My 1961 crew cab- XRMYCRU

[Palf70Step]

Nice!! Can't wait to see what you do with it.

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

Is that not a standard vinyl mat for foyers into businesses or industry? I'll swear I've purchased a similar runner at Home Depot, but not as wide as you require.

allmats.com
americanfloormats.com
industrialrubberresource.com

Thanks for posting all the pictures. Nice of you to share the details.
Why red under the headliner?
The outer roof panel is in 3 pieces or 2?

thanks for the links I will check them out.

the red is a red oxide primer that the coach builders put on , a couple different pics I have of other c/c's show the same primer

the outer roof panel is 3 pieces : the front and back shaped "C" channels keep the roof shape. the 2 side pieces form a square, the og roof is folded at a 90 degree angle over the "C" channel front and back, some fabricated side pieces run from the rain gutter to the brace , and are folded over as well, then a square piece with the edges folded around it at a 90 degree angle is inserted, and all the inside edges are welded up. I do not know if the piece is welded on the top too, or if the seam is just filled in with lead. the way it has bubbled up around the seam I feel that it is probably not welded on the outside.

[jonzcustomshop]

today I did a little more cleaning , and more investigating, I was able to get the left rear door panel off, and checked out how it and the door were built.
the inside door handle was frozen to the mechanism , and I ended up cutting the handle apart with a cut off wheel, because I did not want to pry against the door panel.
the coach builders used a lot of lead on the doors and jambs.

the coach builder cut the cab in 1/2 at 29 inches from the front of the rocker, or 12 inches measured from the back.

they bent and fabricated a sheet metal piece for the floor, the inner rockers were a separate piece. by holding up one of my rocker patch panels I could see how they were probably able to use just 2 extra rockers in their build, cutting them in 1/2 and then using the back on the front, and the front on the back. this is the piece that is completely gone on the passenger side, and dented into oblivion on the drivers side...

the center pillar is made from an extra rear door pillar, then an extra front roof pillar at the top, and thick piece of plate steel on the bottom, the whole thing is slathered in lead.

I got to measuring on my 2 cabs with good floors. and it looks like I have all the stuff to start cutting and pasting...
still thinking on the best method for the roof: duplicate what they did? use this roof skin and fix it?... I'll keep you posted....

** notice in the pic, all the leading and welding being done... they did not weld up the 2 factory holes for the vin tag on the replacement pillar they used to create the rear jamb... I am seeing lots of this kind of stuff... maybe because this was just for an army contract, it was just rushed together with not much attention to detail. * also notice the rough unfinished file marks in the lead on this door..

[duallyjams]

All CC should be dually's, well in my little world.

[Captainfab]

Sorry to see you have so much work to do Jon

But if anyone can get it done you can.

Thanks for all the detailed pics on how these were made....quite interesting. I think there wasn't much attention to detail on the CC's because most of them were genuine work trucks. As long as they functioned and looked presentable, that was good enough.

Do you have any parts Suburbans or Panels in your area that you could scavenge some replacement parts from?

[aerotruk63]

A Suburban/ Panel truck roof has a different curve to it at the front but has seperate ribs to support. I wonder if the roof wing section of a regular cab mates to the raised section and curve of a burb roof?

[Grizz1963]

You are a brave man.

However, I can see the attraction of the truck, despite its condition.

This will take a while, but I am sure it will all be good in the end.

[Clyde65]

Congrats on the find!

I know the crews were kinda sloppily put together, at least that is my take on them, I have seen a few and when dad got his, it wasnt done " cosmetically to please anyone".

I know yours will be a nice job!

[64chevycrewcab]

I miss it already lol, glad your going to get it back on the road.

[piratexpress1369a]

nice find ...this will be a hell of a job.

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Sorry to see you have so much work to do Jon

But if anyone can get it done you can.

Thanks for all the detailed pics on how these were made....quite interesting. I think there wasn't much attention to detail on the CC's because most of them were genuine work trucks. As long as they functioned and looked presentable, that was good enough.

Do you have any parts Suburbans or Panels in your area that you could scavenge some replacement parts from?

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

A Suburban/ Panel truck roof has a different curve to it at the front but has seperate ribs to support. I wonder if the roof wing section of a regular cab mates to the raised section and curve of a burb roof?

the 'burb roof is just completely different, it is much taller, I did take a look at the 'burb headliner supports to see if I could use them, but I think they have a taller arch.
the 'burb roof even has a different shape next to the rain gutter, looks similar to the truck, but different.

I do have several roofs that I can part out, I did more studying of the roof today, to see what I want to use, and what gets replaced.

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by 64chevycrewcab

I miss it already lol, glad your going to get it back on the road.

hopefully sooner than later, I am getting on this cab repair soon, and after that the rest should be cake!

[jonzcustomshop]

this photo I have of a crew that was for sale in calif. a few years ago, is probably exactly what mine looked like before the state of Montana yellow that was brushed on over the green..
this is a 61 short step 6 cylinder 3/4 ton, even the door mirror bracket is the same.

if I look real close at my driver door I can see the faint raised edges of the "us army " logo, and also the "IG", and a 8, or a 3.

A friend of mine mentioned that when the army was done with these, they went into a pool, and states could get first dibs, so my truck could have been from anywhere before Montana got it... however I assume it was probably a western base.....

any of you military guys know what the "IG 8373" stood for? was it just a #, or does it tell the base too?

[66Gilbert]

Here you go Jon, A 1961 C20 Crew Cab Step Side in yellow. Not sure what your plans are for color?

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

any of you military guys know what the "IG 8373" stood for? was it just a #, or does it tell the base too?

My guess is that it was more than likely assigned to an Inspector General crew. The number was probably their unit number. I believe that is how ours were in the Air Force in the 70s, so I would think the Army was similar.

[Clyde65]

I agree with Palf70Step. Inspector General and unit #.

[66Z71]

Awsome find. I will be following this one. I picked up a suburban roof to use on the one I started.

[CheyenneShop]

So cool, can't wait to see what you do with it.

[tinydb84]

Man that is a lot of work! I'm sure it will be awesome when you are done with it!

[ksbrktracer]

Congrats on a cool find and good luck with the build.

[3 On Da Tree]

I curious.
What end are you going to start on?

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by 3 On Da Tree

I curious.
What end are you going to start on?

the rear 1/2 will be first, I can cut the rockers long on the donor cab, and they will just fit under the center pillar, and to the front of it about an inch.

then when I use the front cab donor I will be able to use the full rocker with out cutting it... that is the plan now for

got the front clip off today, and did lots more eyeballing to see how I will go about this...

here is the back 1/2 donor (literally!) cab, box, axle!

[aerotruk63]

You'll have to keep track of how many trucks it takes to make this one!

[jonzcustomshop]

haha, its gonna be a few, believe it or not , that green 61 short step was a good purchase, it came with a few good parts from a 60 long step, and I will be using quite a bit of that, and the good stuff off the 61...

[pope]

Glad to see that you made it home safely with it!