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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Coal City, IL
Posts: 695
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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?
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Tony Nicholas @ Midwest Metal Masters 1953 Chevy 3100 392 Hemi w/727 & 9” Ford 1985 Chevy C/10 6.0L 4L80 373 locker |
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#2 |
Robert Olson Transport
![]() Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: recent transplant to NC USA
Posts: 20,288
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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
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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!! |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Coal City, IL
Posts: 695
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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.
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Tony Nicholas @ Midwest Metal Masters 1953 Chevy 3100 392 Hemi w/727 & 9” Ford 1985 Chevy C/10 6.0L 4L80 373 locker |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Coal City, IL
Posts: 695
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Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts
A profile something like this.
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Tony Nicholas @ Midwest Metal Masters 1953 Chevy 3100 392 Hemi w/727 & 9” Ford 1985 Chevy C/10 6.0L 4L80 373 locker |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Jose Ca
Posts: 2,871
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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.
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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 |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Ft Whoopup, Ab
Posts: 317
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Re: Unibody and sail panel thoughts
I always liked the look of this truck, it was done tastefully.
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 3,188
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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 |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 1,204
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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. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Coal City, IL
Posts: 695
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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.
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Tony Nicholas @ Midwest Metal Masters 1953 Chevy 3100 392 Hemi w/727 & 9” Ford 1985 Chevy C/10 6.0L 4L80 373 locker |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Farmington, MN
Posts: 928
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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.
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I can still count my vehicles on two... wait three hands. |
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#11 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Godley, TX
Posts: 17,963
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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. Last edited by jocko; 03-26-2016 at 10:27 PM. |
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