Finally Starting
 

Attachment 1250448

Attachment 1250449

Attachment 1250450

Attachment 1250451I finally have moved the 67 to inside the barn and started the tare down part. I hope to get it stripped and blasted here pretty shortly. The questions will be starting, maybe some of them not to intelligent but please be patient. This is my first trip around the merigo round.

Re: Finally Starting
 

Great start!

Re: Finally Starting
 

Your in the right place here, lots of good people with lots of experience.
Make sure you bag and tag EVERYTHING and take lots of pictures, you will need them for reference when its time to reassemble.

Re: Finally Starting
 

Attachment 1251009

Attachment 1251010

Attachment 1251011

Attachment 1251012

Attachment 1251014Here are some of the bad that will need fixed. The rust above the sun visor is something I think I will have to have hired done. I will need to find a new track bar. The rust above the A-post will be another tough fix. I do have the cab totally detached and is just sitting there waiting to be lifted off. If anyone has any suggestions on the fixes please speak up, I am up for any and all of them.

Re: Finally Starting
 

Is that the worst of the rust? Are also going to have to replace the usual floor panels, cab corners, rockers, lower pillars, etc?

Re: Finally Starting
 

The drivers side cab corner is going to have to be replaced, the rockers inner and outer have been done, passenger side corner has been started (PO). Rear cab mounts need changed atleast the outer half of them. I bought a fleet side bed in near perfect condition minus the tail gate and lights.

Re: Finally Starting
 

I might at least look around for another cab unless you are dead set on fixing this one. The rot around the roof looks pretty nasty and isn't as easy to fix as rockers and cab corners. Not trying to discourage you, but sometimes it makes more sense to start with the best possible foundation.

Re: Finally Starting
 

The only problem I have with that is I want to be able to keep the original vin tag. What can I do about that?

Re: Finally Starting
 

Where do you guys find the time to work on these trucks, with two kids and other honey do's , it seems like i will never get mine finished......

Re: Finally Starting
 

I've got 2 kids also, but they are old enough we don't have to mind to them all the time and they both actually enjoy helping on the truck. Now for the surprising part they are both girls. LOL The honey do's kind of stack up once in awhile.

Re: Finally Starting
 

Best thing to do is make it a family project.

Re: Finally Starting
 

I've heard you can cut the whole jamb (with the VIN) out at the factory seams and weld it into your new cab. ;)

Re: Finally Starting
 

I drilled out the rivets from my vin tag and scrapped the cab.

Re: Finally Starting
 

You'll need 'rosette' rivets' to reuse that VIN. Very, very hard to come by and possibly illegal in some states.

Re: Finally Starting
 

Mine were not "rosette". They are round, they are actually still on the drill bit I used. Cab, front clip and bed all had the same matching color under the bad paint job on top of them. Yes the frame number also matches.
Unless they just rebodied the frame.

Re: Finally Starting
 

Kind of intriguing if they weren't rosette style because they certainly were from the factory on every truck I've seen. Possibly swapped previously?

Re: Finally Starting
 

Attachment 1252020

Attachment 1252021I had a friend come over with a loader tractor and we lifted the cab off. I took the pressure washer to it and found that the frame is in really good shape. The pics are from before washing. Now I just have to get ahold of the blasting guy to make it look like new again.

Re: Finally Starting
 

Well I've got the shocks, e-brake lines, driveshaft and the manual transmission cross member all off and I think it's ready to go to the blaster. Besides powder coating what is the best paint to coat it with when it gets home?

Re: Finally Starting
 

Attachment 1266426

Attachment 1266427

Attachment 1266428

Attachment 1266429I got the frame and springs back from my buddy that has the powder coating business, and got all bushings and steering parts in. The springs don't look as good in the pics as they do in real life. I had him powder coat them silver and I almost wish they were on the outside of the truck. My wife and oldest daughter helped a bunch on this part of the project, I hope they keep it up.

Re: Finally Starting
 

I got the front suspension put back together this evening.Attachment 1267231

Attachment 1267232

Re: Finally Starting
 

I asked about the rosette rivets a few weeks ago and was pounced all over and told by the administrators of this board that it is illegal and is not a topic on this board and will be cancelled every time...

Well me being me... I said fine I will just investigate that myself... What I found out is it is illegal in all 50 states to remove a ID plate and replace it without the DMV and Highway patrol in... Then it is questionable... It has to be approved by them PRIOR to anything being done... then re-inspected upon completion... The you run into the issue of taking the truck from one state to another... That is a Whole new set of issues...

Re: Finally Starting
 

I think I have found all the patch panels that I need (found not boughten). Starting with the foundation and going up. I'm hoping to save the money and just have the rust places above the sun visors fixed professionally.

Re: Finally Starting
 

It looks from your pics the best way t fix the roof is to find a donor cab and cut through the "A" and "B" pillars then drop it on and weld it in... That way you are still with the original VIN cab with a top that has the integrity of a original truck...

Just my opinion...

Re: Finally Starting
 

Best of luck ... looks like you have a great start. :metal:

Re: Finally Starting
 

I got my tubular motor mounts and cross member installed and set the block and tranny in for a test fit. They fit like a glove. I finally got around to making the new track bar. I don't know how long it's going to take me and my family to finish this but we're having fun doing it. I've been so dead set on putting a 383 in it when I started and the further I go I keep having thoughts of maybe a 427. We'll see.Attachment 1289275

Attachment 1289276

Attachment 1289277