Longbike 57 chevy truck build.

[longbike]

I finally got all the cab patch panels welded in, now I need to flip it over and weld up some of the bottom panels from the back side and sandblast the whole cab to then primer.

[ChuckDriver]

Great work!

[Green 1959]

Awesome job!!! You are having to do alot of metal work but it looks like its coming together really nice.
Now you just need to get a 58-59 front clip

[Kabwe]

Looking really good. You are doing a great job.

[longbike]

Now you just need to get a 58-59 front clip [/QUOTE]

Green then I would be a 4-eyes like you!!!


Thanks guys for your kind words!

[dicer]

How did you do those inner rear corners? Did you do the outside ones first then fit them in? And how about the B post where the corner is behind it? Do you have more pics of that? I may not be able to use the whole inner corner because I didn't want to cut up as high as you did, and it looks like that inner corner is behind or rather infront of the cab rear panel. And wow did you do a great job, its not fun drilling spot welds is it?
Did you need to do much hammer and dolly work when welding the outer corner? Thats why I was thinking the inner corner should go in last???

[Kim57]

Looking good longbike.
Kim

[longbike]

Thanks Kim!

dicer, I had to cut up that high because of an earlier repair of just galvanize sheet metal and globs of putty from the previous owner, but I found out it is easier to tack in the inner panel first and to replace the whole inner to the original mounting position to the floor and then wrap the outer to it.
You can do the outer ones first but you will have trouble getting the inner in place with the step box in place.
Ya the spot welds are not fun!
No I didn't have to do any hammer work to the outer cab corner but I did have to drop both sides down about an 1/2 inch and weld in a spacier, but that was my fault. OH and I did have to cut down vertically the high point of the cab corner to tighten up the fit.

[spousta]

looks like great work! hopefully i can make my patching on the 55 look that good. keep it up

[bensimmons_05]

Hey thanks a bunch, That actually does help me out! I'm trying to get where you are. Keep up the great work.

[dicer]

Any updates on this one?

[longbike]

Thanks fellows!

You guys should of seen me turning the cab over all by myself on the Dolley! I bet the neighbors were thinking what a crazy person!

[longbike]

The first pic is where I welded a large flat washer cut in half to a large dent in the cab roof and used a slide hammer to pull it out, worked great!

The other two is where I made a tool to straighen out the gutter edge, I know they sell these but this one was free and man they are handy to have.

The last pic is my little helper washing off the bike after a mud ride, Him and his little sister is why is taking so long to do the body work cant weld or grind with them out there!

[dicer]

A question did you do the outer rear corners first then put in the inner ones? Or both at the same time? Just wondering about doing a hammer and dolly thing to the outer ones.
And its strange your gutter was bent in the exact same place mine was and a dent in the roof in the same place.
Did you have to remove that lower fender bolt bracket to fix the front cab corner?
Sure looks good, wish I was that far. Are you going to use seam sealer at some point on the seams?

[longbike]

Left side the inner was put on last, the right went in first because I didn't know better!

I did have to remove the lower fender mount and transfer to the new corner.

[longbike]

Do any of you guys use an acid wash on the bare metal after sand blasting? to clean the sand out of the metal!

I was wondering if its really important or just something xtra not nessesary.

[Rods57]

Looks great so far, keep the pics coming. I did not use anything after i got the cab sandblasted, I DA'ed it with 280 grit, blew it off, then wiped it down with thinner and then primed it. Pro body guys any help, hopefully this isn't to bad?

[longbike]

Thanks Rods57 for your feedback!
The paint shop said I should wipe it down with their acid wipe after sandblasting to clean the pours out of the metal. Probally good to do but I never heard of anybody doing it, just wondering if anybody has.

[OrrieG]

In the good old days we used diluted muratic acid (available at swimming pool supply places) on bare metal. It was before etch primers. I would think a good paint prep cleaner would do the same thing, just important to get some primer on it before it flash rusts.

[longbike]

Thanks OrrieG,
I got some of that etch epoxy primer for after blasting.

[BC Toy chest]

Thanks for sharing the photos and info getting ready to do my cab corners too. Gr8 work

[longbike]

Thanks BC I been watching your build, your doing great work yourself!

[VWBeamer]

All you guys amaze me.

[ambryatim]

Longbike...what are the dimensions of your cab dolly??? Did you make it to where the cab mount holes cross over the wood so you can run a lag screw thru it to help secure the cab or did you just make it to where it rests on the step boards??

[longbike]

I just made it wide enough for the floor to rest on it but not the step boxes, In between the steps, and really you dont need to secure it its heavy enough to not move around.