roof transplant! any tips?

[slammedLT1]

hey my roof got damaged in my accident last year, only the top skin got dented when i has a street light pole land on my truck and fly 20 feet in front of my truck. our truck sure are tough and damn well safe .. even the door gaps are still all the same but anywho
i need some tips on changing my roof i just got another one from a scrap yard and its cut at the bottom of all 4 pillars, any tips or ideas? anyone done this?

i was gonna change the cab but up here in canada you can't find many all original in great condition like mine is.
any help appreciated

[Chevy_68]

cant help you there but is your truck bagged

[houston6]

I read an article in car craft a few years ago about dented roofs. .but i read about a shrinking disc its kinda like a grinder you sand it over the dent then you pour water over it as it heats up then cools it shrinks the dent and you keep doing it until its workable with putty it looked alot easeir than cutting the top off and replacing it i beleive i would look into that first atleast give it a try that way if it dont work then you already have a new roof to go ahead and put on.if youre interested ill try and find that article for you.it really looked simple with very minimal putty mostly glazing i think.anyways it would be worth a shot

[old Rusty C10]

if anyone reading this finds that article please copy and post here id like to read that myself

[bigblock73]

That article/technique MIGHT work, but it looks like the dent here in question is right on the window cannel...I don't think that will budge it at all.

You might just have to blast the whole roof of the cab down to bare metal and take it apart the way the factory put it together. You will see the welds and seams...thus making it a little easier to understand.

Personally, I would look for a new cab, it might be cheaper and easier...especially if you are like me and don't have a welder...or can't weld for that matter as well.

...Jeff

[87 STEPPER]

As Jeff said it looks like the window canal is damaged.

And i dont think a reskin is going to help out in this case but it's hard to tell from that pic.

It may be alot easyer to find another cab with some rust and repair it.

Or you could allway's do a chop and just attach the new top to your cab post. But that's also alot of work.

If you do the roof reskin/repair you will have to make shure the new roof is sealed real good so it wont leak.

Good luck

[kballan]

Try using a dent puller - the kind that screws right in to the sheet metal with a slide hammer on the main body. Just be careful to screw into the outer roof skin only. Use the slide hammer to bring the dent out to the original shape. I've used these on many occasions and it works well! You'll only have one or two small holes to putty over. If you're not sure the kind I'm talking about (my explanations suck) let me know and I'll post a pic for you. Doing a chop and welding a new one on seems like WAY too much to me!

[houston6]

im not positive without seeing it up close but i beleive you could
hammer and dolly that channel back in place i would try all alternitives before replacing the entire roof.

[slammedLT1]

thanks for all of your help guys, i just got another roof and im gonna bring it in a week or two when i get my paint and body done. very reputable guy. anyways i really appreciate the help

oh yeah and no shes not on bags, 5/7 drop but i can push a pop can on its side with my a-arms. i think its a bit lower haha,

thanks again

[2tankin79]

what kind of bed cover is that? looks just like the one i have as far as i can tell..


jeff

[c10scotty]

i saw a guy on monster garage try the heat cold thing and it just made the problem worse. i would only do that if you had to. you have too nice a truck to try and rig something like that.

[slammedLT1]

2tank i built the bed cover out of vinyl mahogony underlay foam underlay and pine. It fits great and it's flush with the side rails.
thanks again dudes!

[littlebubba]

I looked at a Blazer awhile back that had the same problem as yours. Guy specialized in Salvage vehicles on the side, and runs a body shop. He claims his body man cuts the pillars down near the cowl with a sawsall, and welds the new one (roof w/pillars) on. If you take real good measurements, and weld good, it is possible. You should have a windshield handy too, to check the fit! Go slow, don't be in a hurry. Too small an opening and your going to start all over again. If that scares you, a porta-power will get you back in the ballpark, just take your time and check everything as you go along. You just want to put it back in place not over stretch the metal. Try not to have to use a torch for heat useless it absolutely necessary and you know what your doing.Once its real close, it hammer and dolly time, and metal finish. But it is definitely repairable.
Check up on the Paint forum, there might be some other suggestions.

[houston6]

slammedLT1 that cover you made could you tell us a little more about it?some tips on how you made it measurement cost ect.I
was trying to figure out how to make on myself and figured that
it was possible.but yours looks awsome