As I am doing up the rust mountain, and maybe I should rename it to 'patches' I am getting ready to do the rear cab corners. Fortunately Harbor Freight had an air nibbler for $20. For those not knowing - an air nibbler is little punch/die cutter that you can use like a sabre saw or body saw on sheet metal. Makes little quarter-moon like nibbles in the metal and cuts without deforming (and is really EASY to use).
Funny thing is that 3 days before it went on sale, I bought a flanger (makes a z bend so you can lap joint on a patch panel) for $50, which went on sale for $25, so I returned the flanger, and then bought it back, with the nibbler for same money! (plus some wire brushes)
So I got out and cut out the nasty bits, and I have some of those cheapo cab corner (outer) stampings to weld in. I also noticed that the back of the cab is slightly deformed from the rough treament the truck got, which is going to make patching a bit more of a pain. I cut off the box because it had every mount busted when they pushed the truck around with a dozer, and it had all the flooring rusted out of the tool boxes (amongst other 'features'). Now the questions:
1. Do I cut to the size of the patch panel, or cut the patch panel down to just what i need? I am thinking the later.
2. The inner cab bit is also gone on both sides. So as this truck is not going to be a con-cooors winner, I am wondering, should I skip the cab corners and just patch across with sheet metal and seal it up and forget about it, or get inner cab corners and make it like it wuz. (its already planned to be non standard with a 292, sony am/fm/cd, power seats (like a bit of comfort in me old age) etc.)
The inner debate for me is that as I am not that worried about it being perfecto, but trying to do the patch panels can be a real good learning experience, and on the other hand, I could just do a quick patch and be done with it. Picture:
http://home.attbi.com/~iarnstein/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-521022.html
What I have been toying with next is to go nuts and do one of those COE type conversions. I mean, with guy things, bigger is better, right? Big Chevy dually pickemup diesel. Always wanted one but don't want to spend the money (big status object here in Texas - Cowboy Caddillac) wouldn't it be more fun to take like a White 3000 tractor or a Diamond Comet and make a big honking pickup out of that.
Of course I have also gone for the wierd and my friends question my sanity. I painted my harley black with 3" yellow polka dots, and I drive a Suzuki Wankel powered bike. And I just sold my whipple charged MkVII. I just like weird stuff! (email for pix)
THERE I SAID IT. I CONFESS, I AM A LOONEY!
Let he who is without an old truck in pieces be the first to toss the first con-rod..... (double looney)
:rolleyes:
