Unibody and sail panel thoughts - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

65standard · 03-22-2016, 09:19 AM

As a metal shaper/fabricator I have been thinking about fusing the bed and cab together like a blazer/bronco and adding a small sail panel to the back of the cab to make it all flow together. Pretty much like a '79 bronco without the top.

Has anyone done this before?

**old Rusty C10** · 03-22-2016, 09:29 AM

I think the flex will break it if you do any kind of off road or city pothole jumping

65standard · 03-22-2016, 10:57 AM

I'm thinking just the opposite. That the one piece cab/bed now will become stronger like a unibody Blazer is. The body will be a structural piece as well as the frame. Double the strength now.

But, I'm only doing it for a custom look.

65standard · 03-22-2016, 06:06 PM

A profile something like this.

tinydb84 · 03-22-2016, 06:14 PM

People have done it on here. Both making a Blazer from a truck and a Trazer from a blazer.

Ronzo · 03-22-2016, 06:38 PM

I always liked the look of this truck, it was done tastefully.

tucsonjwt · 03-22-2016, 08:43 PM

Ford had a better idea - but they abandoned it due to problems.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/02...y-pickups.html

Axle · 03-26-2016, 07:29 PM

I highly suggest you watch the bed while (somebody else) drives down a bumpy/uneven road, driveway turn ins, parking lot entrances, off camber entrances, fast turns. driving across railway tracks, just driving down the road.

Without doing anything else that thing will buckle.

65standard · 03-26-2016, 08:28 PM

With the cab mounted on rubber and the bed fixed solid to the frame, I see there will be movement between the bed and cab. If I go unibody, they will both have to be either on rubber mounts or both fixed solid to the frame.

Damien · 03-26-2016, 09:50 PM

GM used torque boxes under the floor of the early Blazers and Jimmys to help with this body flex. Something like that might help. El Caminos use a boxed frame with rubber mounts. If you look inside the bed of the El Caminos you'll also notice the inner bed wall is flush with the bed rail unlike most pickups. This extra width should help resist twisting too.

**jocko** · 03-26-2016, 10:21 PM

Here's one from the LA Roadster Show a few years back for some inspiration. Truck/thing was straight as an arrow and made to look original w/mild patina. Always had a crowd around it....
EDIT: Lost my place - thought I was on the 67-72 board. Anyway, still maybe provide a little inspiration anyway.

03-22-2016, 09:19 AM	#1
65standard Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Coal City, IL Posts: 695	Unibody and sail panel thoughts As a metal shaper/fabricator I have been thinking about fusing the bed and cab together like a blazer/bronco and adding a small sail panel to the back of the cab to make it all flow together. Pretty much like a '79 bronco without the top. Has anyone done this before? __________________ Tony Nicholas @ Midwest Metal Masters 1953 Chevy 3100 392 Hemi w/727 & 9” Ford 1985 Chevy C/10 6.0L 4L80 373 locker

03-22-2016, 09:29 AM	#2
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts I think the flex will break it if you do any kind of off road or city pothole jumping __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

03-22-2016, 10:57 AM	#3
65standard Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Coal City, IL Posts: 695	Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts I'm thinking just the opposite. That the one piece cab/bed now will become stronger like a unibody Blazer is. The body will be a structural piece as well as the frame. Double the strength now. But, I'm only doing it for a custom look. __________________ Tony Nicholas @ Midwest Metal Masters 1953 Chevy 3100 392 Hemi w/727 & 9” Ford 1985 Chevy C/10 6.0L 4L80 373 locker

03-22-2016, 06:06 PM	#4
65standard Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Coal City, IL Posts: 695	Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts A profile something like this. Attached Images __________________ Tony Nicholas @ Midwest Metal Masters 1953 Chevy 3100 392 Hemi w/727 & 9” Ford 1985 Chevy C/10 6.0L 4L80 373 locker

03-22-2016, 06:14 PM	#5
tinydb84 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Jose Ca Posts: 2,871	Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts People have done it on here. Both making a Blazer from a truck and a Trazer from a blazer. __________________ David Used parts build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=638991 My brother's Nova: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=727985 Rear suspension rework: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=750557 Instagram: myfabguy

03-22-2016, 06:38 PM	#6
Ronzo Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Ft Whoopup, Ab Posts: 317	Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts I always liked the look of this truck, it was done tastefully.

03-22-2016, 08:43 PM	#7
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,189	Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts Ford had a better idea - but they abandoned it due to problems. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/02...y-pickups.html

03-26-2016, 07:29 PM	#8
Axle Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SW Ontario Posts: 1,212	Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts I highly suggest you watch the bed while (somebody else) drives down a bumpy/uneven road, driveway turn ins, parking lot entrances, off camber entrances, fast turns. driving across railway tracks, just driving down the road. Without doing anything else that thing will buckle.

03-26-2016, 08:28 PM	#9
65standard Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Coal City, IL Posts: 695	Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts With the cab mounted on rubber and the bed fixed solid to the frame, I see there will be movement between the bed and cab. If I go unibody, they will both have to be either on rubber mounts or both fixed solid to the frame. __________________ Tony Nicholas @ Midwest Metal Masters 1953 Chevy 3100 392 Hemi w/727 & 9” Ford 1985 Chevy C/10 6.0L 4L80 373 locker

03-26-2016, 09:50 PM	#10
Damien Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Farmington, MN Posts: 928	Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts GM used torque boxes under the floor of the early Blazers and Jimmys to help with this body flex. Something like that might help. El Caminos use a boxed frame with rubber mounts. If you look inside the bed of the El Caminos you'll also notice the inner bed wall is flush with the bed rail unlike most pickups. This extra width should help resist twisting too. __________________ I can still count my vehicles on two... wait three hands.

03-26-2016, 10:21 PM	#11
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts Here's one from the LA Roadster Show a few years back for some inspiration. Truck/thing was straight as an arrow and made to look original w/mild patina. Always had a crowd around it.... EDIT: Lost my place - thought I was on the 67-72 board. Anyway, still maybe provide a little inspiration anyway. Attached Images Last edited by jocko; 03-26-2016 at 10:27 PM.

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