The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Swiss cheese has less holes

I have a bit of welding ahead of me. I should be real good at it by the time I'm done. Not sure how well the photos show the damage.

Looking for any pictures of how to brace the cab to be sure I don't get it tweaked.

The good news is that I was able to get my air compressor working by replacing the valve body. It's an old Sanborn with 60 gallon tank.

Hey, that's not bad at all.

I would run a brace across the two lower door hinges to keep the width correct since you'll be working on the floor. Also, since you'll probably need to replace at least part of the rockers, you'll want to weld something across the lower half of each door opening, and probably diagonally from the lower hinge location up to the striker plate area.

Here's a couple of pics of what I did. My rotisserie mounts helped to stiffen the door opening instead of a diagonal brace.

You can browse thru my photos in the link in my signature.

I'm sure you'll be back with more questions, especially when you get to the cowl panels.

Welcome to the Stovebolt.

I love the use of fence post!

Thank you Kevin. I see the brace across from lower hinge to lower hinge. I also see the braces at the bottom.From the pictures it looks like we are starting from the same 20 yard line rust wise. I'm already jealous of you rotisserie.

I feel your pain! I've got a similar situation with my truck. I'm documenting my progress in the project journals. You can read about it in the "Restoring the basketcase" journal. Starting point pics for my truck attached. It's a ton of work, but I'm still optimistic that I can get it done. Just keep at it, eventually you'll get there.

Hey, whatever works!
That rotisserie was a great labor saver. And a back saver. It saved me from laying on the floor under the cab to repair the floor. It's already been recycled to another Stovebolter ( well part of it anyway. Sent him the brackets that I welded up to go in the door openings.

There are a number of those "Fred Flintstone" trucks that are getting saved by Stovebolters.

Everyone needs to rebuild one basket case.
I am finishing up one for a guy right now. He is in it over $50K so far.

Hey Grey Ghost,

I found your journal and thread. Lot of good advise in the responses.

Those pictures look very similar. (Bet it even smells the same ;))

Boy did those pictures bring back memories. Like 52Carl says, everyone needs to build at least one basket case but why, why am I on my 3rd one???? Got to love the challenge and then the fruits of our labors....I think!

Scott, you will get it done....at least 15 minutes every day will keep you motivated and going...and we're here to listen and cheer you own. You do not have to walk that path by yourself. Keep trucking brother.

Good grief- - - - -I've trashed or given away better looking sheet metal than that stuff! I wonder what my old 59 Burb that's been parked for over 20 years would be worth? It's one of those "IRWIPI" things!
Jerry

I talked to a body shop who was restoring an AD cab when I first got my truck, and his comment after I described my project was "Buy a new cab". But that wasn't the point. The truck has some history and I wanted to keep it as original as possible, so rebuilt the rust bucket. That and I needed something to keep me off the streets in retirement (it worked. )

I look at fixing basket cases this way.
You might suggest that I am crazy to even try it.
I say that you are way too late on your assessment of my mental state. I need a pointless hobby like this to occupy my egg shell fragile mind to prevent me from being really dangerous to society.

Since fixing vehicles has always been a way of keeping a roof over my family's heads and food on the table instead of a hobby, I have a somewhat different take on what's worthwhile. I also think it's sort of foolish for supposedly mature adults to get passionately dedicated to a particular brand name of rust bucket. Of course, I also think it's foolish to spend thousands of dollars on equipment to be able to waste time smacking a little ball with a stick and then chasing it all over dozens of acres, BTW!
Jerry

My 53 cab was actually in a little worse shape than the one you're starting on. I too thought: Well, at least I'll be a better welder when this is finished. My cab is about finished now, and I do believe that I have become a better welder, although I still have lots of room for improvement. The good thing is, I will have most of the nastly looking welds pretty well hidden soon. I wish I'd started when I was a little younger. I think that you not only become a better welder, but you also get a better feel for what to replace, and what to leave alone. We all probably do a great job of keeping the grinder disc manufacturers profitable. It's easy for me to say "don't get discouraged", but I still do once in a while. The bottom line is: were saving some very cool vehicular history from being melted down.

Thanks Mike for the encouragement. I might need a friendly kick in the kiester every once in awhile.

Yep, I've done my fair share of grinding bird$#!+. See the attached pic.
Scott, Let us know and we'll be happy to oblige.