The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Got some questions...

Hi Folks... I'm NEW here (this is my first post) so I guess I'm still a virgin, HAHAHA.
I am disabled and the Dr's want me to do some sort of activity for therapy. I decided I want to try and build me a truck for myself to drive... In any event I was curious if you might be able to give me a few pointers on a couple things. I see some "stretched" bodies (6" or 8") I'm curious about how they go about doing that. Obviously they cut the cab in half (in some sort of way) and added in sheet metal to make it longer. But theres the problem with the windows needing to be 'stretched' also so it all "works" together properly. I guess you have to get 'donor' window working from something else.??
Also, I'm kinda tall,.. and I'd like to have plenty of leg room and maybe even a little storgae room behind the drivers seat. I got plans for bucket seats,.. a console, etc... But thats all another topic. I'd also like to make the!
front and rear fenders wider also..?? Just curious if you might be willing to pass on a few pointers or a 'how too' so I get some ideas. and what I'm gonna run into.

I'd like to switch to suicide doors, but thats all stuff for later.
I "think" I got me a chassis lines up..??? but STILL need a truck body (anyone know of some good ones to work with??. I know it's a Chevy forum,.. but I'm kinda looking for a '40 or '41 Ford. I think the 40-45 Chevys look pretty cool also. SO I can work with any of them.

May see LOTS of me here... hope I don't get to be 'a pain'

Welcome to the Bolt..Have you thought about looking for a good older Chevy Burb..Plenty of windows, and storage in the back..Can fix the seating and doors anyway that would be covenient for you..Besides, we could help you with it..Take care, Steve

Great idea Shooper! Whatcha think New Guy? What about a burb (that's short for Suburban in case ya don't know). That would save you a ton of work and money and you could still have a cool old truck. I'd love to have one myself.

well.. thats not a bad idea...
I'm kinda set on a pickup. ALWAYS wanted an old stepside pick up. This is the time to build one :-)
The Cabs on the pick ups are kinda small and I just thought I might stretch one 6" or so.
Would kinda like to widen the fenders also.

You all seem like a very frendly bunch here from the post I have read. Looking forward to having some enlightening and insightful conversations with MANY of you...
THANKS for the suggestions,.... ANYONE feel free to jump in with IDEAS suggestions, helpful hints, etc at any time.
STREET CARS ARE NOT my thing. Never even ATTEMPTED to build on... I work on race cars,.. so I'll probably incorporate a LOT of race car tech into my street car.
TIA in advance for the answer to my questions. Seems like there is someone here thats knows stuff about just about everything.

hay new guy you planon putting it on a 4x4 frame sublime widen his fenders on his truck check it out in gallry

When you say htat you want to stretch the cab, I assume you want like an extended cab. I never did that, but was planning to use two cabs. I coul use the window channels to make rear windows for the extended part. Also thought about making the doors longer (like a two door car) to make it easier to get in and out of. If you have a second cab, I would think you would have plenty of parts to work with that would match up.

A lot of the older trucks have flat glass in the doors so it's a lot easier to get custom glass made.

Another thought would be to leave the doors stock and just extend the sheet metal behind the doors, maybe incorporating some little windows like opera windows or swing out glass from a newer S-10 or something.

I would suggest you just keep coming here (and places like this) to see all the pictures you can find. You will get some good ideas for what you like. Who knows, you may even find something for sale that has some of the harder stuff done.

are you an experience body man? the work that you are asking about is "expert level" work. I am not a body man, and wouldn't dream of doing such extensive modifications. If you are thinking of taking your truck to a shop to have this work done, you are talking about BIG BUCKS!


my advice, especially if this is your first build, is to get a vehicle that you are "happy" with as is and want to make MINOR changes to. putting a body on a different chassis is hard, unless it is a T- bucket or something similar. I suggest you find a complete truck & chassis with the drivetrain in it. I would be a whole lot eaiser---which means enjoyable! I would hate to see you get in over your head!

The first generation 'burbs are bitchin and I would buy one in a hearbeat. And fullsize pickups really are't THAT small. what ever you decide on, find a clean donor vehicle, you will spend a little more for a rust-free one, but, it will be cheaper in the long run.

Welcome
I considered cutting my 4t6 longbed behind the doors and stretch the cab sorta like an extended cab and then incorporate a short box. I think that would look really neat. Sublime as stated above did a great job on his truck stretching his front fenders and has a well documented photo gallery. A great bunch of people here with a ton of knowledge and experience

Dan

New
Here is a link to photo's of 4 inches added to each fender of my 46. Widend the original bumper 8 and made new running boards

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sublime589/album?.dir=d57b&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sublime589/my_photos

I recently saw in a magazine someone that hade cut behind the doors on a 40 chevy and extended the cab.I seam to recall that he had 2 extra cabs laying around, and that he cut a section out of the third to get the extra length he was looking for . Looked real good, with lots of room for extra people

I think building a lengthened cab is a great idea. I'm thinking of doing the same thing myself. I've seen several examples of how it was done.

Check out this page. You will need to move forward or back a few to get the whole story.

http://hotrodders.com/forum/journal...9&page=14&perpage=5&reverse=

HI folks... sorry so long to get back...
LOVE the look on Sublime's 'fatty fenders'... also caught that homemade British wheel in one of the pics.

I'd be interested in know how it all ties in with the REAR fenders. I see the truck you started with may not end up with any.
I assume the same process to widen the rear fenders as the front??
reasron I ask is I plan on relocating the REAR tail-lights into the fenders and off the body.

As far as 'stretching" the cab I had talked about... I was planning on doing that threw the doors (middle of the cab). I'll need a 2nd set of doors so I can use that molding, etc.. to fit back perfect.
I'm open to ALL types of suggestions and especially links on "how to" stuff like Sublime listed.
Please, please please feel free to email me any links, info on a start to finish rebuild.

I kinda think this will be a HUGE project... not worried about the time,.. and I think with some instruction I can put it back together the way I want it.
Time's not an issue,.. it's all about me doing it myself...???
THANKS in Advance for any and all info you all can provide.