Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[sduckworth13]

The patch for the firewall looks excellent, it is a real quality piece of work.

[sduckworth13]

Excellent, thank you. See you tomorrow Vic.

[sduckworth13]

Thanks Vic for installing the patch you made for my firewall panel, I'm real happy with how it looks. I should have the finished pics up of the firewall up tomorrow. I appreciate all your time today.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Thanks Vic for installing the patch you made for my firewall panel, I'm real happy with how it looks. I should have the finished pics up of the firewall up tomorrow. I appreciate all your time today.

You're welcome, Scott. Glad to help out. I know you'll put the finishing touch on it.

[sduckworth13]

I will do my best, the patch fits like a glove so it shouldn't take long to get it welded up.

[Vic1947]

Hung the passenger side door and adjusted it as best possible. There was about a 5/8" gap at the back of the door that remained after numerous adjustments, shimming and etc. Mentioned the problem while I was at Scott's over the weekend and he suggested making a cardboard template of his door opening, since his doors had "paint stick" gaps when installed. Took him up on the offer and it confirmed my suspicion that the missing cab corner, etc. had allowed the rear door post to relax rearward. Decided the simplest thing to do was to install a couple of plates to allow me to draw the opening back together with a come along. Made the plates from 1/8" material which turned out to be mucho overkill, but still worked fine. As you can see from the attached photos, the opening pulled back into position and when I test fit the outer rocker panel, it was much closer than originally. I'll attempt to install the cab corner and rocker while keeping tension on the opening. Hopefully when the panels are tacked in and the tension released, the door opening will stay put. I still need to pie cut the rocker to get a good fit, but that's not a big deal. I'm sure the cab corners will require surgery also.

[TA_C10]

First off, nice build thread, very nice work sir. Question, I am working on my floors and rockers and cab corners and they are all loose and I will have to re-align like your doing. My question is how did you pull the rear cab posts forward when they attach to the floor pan with bolts?? Did you make new holes for the bolts in the floor pan? Come along pic reference.

Thanks,
Tom

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Hung the passenger side door and adjusted it as best possible. There was about a 5/8" gap at the back of the door that remained after numerous adjustments, shimming and etc. Mentioned the problem while I was at Scott's over the weekend and he suggested making a cardboard template of his door opening, since his doors had "paint stick" gaps when installed. Took him up on the offer and it confirmed my suspicion that the missing cab corner, etc. had allowed the rear door post to relax rearward. Decided the simplest thing to do was to install a couple of plates to allow me to draw the opening back together with a come along. Made the plates from 1/8" material which turned out to be mucho overkill, but still worked fine. As you can see from the attached photos, the opening pulled back into position and when I test fit the outer rocker panel, it was much closer than originally. I'll attempt to install the cab corner and rocker while keeping tension on the opening. Hopefully when the panels are tacked in and the tension released, the door opening will stay put. I still need to pie cut the rocker to get a good fit, but that's not a big deal. I'm sure the cab corners will require surgery also.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by TA_C10

... how did you pull the rear cab posts forward when they attach to the floor pan with bolts?? Did you make new holes for the bolts in the floor pan? Tom

Hey Tom, IIRC I re-drilled the holes and also had to modify the back of the new floor pan because it then interfered with the cab corner. A lot depends on the mix of parts you're trying to assemble. I think all of us have had to deal with patch panels and other aftermarket pieces that are stamped from worn out dies and don't fit like they're supposed to. I try to assemble as much as I can and see what sticks out like a sore thumb. Then determine what I have to do to get it back in line. It can be nerve wracking, but a guy with a welder, basic metalworking tools, a little patience and no fear can beat sheetmetal into submission. Then Bondo the rest.

[Vic1947]

Used CRLS to haul Dad's old recliner to the Salvation Army this morning. Up to its old tricks... popping and banging, not wanting to start on the first try, etc. Seems like there may be a problem with the O2 sensor heaters. Once the engine warms up fully, it settles down and runs a little better, although it still surges at part throttle a little as well as an outright misfire now and then. After it warms up, if you give it full throttle, it cleans out and pulls hard. But then at city speeds it starts to act up again.

I put the new scan tool in Live Data mode and the only numbers that looked really odd were the O2 sensor voltages. Kept banging back and forth between .05V and .9V. The graph looked like a series of spikes. But then again, I don't really know what to look for either.

It now has the original two permanent DTC's (P0131 & P0151) and has added two more of the same as well as two more in pending codes for a total of six codes. (The same two codes repeated three times.) I'm going to put it in "record" mode tomorrow and put a few highway miles on the truck if it will cooperate to get a more complete data dump.

I have an appointment at LSXkilr on the 25th to see if they can isolate the problem(s) and get it running right. I'm at the end of my rope. I removed the pushbutton start completely and reinstalled the ignition switch in the dash for now. If I ever get this sorted, I'll reinstall it. There's a show in Bonner Springs on the 28th we go to every year. Be nice if CRLS was able to make the trip without puking.

[Low Elco]

I like that trick- it'd probably help Yeller's pass. side. I had to split the rockers too. Good call, Scott!

[sduckworth13]

Thanks Chip.

Nice work Vic, that's pretty slick. I had to pie cut the rocker on my passenger side too. I didn't have to do anything to the drivers side rocker, it fit perfect.

[swamp rat]

Nice!

[Xeen]

Excellent problem solving and ingenuity Vic.
Wonderfull progress I can't wait to see more.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

I like that trick- it'd probably help Yeller's pass. side. I had to split the rockers too. Good call, Scott!

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Thanks Chip. Nice work Vic, that's pretty slick. I had to pie cut the rocker on my passenger side too. I didn't have to do anything to the drivers side rocker, it fit perfect.

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Nice!

Originally Posted by Xeen

Excellent problem solving and ingenuity Vic.
Wonderfull progress I can't wait to see more.

Thanks everyone! Below are some before and after shots of the cab corners. As you can see, the previous installation was a bit rough. I trimmed the right side patch so I could leave the maximum unmolested tin on the cab. Because I pulled the rear cab post forward, I had to slightly modify the floor where the back of the cab corner fits. As I recall, I may have had to do something similar on the silver truck. Either way it fits up pretty good now. Just need to burn off the paint where the spotwelds, etc. will go, then fire up the heat.

[jlsanborn]

Nice work on all of that! The spot welder sure is sweet.

[Low Elco]

Fittin' up good! (Finally!) Are you just gonna loose tack them together and check the door fit before going whole hog? Very nice work, Vic. As if we'd see anything else.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Fittin' up good! (Finally!) Are you just gonna loose tack them together and check the door fit before going whole hog? Very nice work, Vic. As if we'd see anything else.

You bet. It was too far off to start with to risk welding up the patch panels completely.

[Saclandman]

It's almost like I'm learning how to weld just by reading this thread. Awesome work, Vic.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Saclandman

It's almost like I'm learning how to weld just by reading this thread. Awesome work, Vic.

Sometimes I feel like I'm learning to weld while posting this thread, Rich.

The fit-up continues as I tacked the cab corner in and checked the rocker panel. Then, per Chip's advice, I remounted the door for a look at the gaps. Not too bad ...a bit wider than I'd like, but much better than the 5/8"+ gap I had to start with. I'll be able to massage it some more when I do bodywork. [BeaterTruckBeaterTruckBeaterTruckBeaterTruck]

My signmaker bud, Steve Smith, was talking to Jonathon Cornell (who does all my powder coating) and scored me a sweet little English wheel. It's small but sturdy and will do 99% of what I need. Jonathon and his dad picked it up as part of an auction lot they acquired and graciously passed it on to me. Nothing quite like good friends!

[mikeleeshields]

Awesome metal working. You went above and beyond what normal guys do when repairing thr body. Keep it up

[sduckworth13]

Nice work Vic, congrats on the new english wheel.

[jlsanborn]

You're keepin at it Vic, something new and nice every day! Tools are cool!!!

[Low Elco]

The sad part is, he's got a lathe, too, Custom wheels, baby! Nice score, Vic!

[Xeen]

Vic I'm so jealous of your cab, you worked your ass off on it and it shows man it looks great!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Xeen

Vic I'm so jealous of your cab, you worked your ass off on it and it shows man it looks great!

Thanks, Brian! I know weather is holding you up, but I look forward to seeing progress on yours soon.