The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Some Interior Installation Before Cab Attachment?

I bought a '53 cab to replace the one on the Blue Funk that was totaled in an MVA a year ago.

I just finished repairing, reinforcing, and painting the floor. (A big thanks to Fred Truckernix for the sharing of his knowledge and for his guidance!) The rest of the cab merely needs to be cleaned up and painted.

The cab is resting on its back in order to gain easy access to the bottom while I was working on it.

I stuck the upper part of my body through the tranny cover hole to examine underneathe the dash. I plan to clean and paint the backside of the dash, etc. and believe this will be a good approach.

This approach set me to thinking: I wonder if I could install the guages, wiper motor, switches, etc. from this approach before I attach the cab to the frame?
I've also read on past posts that installing the headliner can be a real pain. I wonder if, this too, could be attached with the cab on its back before attaching it to the frame.

Theoretically, it seems this approach would be much simpler than laying on my back in order to work under the dash or stooping inside the cab to install the headliner.

Any experience or thoughts on using this approach?

Davey, I see no major problems doing this,although as far as I can ascertain the headliner's a pain regardless of whatever angle you approach it!
Fitting the dash components "tank commander style" sounds like a great idea,especially for those of us of a bulkier disposition!

I wouldn't imagine this will add too much extra weight,something to consider when you have to re-unite cab and chassis.

I say go for it!

Hmmm... the headliner's a pain no matter which way I approach it, eh? I figured the "the pain" had to do with position and gravity.

The only downsides I could see to doing the dash components was a little more weight (as you pointed out)and an increased possibility of damage to the components when moving the cab around.

Thanks, jockbolter- I think I might just go for it!

Hey Dave, I remember standing up with my upper body through the big hole. That should work great, but you can't hook up many of the wires and lines until everything is back together. Doing the wipers that way would definitely eliminate some cuss words.

I've met Fred several times, eager to share for sure.

The only problem I could see on installing the headliner now is you would need to have the windsheild and its rubber installed first and the door rubber ,the door rubber would not matter but the front glass might not work out to good.


Pete

I think I would hold off on the headliner. If you still have paint work to do your going to have overspray and all of this will need to be tapped off. If you have the interior of the cab already painted the gauges and such shpould be fine but any carpet seat material and cardboard panels will all need to be masked and sealed up tight. I think I would hold off until all paint work is done before I do any interior panels. This would be my concerns.

Installation is easy, wiring them up is the pain. I rewired my entire truck over the weekend and while doing so, installed my rebuilt gauges and headlamp switch. With the seat bottom, radio and speaker trim out of the way I had no problems simply sitting on the floor with my head under the dash. It was a tad cramped but nothing I couldn't walk off. ...I'm pretty average size at 5'11" and 180lbs.

I'd also wait on the headliner.

Which harness are you going with?

I installed the cab first and then proceeded with the rest of the interior.

Leave the seat out and throw a heavy rug in the cab and work lying on your back. I'm a REALLY big guy and I had no problems. You just got to remember which hand you set that $&*% screwdriver down with.

This man speaks the truth.

Thanks for all the replys and perspectives, Guys. You've given me some good advice that I am going to heed.

Orchestrating the rebuiling of the Blue Funk has to be systematically done, but it seems that there's always a little room for some free verse poetry in the process.


The only parts of the Blue Funk that I am not using are the original cab, right door, fender, and running board, Eric. I'm going to use everything else that I can, including the old wiring harness that had recently been replaced by a PO and is in excellent shape.

Thanks again, Guys!

Good deal. I was gonna plug the Classic Parts harness if you were looking for one.