57 NAPCO rebuild

[Blackie]

The more I mess with this thing the worse it gets ........ took the screws out last night and gave it another go , I dont seem to be making any progress and now the turret has a twist in it - will set the gear up and do the right side tonight and see if that straightens it up

Got some bad rust in the header panel as well to deal with - that replacement cab in Texas is looking better and better, trying to find someone who can inspect it, do the deal and haul it to Galveston where a mate of mine ships containers of cars and parts to Fremantle.

Looking at the LMC website it appears the panel with all the screw holes in it is not reproduced so if I need replacemnet ones I am going to have to fabricate them.

[Rickysnickers]

There are some good people on here. Maybe if you post in the general section, asking those question, there might be somebody who can help you out.

BTW, funny towel in the background

[dsraven]

have you tried premier streetrods? they build these cabs from new parts. pretty nice ones too.
here is another spot i found that sells the inner roof panel.
https://www.noramstore.ca/i-27186786...DgitIFMJXoai1v

[dsraven]

there is also a full length B pillar available if required

[Blackie]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

There are some good people on here. Maybe if you post in the general section, asking those question, there might be somebody who can help you out.

BTW, funny towel in the background

That towel is over 10 years old - I should be more careful about whats in the background of my photos shouldn't I

You are not wrong - I have received a PM already from a member who is keeping an eye out for me

[Blackie]

Originally Posted by dsraven

have you tried premier streetrods? they build these cabs from new parts. pretty nice ones too.
here is another spot i found that sells the inner roof panel.
https://www.noramstore.ca/i-27186786...DgitIFMJXoai1v

$286.00 Canadian from there or $115.00 USD from LMC ???

$115.00 USD is around $170 Aussie

$286.00 CAD is $308.00 Aussie

[Blackie]

Originally Posted by dsraven

there is also a full length B pillar available if required

I have been looking but cant find one as yet

[dsraven]

Maybe just keep looking cuz I doubt if there are a bunch of places making the stuff. Likely same supplier with different middleman.
The Canadian place did show full length B pillar. Maybe try a Google search using that part number?

[dsraven]

OEM parts
Classic industries
Lmc
Jim Carter
Brothers
The filling station
Just a few that come to mind

[dsraven]

Keystone parts
Lkq
Dynacorn
Bills truck stop for used stuff. He may have a cab as they dismantle stuff
Just a couple more to check out if you get time

[Blackie]

Originally Posted by dsraven

Maybe just keep looking cuz I doubt if there are a bunch of places making the stuff. Likely same supplier with different middleman.
The Canadian place did show full length B pillar. Maybe try a Google search using that part number?

Did that - you were right there are a bunch of places selling them , can get one form Summit for $275 ish USD shipped

[dsraven]

https://classicparts.com/1955-59-b-pillar-frame-right

[dsraven]

I suggest to do a full list of what you know you will need, like an exel spread sheet. list part name and numbers on the left, then various suppiers in columns. then see what your total will be.

[Blackie]

Originally Posted by dsraven

I suggest to do a full list of what you know you will need, like an exel spread sheet. list part name and numbers on the left, then various suppiers in columns. then see what your total will be.

That's what I did when I rebuilt my '57 sports coupe - problem these days is the shipping........ even in my mates container its still AUD$800 per cubic metre

[dsraven]

wow, I guess you willbe making asmanyparts as possible in that case.

[Blackie]

We went down south for a weekend away last weekend in our '46 Fleetline Aero, on the way home we caught up with an old mate who lives an hour and ahalf south of Perth and he has this bit of garden art in his front yard - he told me if I need it its mine

Has been sitting there for 21 years , obviously has pretty rusty lower sections but its straight and the doors fit in the holes so its way better than mine

[Getter-Done]

So I see you had a Great day.

I like that Black sled in the picture.

My wife always says that I should have been born 50 years earlier.

[dsraven]

Awesome looking car!
Nice find on the cab. Yes, it's rusty. but, really, rusted through isn't much different than rusted badly enough to need repair panels. You gotta replace that part either way. It will also have doors and hinges that fit THAT cab. Bonus. Hinges may need pins and bushings but you won't have to worry about bending the hinge to fit the door to the opening.
If the floor is really rusty you might think about using the floor from your frame donor.
You'll have all the extra interior parts as well, plus some other stuff you may be able to salvage and sell or donate to somebody down under who needs them.
Keep on posting your progress, it's great to keep track of.

[dsraven]

That cab is also RHD already. That should save some work.

[Blackie]

Hey guys, been a couple of months while I considered long and hard on whether to continue with this thing or cut my losses and scrap the whole project. The other cab upon closer inspection is rotten in the pillars from the roof down to the floorboards so not really viable as a donor and cabs are really thin on the ground over here = expensive

Currently doing the sums on purchasing all the panels from LMC to rebuild my cab, currently sitting at around $2550 US plus about the same for the ride to W.A. so not a cheap exercise ............. around $7500 Aussie pesos which is over half of what I paid for the truck in the first place, certainly put a big dent in the funds available for the build

One thing that is confusing me - the pic of the roof replacement sections has 4 pieces described - roof panel, roof panel inner, front panel inner and filler panel front roof as per this page here - https://www.lmctruck.com/body-compon...ont-body-steel

Are all 4 of those required or is that a double up - i.e. is item #4 a patch section for item #1 ? and Item #3 an option to just replace the front bit of Item #2 ???

[dsraven]

there is a 55-59 chevrolet truck factory assembly manual available from the trifive site as a free download, pdf. this will show exactly how it was put together, where the spotwelds are etc.
there is an outer roof skin, then an inner roof part that looks like a donut once the outer skin is removed, then there is the ouyer "eyebrow" part that may not come with the outer roof skin. the inner parts is the piece above the windshield on the inside.
anyway, check the assembly manual to find out how many pieces there may be. the A pillar is available as well as the cowl pieces, but I'm sure you got that figured

[dsraven]

https://www.trifive.com/d1/55-59Assy.pdf