5 window conversion question

[49 CHEVY]

Ive seen kits available to turn a 3 window AD truck into a 5 window truck, but require cutting out more than just the shape of the corner glass. It looks like a lot of drilling, cutting, welding, and fiting is necessary to make this change possible. But what if you have a patina truck you want to convert to 5 windows without ruining the patina finish? Anyone heard of a way, or seen anybody do this conversion by just cutting holes for the glass, and making a new interior trim finishing piece to make it look factory on the inside without killing the look on the outside?
Here is the kit I know exists for this conversion, and have no interest in using it if it is noticeable from the outside that a conversion has been done.
Thanks in advance for your responses!
https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail...ndow_Cabs.html

[mr48chev]

First "patina" is not a finish, it's worn out dead and pealing paint and rust that some guys try to convince the world is cool.

Second if you convert to 5 windows and spray bomb it a bit and scratch it with a scotch pad no one but you will know the difference anyhow and no one will care.

Now if you have softly worn unscratched original paint that has that holds a well cared for old saddle shine to it but shows it's wear through the shine I apologize as that would actually be patina.

[49 CHEVY]

[QUOTE=mr48chev;7398710]First "patina" is not a finish, it's worn out dead and pealing paint and rust that some guys try to convince the world is cool.

Second if you convert to 5 windows and spray bomb it a bit and scratch it with a scotch pad no one but you will know the difference anyhow and no one will care.

Now if you have softly worn unscratched original paint that has that holds a well cared for old saddle shine to it but shows it's wear through the shine I apologize as that would actually be patina.

Im not really here to debate the meaning of what patina is, or get anyone's opinion on what they think is cool or not. Im simply asking if the conversion can be done without changing the look of the "current state of my original worn out/rusting paint". I for one appreciate the natural beauty of wearing, dull, and rusting original untouched steel trucks. I am not looking to cut up my truck, and half ass paint/scotchbrite a "natural worn" look onto my truck. Thanks for having no real input on my original question, and merely trying to create an argument for lack of anything better to do. This is the reason I typically stay away from forums, there is one of you in every crowd.

[mr48chev]

I'm not trying to argue as the guys who think that worn out paint is a finish are welcome to think that. My point was that you should be able to match that worn out paint close enough so no one except the real nitpickers really takes notice.

I don't have a shiny truck and since 1989 it has been in one shade of primer or the other and is now a very faded purple primer with rust spots showing though and would no doubt be called "great patina" by the dead paint looks better brigade. That said the truck will never hit the street again without shiny paint because I don't want to get in a fight when some clown calls it a "nice rat rod".

As you can see I am not a guy with a shiny mega dollar HOK custom color paint job/


I'm just a guy who is so dead tired of the concept that dead and deteriorating paint is a real "finish" on a vehicle that I could run out in the street and scream.

[49 CHEVY]

#1- your profile picture sure does show differently than you enjoying "patina"
#2- patina does not mean rat rod
#3- read and understand this definition:

Patina (/ˈpætɨnə/ or /pəˈtiːnə/) is a thin layer that variously forms (a small amount of surface rust, without pitting) on the surface of stone; on copper, bronze and similar metals (such as any ferrous metals, i.e. steels and irons) (tarnish produced by oxidation (rust) or other chemical processes);[1] on wooden furniture (sheen produced by age, wear, and polishing); or any such acquired change of a surface through age and exposure. Patinas can provide a protective covering to materials that would otherwise be damaged by corrosion or weathering. They may also be aesthetically appealing.

On metal, patina is a coating of various chemical compounds such as oxides, carbonates, sulfides, or sulfates formed on the surface during exposure to atmospheric elements (oxygen, rain, acid rain, carbon dioxide, sulfur-bearing compounds), a common example of which is rust which forms on iron or steel when exposed to oxygen. Patina also refers to accumulated changes in surface texture and colour that result from normal use of an object such as a coin or a piece of furniture over time.[2]

[lv2tri2]

If you don't want to cut up your truck, stick with 3 windows, that may be a better looking cab. What you got from 48 was an true definition and maybe some opinion after seeing too many great old trucks ruined.

[49 CHEVY]

to me, chopping the top and spraying purple primer on a truck with mis-matched wheels is ruining it. leaving it in its natural state is probably the furthest thing from destroying a truck.
The reason I want to know if this is doable without having it look like something has been modified, is because im spending $40K to have my dream truck built. it is a 3 window cab, the only thing else I could ask for out of my dream truck is that it be 5 a window. it will be getting no paint work and i dont wish to mimick the current paint situation after modifying the cab. I get frustrated at overly opinionated people who don't really try to help out. This is a forum for people that have a common interest....old trucks. Im not sitting here talking **** about people painting over what I call "nicely patina'd" trucks. to each his own. Just looking for technical answars, not opinionated ones. "dead paint looks better brigade"? don't be a tool

[Sim6]

I think it will be determined by how hard is it to match the existing surface. Can you throw up some pictures?

[lv2tri2]

For years I listened to people call a 5 window," the custom cab". I learned to drive in a 48, 5 window. I wanted that truck really bad at 16. My father, being the he was, traded it for an long box 3/4 ton 58. I hated it. When it came time for me to buy one, I looked at hundreds, used car lots, magazines etc. I decided to buy a 3 window. Now I won't say one is better looking than the other, but look really hard at both cabs finished, I think especially the high end resto mods, and decide why one is better than the other. jmo

[49 CHEVY]

Originally Posted by Sim6

I think it will determined by how hard is it to match the existing surface. Can you throw up some pictures?

HAHAHHA

LV2TRI2, thanks for a real reply haha. You know, I am building a 5 window gmc myself....well, learning how to as I go. I took out a big loan to have a hotrod shop build me an amazing truck. I sent him a super solid 49' half ton, awesome original "weathered" paint, whatever you wanna call it. It's got the top fender mount turn signals....its a really clean and cool looking original truck. I like 3 window and 5 window trucks. To me, there is just something so unique about the 5 window. It's kind of a weird touch to a farm truck, im sure the purpose was for better visibility as the driver, but it just looks like they were going for a space age kind of look. You just don't see stuff like that anymore on todays cars, which is why I am so into it.
Im sure I will love my truck as a 3 window, but I just figured if there was some type of easy way to transform it to 5, without having to cut a major chunk out of the cab....then I would consider doing it. I think it would make it that much more valuable, and that much more of a head turner

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by 49 CHEVY

Im sure I will love my truck as a 3 window, but I just figured if there was some type of easy way to transform it to 5, without having to cut a major chunk out of the cab....then I would consider doing it. I think it would make it that much more valuable, and that much more of a head turner

Though it isn't exactly what you are trying to do, you don't have to use the entire panel to do the conversion.

From page 3 of my build thread:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...1&postcount=68

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...0&postcount=69

[49 CHEVY]

Wow nice work! And very interesting to have a 4 window. This is basically what I'm after, but I'm hoping to find a way to basically just cut out the window holes, and hide all evidence of welding underneath the weather seal, as to not mess with any of my paint. As for the inside, some type of metal piece could be fabricated and molded in, then painted to give it a factory appearance. I have no idea if this is really possible

[BlueJeep]

I dug through my box of old parts, and came up with the pieces that I cut out of the cab when I did the conversion. I then overlayed it with an OEM (not reproduction) quarter window. I'm not sure short of cutting holes in your cab if you could find a truer test than this. The profile does not exactly match, with approximately a 3/8" gap. If you split the difference between the middle and the ends, that's 3/16". So that means will it work...probably. But, keep in mind they'll be surface mounted vs. sunken in like the back window, so I think when you look at it'll appear strange. I also think that since they won't be sunken in, the distance from the door pillar to the glass will be greater this way, so if it's parked next to an actual 5 window it'll be obvious.









Here's the info, you'll have to do what is right for you. My $.02 is that I'd cut the surrounds in like I did and then blend it into your existing finish, or leave it a 3 window.

Hope that helps.

[49 CHEVY]

Man that is a really great point about it not being recessed properly. I actually noticed that from your build thread...just cutting holes and sticking glass in wouldn't allow for that natural rolled edge appearance just on the perimeter of the weather seal. I'm not sure why I didn't think of that before. I think this answers my question....it'll remain a 3 window. Thank you very much for that info, you're on it!

[morgan71]

http://www.powerblocktv.com/episode/...6#.VmKtDpTXerU




Go to the powerblocktv.com website. The show Trucks! Had a build called classix They installed corner Windows and gave a decent explanation. It looks fairly involved and I wouldn't attempt it unless you are skilled in metal fab. The truck they built turned out to be a decent looking ride

[YukonXL04]

Originally Posted by morgan71

http://www.powerblocktv.com/episode/...6#.VmKtDpTXerU




Go to the powerblocktv.com website. The show Trucks! Had a build called classix They installed corner Windows and gave a decent explanation. It looks fairly involved and I wouldn't attempt it unless you are skilled in metal fab. The truck they built turned out to be a decent looking ride

Yea, they lost me on the grill though lol. I have been trying to find the dyno numbers on the 235 they rebuilt. Have you seen them?

[MARTINSR]

Honestly, I have had these trucks diced up quite a bit, leave it a three window!

It's not an easy thing to change it, it can be done, but not even close to how you are looking a that truck keeping the original look and all, the whole inside needs to be changed realistically, forget it and enjoy the truck the way it is.

What's funny is I had thought about going the other way making my five window a three window! LOL

Here is the inner panel from a three window, realistically you would need to remove the whole thing and replace it with the five window.



Could it be diced up, of course it could, but it would be MUCH easier to do it this way.

I can swing both ways, I am seriously cutting up my cab, but it wasn't a nice original either. My stone original daily driver ('59 Rambler) I wouldn't dream of cutting it up. An original paint "patina" or what ever, leave it, just enjoy it the way it is.

Brian

[49 CHEVY]

It would be awesome if it was almost perforated from the factory to just punch out and make the change haha! Yeah, all that metal work is beyond my ability, and I would hate to hack up my truck and have it not look right. Thanks a lot for your input

[Northern lights]

IMO, if you are going to put $40K into your dream truck, rather than starting with something that is not quite what you want (3 window), and I agree that a conversion would not be the best idea, why not look for a 5 window cab?. They are out there in their natural state. $40K is alot of money and you may as well make it exactly as you want. Otherwise, every time you see a 5 window all done without body work and paint you will be thinking "I wish mine was a 5 window".

[49 CHEVY]

True point. I actually bought a Gmc 5 window for that reason. I'm attempting to build it myself, so will eventually have a 3 and 5 window. My Gmc build won't be close to the caliber of the 3 window, but I thought having both would keep me from always wishing the big dollar build was a 5 window.

[mr48chev]

An FYI the photo that is my Avatar was taken in 1982 at the Chevy GMC Truckin Nationals when My then three year old daughter stood in the seat of the truck at the KOA campground and said "take my picture Dad" It has been one of my favorite photos of the truck and her ever since.
The truck has morphed through many stages since that photo and over the years went through many different shades of primer usually getting a fresh coat of primer just before the Yakima Wa Vintiques Northwest Nationals each year to look somewhat fresh for that show.

The missmatched wheel is because the other Enkie 32 is in the shed with a flat tire. I pulled it off and stuck a 15 inch steelie on it to try one of the hubcaps I bought for the truck a couple of years ago and left it that way but it never got driven on the street that way.

I'm rather appalled that I showed a photo of my truck as it sits to show that I am not one of the it has to have a 10,000 dollar paint job or else brigade and truthfully probably have a grand total now of less $$ in my truck after owning it since 1973 than you paid for your patina truck but you choose to cut me and my truck down because it is primered and because I chose to chop it.

My budget is no where close to 40,000 and probably no where close to 10,000 when I am done the next go around. All work except the final coats of paint and the upholstery will be done by my self, my son or my friends though and not farmed out to a "shop" That includes building the new chassis, chopping the top again, stretching the cab 9-1/4 inches and sectioning it 3 inches because that is the way my dream for it goes.

My original comment still stands, no one really cares if your "patina" is missmatched a tad around the spots you install the quarter windows and very few would ever take notice of it not matching the rest of the rust and worn out paint. It can't be done without disturbing that worn out paint though.

[49 CHEVY]

I'm pretty particular with my stuff and that method wouldn't suit me well. I just think your stance from the get go has been to "school" me or tell me I'm not making sense. Get past it, just looking for technical help. The terms you have used have been in a **** talking manor, which is not necessary. Let's squash it now,I'm really not interested what you have to say.

[Coach529]

There are plenty of cabs out there..........

[morgan71]

Originally Posted by YukonXL04

Yea, they lost me on the grill though lol. I have been trying to find the dyno numbers on the 235 they rebuilt. Have you seen them?

I agree, that copper work on the grill was terrible. Could have done the nickel plating and it would have been so much better. I haven't seen those numbers on that 235. I would say 160 ish HP?

[1project2many]

I work with a guy who prefers the three window trucks and I agree with him. To me the "extra" windows look like an afterthought stuffed into the corners on a whim. Vertical lines down the cab corner get broken by glare and reflection while the horizontal lines are all mismatched... the bottom of the corner glass matches the door but not the rear glass while the top line of the door just ends without wrapping around to the back. I always appreciate a well done truck and it's certainly not the fault of someone today for GM's design, but to build one??

If I thought I wanted something unique, though, I might consider finding a good artist to paint something on the back of the cab resembling a window that you can "see through." With the truck looking so original it might be neat if people looking from the back saw a glimpse of a driver or passenger in period correct clothes and several vintage cars parked on the street in front.