Stretching the cab
 

I've seen instructions on chopping the top, and Jim did an excellent write up on making a convertible, but I'm looking to add about 6" to the 54 cab so I can move the seat back a little for some more foot/leg room. I was thinking behind the doors, but don't know where to stop the cut, add to the roof, etc.

Does anyone know of someone who has done this? I'd like to get an idea of what I'm in for before I get too far down that rabbit hole.

I know I'm supposed to finish the 48, but I'm stuck inside for a couple of days and need something to occupy my mind.

Thanks.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

8man hi if i was to do that i would cut the doors and cab in half and extend that way. i know it is a lot more work than extending the back only but looks way better. would need a donner cab

Re: Stretching the cab
 

i havent done this but i have thought about it a fair bit and if i ever did the job i would PROBABLY use two cabs, mark a center line on them at the mid point of the roof and cut one 3" forward of the line and the other 3" rearward of the line. then weld the two long sections together. my theory is that it would minimize the amount of fab needed, only one seam instead of two to keep straight. if you did it to the doors the same way it should help there too. you would end up with a complete shorty cab too which would be kind of useless but funny enough to make a kids playhouse or something with.

that said, I dont know that you would need a full 6 ", there is a truck in jims project thread that was stretched 2", it looks right and in person the interior is cavernous, lots more room.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

I like your idea but I think over 3" there would be too much change in the curved profile. Unless you're 6'-6" or taller I'd THINK 2 - 4 inches total would be plenty. Yeah, "....if I'm already doing 2" why not...."

I get it but a small change is a big deal to get truly unnoticeable body work. 3" total or 1-1/2" per cab might be the sweet spot.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

i think i would do like Russ stated...or just add a section in the middle of door and roof

can anybody remember the guys name that did that here a few yrs ago...he had a very nice build

found it... here it is... plus 5
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=stretch

Re: Stretching the cab
 

I have added 16" to my 57 cab. it is behind the doors so that left a decent sized small window opening there. if doing it again I would do the 16: through the door instead. otherwise it seems like you are sitting at the B pillar. you gotta look at the roof though because it is the hard part. if it were a square roof it would be easier but mine is like extending an egg. yours is likely no different. it tapers to the front plus has the dome to deal with so if you did like joedoh says, with 2 cabs cut at the same place then the dome would theoretically be the same shape there. I also highly recommend a tig welder as the welds are softer and lots of time so things don't stretch or shink out of hand. martin sr (Brian, he's a pro bodyman) would say weld the whole thing at the same time so it all expands and shrinks the same amount. maybe pm him as he has done roofs before. i recommend to grab a copy of that little book called metal bumping, its old but metal doesn't know that.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

I remember someone here in the build section had done it. Probably a few years ago.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Thank you all. I am just "thinking" about this right now, but you all seem to be in agreement that through the doors is the place to go, IF I do it.

I am going to finish the 48 and see how much I need, if any, I'm 6'3" and may not need it.

I'm going to the thread that was posted and I'll look at what all is involved before I make any decisions.

Thank you all again, now I have something to think about until I get back on the 48.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Mongo, THANK YOU FOR THAT THREAD! That guy's work is awesome. So well thought out and then executed. I would love to see that truck in person.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

its been my experience that its not height that is the limiter, its width :lol::lol:

i am 6' and when i use a 88-93 bench and move the gas tank outside, I lower the 88-93 bench stands 1" and everything is golden, lots of room especially between the seat and steering wheel (see "width" :lol::lol:)


that truck mongo posted is awesome, i wonder if he finished it?

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Joe, thanks for the thoughts, but the width is fine, it's the leg and arm length that I was thinking about. With the seat in it, I think the arm length is good, but the legs are feeling a little cramped.

I wondered it he had finished as well. Some very fine work and planning there.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

It shows he was logged on a couple weeks ago...so maybe he is still having around and doing well

Re: Stretching the cab
 

haha i should sugar coat less. by width I meant waistline. I am careful with spacing for the steering-to-gut measurement because buyers are sometimes.. corpulent

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Wow that just added a lot more work to my cab stretch than I was figuring on.

I've always planned to go 9-1/4 inches and use the GMC long bed half ton fame I have with my short box and long bed running boards.

I intend to use two doors to do the stretch rather than install a panel with two weld seams. One reason is that I have a lot of extra doors.

I've subscribed to Donandal's thread and will probably be studying that thread and using a lot of what he did. It showed me that the idea that I had on how to do it isn't gong to work out right. Thanks to Mongocanfly for finding and sharing that.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

i so wanted to stretch my 58 in the doors for legroom, i was 6'4" when i started my project. my 58 cab is a lot roomier than yours, i very much regret not doing it now after 36,000 miles. i was just so tired of fabricating on truk at that point, i just wanted to be done. i did raise the seat 2" over stock and installed a tilt column, that helped a little. i still fold up like a pretzel to get in. :D

this panel stretched all the doors 6", used 8 doors in the process

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Truck still looks good!
What is your ride height at the rear of the front fender, if you dont mind me asking?

Re: Stretching the cab
 

That stretch panel is gorgeous!

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Agreed , it sure dont look stretched, at least with the doors open, I bet that was interesting

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Since we are 'spit balling' here.

What do you think of cutting the cowl as a way of 'stretching an AD ?

You would not need to worry about weld seams in the middle of the roof or the doors, not to mention the door mechanisms and glass.

Cut in the cowl, just in front of the hinges (A pillar), cut the floor where it bends up to attach to the firewall, and move the firewall forward.

The downside, getting in and out will not change, but once you are in, there will be plenty of leg room.

Just an idea???

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Tempest, I was on the same thought process when I started this thread. I have the floor replaced in the 54 but have not reinstalled the firewall for that very reason.

I have to get the 48 done before I get back on it, so I'm still thinking.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Pretty sure that's been done on this forum someplace. An AD guy remade the firewall to fit his long legs and also the engine setback.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

my biggest concern will be the overall look of the truck when done. (profile)

Will the 'hood' look too long? and awkward?

but I do like the idea of not having to weld the middle of the roof and doors with filler pieces.


If you give it a try 8man, please keep us posted

Re: Stretching the cab
 

My thought was not extending the entire firewall as you described, but to extend it on either side of the engine to add foot room. I have not studied the 48 enough to know if this is possible.

On extending the firewall as you discussed, I saw one of the AD cabs that had been widened by 4" at the back and up through the firewall. They added 2" in width to each front fender and to the back, and I studied it for a while, but couldn't find it. My point is that if it were less than 4" and done correctly, I'm not sure it would show up to most people.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Are you guys talking about a firewall model or a cowl model, where the distance between the windshield and the hood gets longer?

Re: Stretching the cab
 

honda did this with the 95-98 accord V6, you can spot a V6 model of those years a mile away because its longer through the hood and front fenders. wikipedia said it was hard to notice without the two side by side (I disagree) so maybe it wouldnt be as noticeable on the AD

Re: Stretching the cab
 

I just am not seeing a good image of stretching the cowl or hood to move the foot board and firewall or part of it forward. If one was using a 4.3 or other V6 you could set it forward where it would set like a V8 would normally and move the footboard and part of the firewall forward. You would just have the reverse of what a couple of the recessed firewalls do now.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

This is why we need to go electric, lots of leg room :D

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Just use an engine and transaxle out of a front wheel drive Eldo or Toronado and put it in the bed and problem solved. A friend of mine had his 460 Ford under the tilt bed of his 40 Ford COE and drove it all over the US had what looked like a wood crate sitting on the bed that was his engine cover/dog house. The truck had a regular hoist setup for a flatbed dual wheel truck on it.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

I am a bit of a lowrider so maybe I don't understand it but I always wonder why guys that are tall buy vehicles that are small inside. one kid I worked with is 6'6" tall and his project car is a mazda mr2 from the mid '80's. then there is the lowrider guy who has a super lifted 4x4 and can barely get in the cab. lol.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

The stature of the population of the 40's-50's were a bit shorter. I was 8"+ taller than my grandfather before he passed, and he had an 52' 3600, but I still like the old classics. Being 6'1" now(have shrunk 1.5" since H.S.), We kinda get a bit soft in our old age and want some leg room.
Just sayin'.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

My thought on the 54 was not to stretch the cowl or the fenders, just inside the cab where the firewall can be moved into the engine bay a couple of inches.

I'm going to keep thinking on this one and measuring inside the engine bay for ideas.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

as soon as i can find the pictures, i will post them. we chopped and stretched a friends 46 cab chopped 2-1/2 and stretched 8" in the doors. looks exactly like GM should have built. no goofy quarter glass it just looks right.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

"little man" syndrome in reverse maybe? i love 4 cylinder engines in tiny little packages. i drove standard cab minitrucks for years too. :lol::lol::lol:

Re: Stretching the cab
 

A lot of small and maybe not so small sporty cars have the footwells up beside the engine a bit. That would depend on how much room the engine and trans let you have.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

My plan on my 48 has been to stretch the doors first and build the cab to the doors to get the gaps right and alignment right. That is going to tell me how much I need to widen the cab at the back and at the same time compensate for the chop. The good thing is that I have three cabs to use for the parts, the bad is that the free for local pickup left overs might not be as complete as they would have before.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

This has turned into both an informative and entertaining post.

I'd love to see the pictures of the cab extension. I know with a cab extension, the doors and the windows and the frame and the running boards have to be extended. If I can sneak a little room from the inside of the engine bay, that might be the easiest. I'm going to finish the 48 and drive it a bit and then decide.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Long legs = thin seat back that doesn't have a lot of angle to it. Back when too many guys thought that they had to have the 70's Camaro high backs in their trucks they lost several inches of leg room because of the angle of the lean back and how high it rose up.

A guy about 10 miles from me has these freshly upholstered seats for 1000 but I think they are for a 4 door. They would go back and then be adjustable to be seriously comfortable. I've got a pair of Audi 5000S seats saved back for mine but they may have been out in the storage trailer way too long now.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

here is how I stretched the roof on a 57. 16 inches. small window behind door for visibility when shoulder checking and also for ambient lighting. I used those panel clips and some longer keystock instead of the short piece that comes with the clips. I was going to use a strip on the inside with cleco's but went this way instead. I used a B pillar from another junk cab for something to mount the rear wall panel, then hand formed the side wall from 18ga cold rolled. the top profile is actually stolen from the junk cab rear wall window opening.
man, I wish I had a few days in the martin customs shop with all the cool tools.....I gotta win the lottery.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

Thanks. That should give that cab a lot of room.

Re: Stretching the cab
 

my 6'7" son drives a 68 elco, i laughed the first time i saw him climb in by placing his leg over the steering wheel :D :lol:

my father, b 1930 and grandfather, b 1903 were both 6'3".
at 6'5" i'm the shortest male ogre in my extended family of 2 brothers, son and 3 nephews

tall peoples really don't have a choice when it comes to vehicles
we're basically in a 3 point contact, butt and 2 feet. no leg support
even my 90 gmc sierra extended cab gets cramped after a couple hours of driving.
electric seat helps by tilting the bottom to support the leg minimally

when i drove 59 panel, i moved my seat way back and bolted it in, you couldn't see me in the cab
i couldn't look out the side window without leaning forward

short people have lots of options, booster seats, pedal extensions or having a parent drive them :lol: