cut and laid in place. The dash is nearly done, it just lacks some smoothing. And the rockers on the extended part need to be welded up.

The plan as of now is to have it out of the body shop by summer. After the roof gets done, we have to lay the floor in, panel the sides then decide how we are going to make the windows work. We are currently thinking about taking some ideas from the way the suburban windows fit in.

So after the cab work is done, we'll get it into primer and undercoated so we can take it back to our place to marry it back to the frame.

Some of the biggest struggles we have had on the cab so far is fighting the 1/2 inch difference in width from the front of our addon and the back of the original cab. And the differences in the contour of the roof skins. They create all sorts of issues when fitting the roof skins.

We found that making the right amount of relief cuts in certain panels was the best solution. We also decided that drilling out the spot welds and removing the panels whole made good fitment a lot easier than trying to just make one cut around the back of the cab.

If any one has any questions about any step so far feel free to ask it! Ill do my best to answer it!
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Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Very nice work :thumbs:

Obviously a lot of thought has gone into this.

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

What, after all of this... no rear doors on the extended cab?

just kidding!

hehehe

sweet ride... or, it will be.

-W

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

updates?

too busy with the new burb;)

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Definitely busy with the burb but he got some time in on this today...I'll let him fill in the details.

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

More...

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Last few...

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Looking really good! It is going to look factory built when you guys are finished. Keep up the awesome job and thanks for updating us with great pictures!

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Inspirational build. Wish I had that much patience. Can't wait to see it rolling around
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Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Outstanding fabrication skills. I like to see things come together piece by piece like this. I have been browsing this forum for years, but this thread is what finally convinced me to register. I am really looking forward to seeing more pictures of the cab as it continues to come together. I am drawing up (in my mind) a project that involves a C6500 series, CAT Diesel, manual transmission, a 66 Suburban body, interior out of a 2001 body style Suburban, an 8' bed, and using step side fenders as dually fenders for the bed.... yes, it will be long, but with four kids, I gotta build the tow rig for the 5 horse gooseneck trailer, might as well do it with style.

The cab pictures should prove helpful since I want to make the 66 'Burban a 4 door instead of a 2. :chevy:

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Really nice job guys!

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

WOW!, mad fab skills. You guys are doing a great job!. I love the ext cab, I thought about doing that to my 65' daily driver/work truck, and had to stop myself. " IT'S JUST A WORK TRUCK ". Great job.

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Thanks for the positive comments!!:metal:

My son got a bit more of the bodywork done with our paint/body guy...fitting in the rear floor extension and patching holes across the floor and firewall that won't be needed. In addition to smoothing the firewall, they also started forming the reliefs needed for the tall valve covers. Slow but steady progress...

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Got a bit more done this weekend. We're adding AC to the truck and had to rework the alt mount to fit the compressor where we wanted. Still working on having a spacer machined to space out the crank pulley and we'll be able to finish the compressor mount. We wanted everything tucked in as tight as possible.

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Bad @$$ build

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

AWESOME truck! great fab skills, you will be glad you added the a/c later. It's crazy how many times you change your mind on a build like this.

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Thanks Juan :metal:

Ya, I hear ya 65...but as slow as this build has to go, we've got plenty of time to think and plan :lol:

Fiddled around a bit this evening and got the compressor mount done, waiting on Mena Street and Performance to machine a crank pulley spacer for us and we can wrap it up.

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Love those brackets. :metal:

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Great work on the cab, and I'm loving that bracketry work! Very nice!

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Thanks y'all, it's been fun getting back on this. I like the little projects that you can knock out in a weekend.
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Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Not much to add, but we did get the custom crank pulley spacer in from Mena S&P. This allowed us to move the pulley out 5/8" (one groove width) and use all three crank grooves...ps and alt with ac comp on the one farthest out. That crowded the fan, so we had to use a 1/2" spacer between the water pump and fan clutch...leaves about 3/4" between fan and rad. Going to try and fiqure out a shroud this weekend.

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

That's sweet! It sure would be nice to have the equipment to be able to build these one off pieces in house wouldn't it?

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Don't ya know it!

I'd really miss carving out pieces with the torch and wearing out the grinder getting them smooth though...:lol:

I'm always scouring CL for a semi decent lathe and wouldn't mind an old mill either...maybe one of these days :waah:

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

My son and I tossed around a few ideas for shrouds this weekend, different materials and whatnot. Then thought we'd try to fiberglass one after seeing a post here referencing a how-to somewhere.

So...my son made a support frame out of hard board, wrapped it in stretchy fabric, applied a few coats of resin, applied a few coats of fiberglass, trimmed it out, smoothed it with bondo, and voila'...we have a shroud!

We fit it in tonight and are pleased with the result. We're thinking we will probably have it bedlined inside and out to seal it all off...

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Rest of the pics...

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Very Nice

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Thanks!

Well now that school is out for summer and the vacation period has passed, we are back on the truck!

After we mounted the shroud, we started work on the condenser. We made up some simple brackets and did a little shaving on the core support.

I have also been able to spend more time with our body guy in a mad dash to get the cab work done. We got the A/C unit mounted in the cab. We also built a new cab dolly that will allow us to tilt the cab on its back to smooth, weld, seal up, and undercoat it. While I was working on the dolly, my dad knocked out all the welding on it in the blink of an eye, and our body guy was finishing up smoothing out the floor and fitting in some pieces in the extended section.

We got one skin cut and fit up, but the goal for tomorrow is to get both skins on, floor fully finished up, and start some more work on the dash.

By the end of the month the cab should be out of his shop and back at our place to start playing with a roll cage.


So here are a bunch of pics for everyone, and stay tuned for more updates this week and this month!!!!

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

pics

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

more

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

And more...

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Well... a few more

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Wow...it is looking great! Keep it up and thanks for sharing your excellent progress. It is really coming together and looking very cool! Please keep your progress pics and reports coming....

Re: Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab
 

Love it. :metal: