Cab roof rotted

[wtrenholm]

Well, got sick of the wet, nasty, goat smelling carpet from the cab roof being so rotted. Has a few holes over 1/4" and scabbies all the way across. Actually, this time of the year the carpet would just be in a solid state for a few months in this neck of the woods.



So the cab should be off today. I have an clean older cab if I decide to replace it, but I'm gonna try chop it. If I screw it up too bad I'll just put it out in the crusher pile out back. If the roof thing works then I will have to put some rockers on it also. It's winter and I need a good project for some quality garage time.



Later,

Wayne

 

[MMiller]

Are you going to re skin it? Or are you going to cut one of another cab? I have a friend that runs a body shop and he says he can get a roof skin.



Sounds like a pretty good projuect.



Michael

 

[wtrenholm]

Michael,



The plan is to use a large section of a roof from a old Club Cab that I have, that way all the sectioning/seams will be toward the outside and I won't have to worry about trying to float out the center of the roof. The 70's Club Cab has a ridge around the outside like the 80's and 90's regular cabs. Plus I have a dozen or so old Dodge trucks out back so I have plenty of sheet metal to play with, so I can screw up a few times.



Should look pretty good if it all works out.



Wayne

 

[MMiller]

I see. My wife won't let me have a row of dodges stashed in the back yard. Even when I promise that I will line them up nice and keep the weeds mowed around them. She seems to think that 3 is enough. O wondered if you had a donor vehicle for sheetmetal. Any of your parts trucks have a dana 60 front under it that needs a new home? I have a buddy that needs one for the front of his 440 truck.



Michael

 

[wtrenholm]

No 60 front ends, all the wheelers were gassers with 44s.



My wife doesn't mind all the stuff, I have enough property to hike everything away from the house and the road, only the drivers and farm equipment is near the yard. She actually thinks I have a disease or something. A bunch of us guys up here compare out fleets by piston index, every running piston is a point and turbo charged stuff is 1. 5 points per piston. We count wheelers, tractors, lawn mowers, etc. But it has to run. The last time I counted I was at 205. So I just may have a little sickness.



Wayne

 

[1stgen4evr]

"a little sickness"

It IS a disease and there is no cure. There may be genetic markers for this malady. I know that my father and two of my uncles on my fathers side had it as well. One uncle on my mothers side of the family has traces of it so I feel that I have dominent and recessive genes for the disease. I long ago quit seeking a cure. I figure there is an endless salvage yard in heaven or it wouldn't be heaven. I'm really not into harp music.



James

 

[CGauthier]

LMAO @ James! Damm, You're too funny dude #ad




If that's heaven I sure hope I get there somehow. I think I should set up a confession session with Pastor Bob, I wouldn't want to miss out on that endless salvage yard, being anywhere else but there would be Hell in my books. Hopefully if i do get sent to Hell my wife comes with me at the same time cause I'm sure the Devil can only take so much of that nagging that we'd get released-but if there's no credit cards and shopping malls in Heaven I'm still doomed #ad




LOL see what ya started buddy?



CarlG

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

So, how did it turn out, cutting the roof and the install?

 

[wtrenholm]

I haven't had much time on the project, too much family stuff has taken priority. Last I checked it was down to number 813 on the list. Hopefully will make some progress this winter. Also still looking for a clean windsheild header.



Later,

Wayne

 

[DThibault]

I guess I posted it on another thread but two of the guys around here that switched out the roof section cut it at the windshield posts and then down behind the rear seat on the floor where the natural seam is. They said it was relatively easy but I chose to change thewhole cab over. I could do it a second time in a weekend with a parttime helper. What took me so long was I took everything apart and painted it all inside and out and got everything working on a truck I bought that had a few hot suppers. Now its like new and fun. Good luck

 

[mysteryman]

roof replacment

At the factory, the roof skin and the back cab panel were welded to gether first. . Then the two panels were set on the cab and spot welded on. .



Trying to replace just the roof skin with the back still in place is a nightmare.

It will be a real cut and paste job... If you use plastic to level it out afterwards. Plan on it cracking up in about 3 years... Plastic does not work well on horizontal surfaces that sit in the sun !

The best plan is to just get another cab out of the south western states. .

Any cab from 73 to 93 will work fine... The 70's cabs are heavier and a better choice... If you use a 73 to 80 cab that was 2wd auto trans. You will also need a bolt down trans/floor pan cover... . See my post on body parts interchange for more on the subject...

Michael,



The plan is to use a large section of a roof from a old Club Cab that I have, that way all the sectioning/seams will be toward the outside and I won't have to worry about trying to float out the center of the roof. The 70's Club Cab has a ridge around the outside like the 80's and 90's regular cabs. Plus I have a dozen or so old Dodge trucks out back so I have plenty of sheet metal to play with, so I can screw up a few times.



Should look pretty good if it all works out.



Wayne