Thank you all for your input. I like your idea Phak. I think I will cut a few access holes on the inside. I pulled several HUGE mouse nests out today. They destroy EVERYTHING! The panel above the drivers visor was full of mouse and it ate through. Same with both of the forward cab posts and the driver rear cab corner. Sometimes I think about buying a new cab. Then I realize that I don't have $8,000 laying around... I'll be honest; the truck I'm currently working on doesn't have to be PERFECT. I intend to use it as my "work" truck. I have a 49 1.5 ton in a lot better shape (sheet-metal wise) which I would like to get restored to almost show quality.
Gentlemen, let me tell you a heartbreak story. Last summer, I had the truck out and the motor running. I decided to test out the hoist/hydraulics to make sure it all worked good. I engaged the pto and pulled the lever to raise the bed. There is a lock supposed to keep the bed from accidentally tilting back (with a load) while you are driving down the road. Well, the lock didn't disengage fully. Before I knew the latch was caught; the hoist bent both channel beams, the cross beams, and my bed into a banana.
The good news is that the hydraulics work GREAT!
Also, it didn't even make the motor grunt. Didn't slow down a bit.
Bad news is that now I have a hunchback AD truck.
