frame, body, cab ETC.... not 56k friendly

[malibu795]

said i would post some pic up of what need to get fixed sheet metal wise on my truck.. in this threas http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=13544.0

so heres the pictures..
what would you recommend getting started first... the spring hanger IMO is on the top of the list.

[Donut]

Is this a daily driver, or can it sit while you fix sections?  (hopefully it can sit)

I think I would start by pulling the bed.  Why, it will give you room to work.  You said the spring mount is at the top of your list.  I see rot on the rear of the frame, with the bed off you can do a more thorough inspection.  You may have more spots that rust,grease, whatever may be covering.

Scratch what I said about pulling the bed.  Do a real thorough inspection of the frame,  If there is more rot that you haven't found yet, I might consider pulling the pin on the project.  My cab was as bad if not worse than yours, but the frame and running gear were all good. (on my cab the rot took the floor supports also, but it didn't go as far back on the seat hump as yours)


What is your skill level?  I'm sure your cab can be fixed, but it's up to you how much you want to sink into it.  Your front cab mounts appear ok, I see the Capt's 5 piece kit and the inner cab corner, I'd prob do 1 side at a time.  Expect to find more the deeper you dig (I found a couple smaller holes under the seat) http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=5661.0 This link is listed with the 5 piece kit, I also have it bookmarked.  Helped me out a ton.

[malibu795]

under seat looks like new.
outer rocker panels have been replace once.. the rear lower mounting point on the front fender is not there on either side... cab corners have been replaced as well..  it seams that way when you get the dirt off.

frame wise  those 3 spots are the only spots that are bad on the frame.. everything else is surface rust. some of the bed frame bracing is startgin to go though. and rather clean.. there is alot of grease/oil on the front part of the frame..

sections.. yeah i could do something... its going to be a DD with in 3-4 weeks... i want to get parts list made. and a game plan adn general idea on what is what...

truck is being DD this winter up herre in SW PA told the place gets alot of ice..
my 02 dmax is 2wd and my 79 malibu wagon is my other option.... dont want to drive cause body panels are 10x harder to find then a square body stuff.

[Donut]

On mine I tell everybody I replaced the bottom of the cab. 
PO on mine had already screwed down some floor pans and had replacement front fenders.  If i were in you shoes, (replacement cab could be a possibility) I'd patch it up for winter, and plan on doing it right in the spring.  I see the 5 pc kit (per side) and inner/outer cab corners.  (I couldn't see a good way to do the inner cab corners without cutting off the outers.)  On mine the PO had replacement outer rockers and cab corners, they got used for patches on other holes (iirc the old outer rockers I used for patching the bottom edge of the seat hump)
I do have a few old pics when mine was being done, though the link I posted up and a search will turn up a ton of info. 
One thing I did have was time, (being able to weld didn't hurt either) if you take your time, you'll be satisfied.  Mine is nowhere near "show" quality, I was only going for solid.  I do have errors, some of the fits aren't what they could be, but chunks aren't falling off when I hit a bump, and I learned for the next time.

[iareanthony]

You're not so bad off.

Does anybody know where I could get a new cab? I've been thinking hard about piecing this thing back together but the more i look at it the more i'm thinking a new cab would be cheaper and less work.

[malibu795]

so had to do some patching to make thigns work again.

went playing... now i need soem better idea to fix my cab








any ideas?

[VileZambonie]

You pretty much need every replacement part you can buy for the cab. Floor pans, floor supports, cab supports, inner and outer rockers, outer floor extensions, footwells, inner and outer cab corners. Or look for a better cab and swap it.

[malibu795]

just priced
cab floor support brace L+R= 110.00

cab floor support x2 = 33.00

full outer rocker pannel L+R=44.00

cab floor outer section L+R=60.00

that 250.00 plus shipping...

hmm also thing about making the stuff out of some 1/8 flat steel and 16ga sheet metal

how wuld you go about this.. truck is a part time DD right now.. and somethign that can be done on a weekend..
thinking get the floor support braces and supports get those in there and the old floor boards tacted to them. that will give me alot of my structure back..

start with the drive side sincce its the worse then pass side............

[Jesse Walter]

Cab parts for these trucks are very inexpensive.  Its not too hard to install these parts either.  I'd say it would take more time to find a new semi-rust free cab and swap it out then it would to weld in the new parts.

[malibu795]

i just got quoted ~3k for labor and primer to fix the cab and hang new fenders, doors with me settin him up with a mainly labor job.

with the new job of trucking i def dont have the time or the place to do it.

[bake74]

     iareanthony where are you located ?

[Swims350]

looks like on top of the inner rockers, floor supports, and hanger you need some bed cross sills, raybuck has them or make your own, door skins lower or half skins, and if you need inners they have em too on here, fenders, maybe inner fenders, and maybe outer rockers? or just buy one of chris' 5 piece cab repair kit. Geat one for each side.

[Captkaos]

The 5 piece kit will have the Rocker Panel, Rocker Backing Plate, Cab Corner, whole flooring (extended option), and OEM Style Cab Floor Support then add the brace and the seat side and you got all 24 pieces for just $50 more.

This is from my store.

[malibu795]

old panels removed.. got the new one in there still need to raise the cab another .5" to get the floor to line up with rocker panel

heres a nice poser shot too.. the mound is ~5' high and truck is still 2wd havent bought a new on yet.


shock/suspension 24" shock at full extention.. need longer shocks

[malibu795]

got some skin on as well and front driveshaft from tom woods driveshaft