The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop To remove or not to remove the cab

Hello,
I have removed the bed, the hood, front fenders, aprons etc and completed the rust repair on these panels as well as the cab exterior, interior and floor. My question is:
How do you determine whether or not to remove the cab?

I do want to re-paint the firewall and I am hoping to be able to do so without pulling the engine or the cab. Is this a cheesy shortcut? Has anyone been able to do this?

Thanks,
brian

I was in the same boat with my 55 stepside. After looking at it, there are only 4 bolts holding the cab to the chassis. I figure 4 bolts + 4 friends + 4 beers = cab off in about 4 minutes! I think it would turn out a lot better with the cab off and away from the engine/chassis. This also allows you to finish off the frame under the cab nicely too.

Hope this help.

Anthony

Well, your so close to frame off. I'm guessing you don't have the equipment to lift heavy objects, hoist, cherry picker ect? If the cab only needs some paint you could mask off the engine and blow some color behind it. Consider renting the equipment you need? Just my 2$.

hey yakima,
I wish i had some of that equipment.
any idea how much a 58 cab would weigh? Everything is out of the cab including doors, glass, bench, eater etc?
Thanks
brian

Question is, how big of a hurry are you. For mine I choose through over quicker. 55stepside says 4 bolts, 4 minutes, 4 beers. I say 4 bolts, 1 steering wheel and column, many electricals, 1 fuel tank etc. and 2 days work. However if you're not in a hurry that is the best way to go.

It only took two of us to lift my cab, of course all the glass and everything else removable was removed. We used a 2X8X10. Of course you will need a cheery picker to lift the motor.

Not sure about your year truck, but an AD cab can be rolled backward onto the frame, if you put an old mattress or some other cushion on it, and I've heard that 4 men can safely lift an AD cab with 2x8's if it's stripped.

Either method will give you access to everything the cab was covering.

Correct. Once you make the decision to remove the cab, it first needs to be gutted out. I'm not a full-time mechanic, but it took me no more than half a Saturday to gut my cab. Most of that time was spent wrestling with the steering column/steering box to separate the two. I simply cut the wiring at the firewall since I was upgrading the electricals with new modern wiring.

Brian,
You are close enough and have your cab stripped far enough down not to take the plunge and remove. If you're thinking or considering it and don't do it later on you'll probably regret it. Whether it takes 4 minutes or 2 days, I vote yes for removal.
Dan

Thanks Dan,
I have been debating it as I work for a couple of weeks.
This is the first project I have undertaken. I am a little (i will admit it) chicken to disconnect steering and the rest of the mechanical.

If I do this do you think the Assembly Manuals will be able to clearly illustrate how to put them back together?

Thanks,
Brian the chicken

yes, an assembly manual is quite helpful, but if you pay attention when you take things apart, and collect lots of pictures, you won't have a problem, the simplicity of these ol trucks makes it all a piece of cake

if you really don't need to remove the engine, doing a good job on the cab will be easier off the frame, or at least rolled onto it's back, including a much better shot at the underside .... also easier to clean up the trans and the back of the engine

Bill

Thanks Bill,
It is amazing that as you work on the truck you go deeper and deeper. Personally it is hard for me not to be thorough. Since I have plenty of time I think that I will go for it.
Even though it would not be an area easy to see, I will always know.

Thanks,
brian

I vote for removal. ( 4 ) guys can lift off without much difficulty. Keep notes / pics of disassembly of components. Not too bad. If you leave the cab on, how about just pulling the motor ? Pretty easy with no front end in the way. Could freshen up the motor at the same time. Trying to get a good paint job on the firewall without janking the motor will be difficult.

One thing you can do to aid in reassembly of the mechanicals is to take pictures of it before disassembly of the steering etc. I would not use a cell phone camera for this as the photos are grainy and will not show you detail where you need it. Just a thought! Remove it if you have time and space. You are so far into it now!

Hank

It is always better to remove everything. The only question is will you get frustrated, tired, and lose interest if you can't finish the rebuild in a short time. There are plenty of partially finished projects out there littering the hotrod landscape.

Hey Big Chevy,
I am already at 4 years plus. I am not in a hurry. Frustrtated sometimes, tired sure,
but the bottom line is that it is FUN. also I get to say that i did it

Brain i will second the cab removal your that close now man and you will regret not doing it later .. you will have a nicer truck also besides you have all this great help here for any troubles you may run into not to mention isn't that what they also make shop manuals for . Later Earl

Thanks Earl,
The result of the 2008 CAB CAUCUS is that it is coming off. This weekend I plan to remove the few remaining items and get ready to pop it.

Thanks,
Brian

Brain GOOD LUCK and remember always take two and think about your lifting & moving any thing that heavy be careful and also have. TAKE Lots of pictures Later Earl

Hey Brian,

Talk about digging deeper and deeper. I was suppose to put a IFS on my truck do the body work and paint and put her back on the road. Well after I done the clip I changed my mind and so that frame to a friend. Did a mustang II brought new left springs and changed my mind and now have a 4 link. After that patch work on the body next thing I noticed the cab was over there, 58 fenders were changed out to 55 front clip, the 350 engine 700r4 trans was changed out to 5.3 liter with a 460LE trans, and the money just kept going up and up. . This is after I got through building the 55 210. But when I'm done at least I will be satified. My wife just thinks I nuts and she is right. If you are thinking about doing a frame off do it. By the way a friend and I took the cab off my frame. Its not that heavy.

Nice work Mkabwe!
I hope to have my cab to that stage in a few weeks.

Brian

The more you do the better it will look. A frame off restoration is the best way to go. It will allow you to get the frame looking good as well as the rest of the truck. You will not regret it.

You will be surprised how much of that truck is found under the cab and around the frame in general. There are several items you can totally rebuild/add with the cab off, new brake booster and lines, tranny cooler on the frame, new fuel line, just to name a few.