Pickup cab rebuild help?

[gfatula]

Hi,

I am looking for a resources I can use as I start planning the complete rebuild of the cab of my 65 4x4 1/2 ton pickup. Books, videos, pictures, etc. Taking it off the frame? Where to start? After market sheet metal sources, things to avoid, interior...? Any information will be welcome.

I will have a heated place to do the work ready this coming spring. I intend to remove the cab and restore the sheet metal. I will rebuild the high torque 283, too. I want it stock when I am done.

Thanks,

George

[Terry12]

Look in the FAQ sections, you will find alot of good info there.

[gfatula]

Thanks Terry.

George

[1963c-10]

If you look through the build threads...you will find alot of good info there also. There are alot of builds ongoing in various phases or repair.

[gfatula]

Thank you.

[cantada]

Take a look at my build thread. Lots of pics on sheetmetal fab / replacement. Topbananaparts is the preferred vendor of folks on this site I believe. Good luck and TAKS LOTS OF PICS AND POST THEM ... You may help someone else out.
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[gfatula]

Thank you cantada,

It is so helpful to have access to this collection of kindred spirits. Will do.

George

I just looked at your thread. I worked at the Terrytown plant in the 60s. Ha! Mine came from there, too!

[Jargo]

I just restored my 63 and did a frame off. I found an old queen mattress and laid the cab on its back on the mattress. This made it very easy to replace the floor pans and rockers.

[Jargo]

You will need to support door jams, before you cut out the floor to ensure your doors fit back properly. I will try to send you pictures of mine.

[gfatula]

Thanks Jargo,

I will look for the pics. How did you brace the door frames?

George

[cantada]

I have pics of that in mine as well. Everyone seems to do it a little different. I used square tubing and went from a pillar to a pillar, b pillar to b pillar, a pillar to b pillar twice to form an x, and filally a short piece at the end of each x and then to the floor where I had floor in the middle. Maybe a bit of overkill but mine was sooo bad I didnt want to take any chances. I also did it in a way so I could keep rehanging the doors. The doors are very heavy and you want the weight on there at times to make sure everything is where is needs to be. ALSO... ONLY DO ONE SIDE AT A TIME!!!!

[gfatula]

You guys are a great help and inspiration. I am impressed by how much can be done to save one of these nice old trucks. Now that I am retired I will have time for focusing this. I have been playing with small block Chevys since I was a teenager back in the early 60s. It is nice to have one to play with again.

George

[Terry12]

Here is another build, he also has videos on YouTube there is a link in the FAQ section. Here is "Boat" build link : http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=412554
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[rbar]

I would suggest avoiding aftermarket sheet metal parts if possible. MAR-K makes good stuff, but everything else I've tried is not. I've bought triplus, goodmark, and Dynacorn, and sold it all again at a loss to get rid of it. I bought from goodmark and they sent me triplus. Lots of companies selling from 1 or a few manufacturers. Is also suggest not buying anything until your ready to use it. Bought a $500 dynacorn door and two fenders from Tuckers. When I waited a number of months to put them on and found out the door was twisted and gapped badly and the fenders were 1/4" too short, they wouldn't help me at all. Bought a grand slam suspension kit from cpp. They sent me a wrong part and wouldn't exchange it because it had been six months. I thought I would get everything bought, but if you have more parts than time, it can bite you.
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[gfatula]

rbar,

Very valuable advice. Thanks very much for sharing your experience.

I bought another truck! I was thinking I would put its body on the 4x4 I want to put back on the road. I am driving the second truck now but have decided it would be a shame to cannibalize a nice truck that is already only in need of some "minor" body work and a paint job. So I will restore the 4x4 anyway. The second truck is a 2wd, long bed fleet side, with a 350, an R400 auto transmission, a big Holly 4 barrel, dual glass packs and old style aluminum "mag wheels". It is fun to drive, goes like hell and sounds quite dramatic. My goal is my old stock 283 high torque with a 2 barrel (it runs great) to carry a camper and my canoe into the Maine woods. I will sell #2. I did post two pictures in another place on this forum.. "How common is my 4wd?"

What about LMC for sheet metal?

George

[rbar]

LMC, in my opinion, is probably selling the same thing as everyone else. If they are not the manufacturer, they are only selling what is available, which is not as good as original. i have found that some of these companies try to lead you to believe it's theirs, as if it's going to be better than the competitors, but it's not. There has only been one company that would tell me who made their parts, and I already mentioned them.
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[gfatula]

Thanks rbar.