Meet Homer

[flashed]

Thanks Ed and Wayne for making me decide to finally start moving on my 1 Ton .The ramp truck is picking it up from my house tomorrow and taking it to the bodyshop .The shop owner is going to get it running to pull his camper and then adapt the ugly oversized flat bed to look better and then the truck will get new paint with the bodyshop logo on the doors . Im lucky as mine needs no bodywork at all ,just fuel system repairs .

PS : I Did not mean to Hi Jack you here .

[cooperhw]

Good 4 you. No worries on the thread hijack issue. I never could understand that anyway. I figure I come on here to talk, or share ideas on. Please post pics of your hauler right on this thread. It started as "Homers" but I am kinda hoping we can just use it as a place for those of us who own, build, or want to build one of these big boys.
I love it.
Serious, let's see that hauler. I thought (still am a little) about making Homer into a hauler to haul my altered wheelbase 67 Nova drag car. That would be cool, but I am afraid I would not drive it that much. I want to drive these, not have em sit waiting for a race event.

[flashed]

If you go to the top of new posts in the 1 ton thread on page 11 you will see my ugly old 1 ton with me standing next to it ,I dont know how to post or move pics .

[nlped]

Since you said it's okay, here's Flash's 1-ton...

Btw...good looking ride!

[flashed]

Ed ,thanks for bringing that pic over ,I am not smart enough to do that .Its a pretty good old truck other than the fuel problems Im trying to figure out . And that ugly bed but it has some nice BuddyBuckets in it .

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by nlped

Since you said it's okay, here's Flash's 1-ton...

Btw...good looking ride!

How wide and long is that flat bed? It looks about perfect.

Anybody ever dealt with the high "kickup" over the axle? Mine has it.

[nlped]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

Anybody ever dealt with the high "kickup" over the axle? Mine has it.

What...? I need a picture...

[flashed]

The bed sticks out about 8" past the wheels and it was built with a drop down on back for the ugly Gooseneck hitch that is still on it but not much longet .We also plan to lower the headache bar behind the cab. The bed is so wide I cant see much out of the mirrors .

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by flashed

The bed sticks out about 8" past the wheels and it was built with a drop down on back for the ugly Gooseneck hitch that is still on it but not much longet .We also plan to lower the headache bar behind the cab. The bed is so wide I cant see much out of the mirrors .

Thanks. I am probably gonna stick to about 2 inches past each side.

[mjensen]

A buddy of mine is fixing up his cab now. He's doing something similar:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=645614

Looks like you have some fun times ahead

[cooperhw]

Well, I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do with Homer. bought a long-bed flat-bed and was trying to "fall in love with the plan/build".

Well, that didn't happen. Nothing against those with flatbeds. I have seen some that look awesome, just not my cup of tea I guess.

Found out that not only would I have to remove 48" of length to get to the 127" wheelbase of a longbed, this particular frame has a "higher kick up" over the axle to deal with. Then what would I have? Another long bed truck with a flatbed. Whoo Hooo.

Soo, I started toying with the idea of a Short Bed Dually with a step side bed that was widened in the middle to cover the dual wheels. I will have to stretch the back panel also, and install a set trimmed down fleetside fender wells.

Found a cab in chassis semi-local (hauled it home Friday) and tore into it this morning.

Wanted to "step notch" like I have done others but the only logical place to remove the chunk of frame would have put me too close to the spring hanger, so I square cut it. I then boxed the frame on the inside with 1/4" plate & fish plated over the outside just for good measure.

So I now have a 79 Dually Chassis that is a short bed 115" length. I am hoping to remove Homer's cab and front clip next weekend and get started grafting that roof and back panel on.

Here are a few photos.

[cooperhw]

Well had some other stuff that had to be taken care of but finally today I was able to get back to work on Homer.
It was time to give him a haircut and get that jacked up roof and cab back off.
Here's a few pics of the process. I also cut the replacement panel off my donor cab. Gonna clean up both in the morning and drill a bunch of holes around to plug weld a strip around the bottom as that only has one skin where I made the slice along the back.
Hopefully tomorrow I will have the new donor cap/back stitched in place and the doors hung back where they were this morning.
Here's some pics.

[cooperhw]

Here's some pics of the donor with the roof off ready for transplant.

[nlped]

Holy sh/t... You are so making me feel like a drag a$$. I did get mine back up & running & driving today, but my cab still has a giant hole in it. LoL. Did figure out that mine is still only 157" wheelbase...

I'm really interested to see how your cab turns out.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by nlped

Holy sh/t... You are so making me feel like a drag a$$. I did get mine back up & running & driving today, but my cab still has a giant hole in it. LoL. Did figure out that mine is still only 157" wheelbase...

I'm really interested to see how your cab turns out.

Tune back in tomorrow night. I am really hoping to have it back together by then. Hopefully,,,,Wish I had a whole puncher. Would save a ton of drilled holes. Might have to go buy a cheap one.
I didn't want to lose the pillar that the vin is attached to so I drilled out the spot welds on the skin up that pillar and cut the jamb above it. A bit more work but I am not a fan of glue affixing them. Don't want no problems later.

[swamp rat]

Stupid question time, how did you measure the A pillars before cutting? (Points A&B) I guess what would concern me the most would be knowing i am getting the proper roof height and A pillar length before welding.

While i'm at it, i sure wish my neighborhood had brick fences too, I'd prefer my neighbors couldn't see into my yard.

[cooperhw]

Homer got a new hat today. Took all day to prep the truck and the donor cab, but I just put up the welder and Homer has a new hat.
I am pretty happy I got er dun. I still have a little hammer and dolly work and finish welding to do, put she is all one piece and went back together within a 16th of an inch in every measurement taken. Now, I can start building a truck. I will post a couple of update photo groups in case anybody else has any qualms about doing this , "Piece of cake".

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Stupid question time, how did you measure the A pillars before cutting? (Points A&B) I guess what would concern me the most would be knowing i am getting the proper roof height and A pillar length before welding.

While i'm at it, i sure wish my neighborhood had brick fences too, I'd prefer my neighbors couldn't see into my yard.

I measured the opening height from the floor to the roof. I measured the opening in the windshield opening the glass rubber rests against. I cut the old roof 2 inches down square all around. On the donor I measured down and cut it at 2.25 inches knowing it would have my opening too big, but then I could see where I needed to trim to drop it down tight. I cut a 2X4 1/2" longer than the opening so when I needed to trim I would mark it the wedge the 2X4 in place lifting the roof so I could cut off wheel cut it and then knock the board out and drop it back down.
I cut the door jambs different. The one on the passenger side was much easier with a straight cut. The drivers side I took the cut up higher so that the vin remained in place with original sheetmetal.

[nlped]

Nice work!!!

[flashed]

That turned out great ,looks so much better without that big hole in the back.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by nlped

Nice work!!!

Thanks guys. I am sooooooo glad that gaping hole is now gone. Donor cab even had a primo windshield and back glass, and for $100. Looks like a truck instead of a mistake now.

[swamp rat]

Thanks for the wright up! the more i read the more i learn, the more confidant i become.

EDIT: Also impressed by how fast you got that much fitted and welded on one day too.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Thanks for the wright up! the more i read the more i learn, the more confidant i become.

That right there is why I take the time to do the write up and take the pictures. I have witnessed many clip type repairs on "heavy collisions" done over the years and even lended a hand while hanging out at the body shop, but never have attempted this before on a roof. Lot's of frame and floor work, but knew if I took my time and measured everything, cut it a little long, and trimmed it down, I would get it back into position. She is now welded up and it really was not too hard. Way easier than other options for repairing the cab top and back.

[Saclandman]

Excellent work.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by Saclandman

Excellent work.

Thanks, I appreciate that. Just goes to show you don't have to be a rocket scientist, just too dumb to quit and take lots of measurements before, during, and hopefully have the same after.