Little window to big window

[aboz]

I came across a 1960 big back window cab in a parts yard the other day and was wondering if anyone out there knows the proper way to graft it in to my small window '63. The doner cab itself is shot so it would be impossible to just switch the cabs out. Should I leave the glass in and cut out as much of the surrounding metal as I can? Will leaving the glass in while welding the graft to my cab prevent warpage? If anyone has ever tackled this chore please advise. Thanks Aboz.

[LILRED66]

It has been discussed on this forum many time and a search will render many results of this process. It is being done frequently now. Glass is not structurally sound enough to prevent warpage, so don't depend on the glass to address any deformaties. The best way to avoid any distortion is to avoid overheating the metal when grafting in the new panel.

[jonzcustomshop]

the main piece that you need is the inner panel, you can see on your truck where it is welded together, they did not cover up the seams from the factory.
the panel has a different shape towards the sides than the sbw panel.
so basicaly:
cut your old inner panel out.
weld in the replacement bbw inner panel.
spot weld the bbw window edge to the old sbw outer cab panel.
then cut the old sbw outer panel to fit to the bbw inner panel.
hope that helps...

[redsean]

classic truck .com has a tech artical that shows step by step. you need the iner panal and the glass and a couple days.

[kizer]

Heres an ebay ad I just happen to find looking that shows some pictures of a cab section cut out for reference sake for this discussion.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/60-61...Q5fAccessories

[joe231]

ABOZ,

not trying to bust balls, but many of the questions you have been asking have been covered multiple times.....
try searching and you will probably find more info than you can handle

[502tripower]

It is an easy task if you have the tools. Drill out the spot welds from the inside of your small window inner panel. You will have to remove the glass to do this. You can either separate the seam at the top or cut 1" forward of the seam and reweld. I have done it both ways. Once the small window panel is removed I like to cut out the back of the cab to the correct big window size. Then fit the big window panel. If you look at the outer panel of the big window cab you will see how much of a lip to leave. I just use my finger as a guide on the stamped outline of the cab while drawing a line around the opening. Then I cut with an eclectic nibbler. When you cut the spot welds on the big window liner cut from the outside so you can leave a good edge on the inner panel. Fit everything up and start plug welding. I have seen these glued in as well with the new urethanes that are used on assembly of new vehicles. I have also seen one rig that used this method and it was later T boned and the liner stayed in tack with no separation. This would be a option if you did not have the tools to weld in or were trying to preserve your paint. I also made a couple of shoulder harness bosses out of 3/8" flat bare drilled and taped so I could use late model belts. You can see the spot welds on both the door jambs and the seat belt bosses in the pic. Good Luck with your project.

[Joemomma1]

So its all a matter of swaping the sheet metal in the correct places?

[beefshreadder116]

one of my friends said he ran across a web site that makes new inner panels for a big back window swap.i always thought it would be cool to flush mount a big window. by having a glass shop cut an oversized window and glueing it in with urethane.

[62 short step]

Try this. http://www.classicbigwindow.com/

[beefshreadder116]

man that is sweet i just dont know if its worth $300. maybe some day

[joe231]

Originally Posted by beefshreadder116

man that is sweet i just dont know if its worth $300. maybe some day

my thoughts exactly!
Protrash did the conversion the low buck way, you can do it by reworking the metal....after all as Frizzle says..."it is only metal"