Going rate for a decent cab?

[terd ferguson]

I've got a chance to get a '61 cab with a good windshield. I need the windshield, but not the cab. The cab floor has a couple of decent repairs and a small hole near the rockers that still needs repaired. It also needs outside rockers. All other problem areas seem solid. It has a good dash, dash wiring, but no cluster or knobs/switches (and no windshield, I'm keeping that). It has a good small back glass. There is no title or VIN plate.

[jonzcustomshop]

with the roof repair that you have to do on yours, I might think about switching cabs....
I would do that before I tried to fix the roof...
or just swap the roof completely...

[70 Suburban]

lmc now offers the roof

[terd ferguson]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

with the roof repair that you have to do on yours, I might think about switching cabs....
I would do that before I tried to fix the roof...
or just swap the roof completely...

Swapping cabs is an option. Swapping roofs would effectively make the "new" cab worthless I would think. But, that is an option too. I can get the cab with the windshield, small back glass, gas tank, and dash for $200. The roof patch panel is $100 from LMC and a couple of others. I'd just hate to trash a cab that could be made into a decent truck. They aren't making any more, lol.

[70 Suburban]

I agree get the part save the cab

[jonzcustomshop]

That is true..
A new windshield is worth more than 200, so everything else you could consider free.
I had forgotten abuot your bbw/sbw difference, so there would be some work there..
The thing to look at first though is the rust on yours.
will the patch panel cover it all?
has the rust gotten to the inner and outer roof skins?(mine had).
is the rust compromising the winshield pinch frame, and did it get into the inner pillar support and weaken them?
I would ckeck into all of that before you get rid of good patches.

[terd ferguson]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

That is true..
A new windshield is worth more than 200, so everything else you could consider free.
I had forgotten abuot your bbw/sbw difference, so there would be some work there..
The thing to look at first though is the rust on yours.
will the patch panel cover it all?
has the rust gotten to the inner and outer roof skins?(mine had).
is the rust compromising the winshield pinch frame, and did it get into the inner pillar support and weaken them?
I would ckeck into all of that before you get rid of good patches.

I don't know if the patch panel will cover or not. I've never seen one in person or seen measurements as to how wide it is. I assume it'll cover between the seams on the left and right side above the windshield. My roof behind the rain gutters has zero rust. The rust is just above the windshield on the outside, but there are serious holes there. A previous owner had filled the holes with foam and bondo'ed and painted over them just making things worse.

The inner roof seems good too, although every time I hit a hard bump, I get rust falling down from around the top of the windshield. I'm pretty sure the rust falling is from where the windshield gasket sets, like I said, the inner and outer roof seems fine. I can't be certain if inside the pillars are good or not.

The "new" cab has a hole in the floor, mine has two. the "new" cab needs outer rockers, mine doesn't. The "new" cab would still require removing the windshield, the rubber is shot. So a complete cab swap would probably be as much work as repairing mine. I'd just hate to cut up a decent cab.

The plus side seems to be I could probably get most of my money back and a free windshield by flipping the cab.

[protrash64]

I think that you'll have a decent cab when you combine the two. Its not wasting parts, its putting them to good use IMO. Just make a serious effort to get an evaluation of the cabs in all respects and try to make the least amount of work. jonz already proved that there are thousands of these trucks out there. Just something to consider while your out getting some fresh sawzall blades.

[70 Suburban]

I WOULD THINK THAT THE NEW PANAL WOULD BE FROM FLANGE TO FLANGE. DRILL OUT THE SPOT WELDS WELD THEM BACK IN. DONE AND YOU STILL HAVE A CAB LEFT OVER. IF YOU WERE HERE i WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE