The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Cab ready for attachment

I picked up a '53 cab to replace the one that was damaged when hit by a Semi last year. The Cab is now repaired and painted, ready for attachment to the frame.

I believe I've covered most of the bases, but want to ask what you would have done before the cab is actually bolted down.

Here's an example of what I've done:

Cleaned and painted the frame, cab/running board supports, and battery box.

Re-attach the brake/clutch support assembly.

Re-attach the parking brake guide (Jim Carter calls an "anti-rattler") and assembly.

Re-attach the master cylinder and brake lines.

What else can you all suggest?

Thanks.

Check the manual

...click...

Step 9 and 11 tells you the clearance you need, shim if necessary.
This helps with front end sheet metal alignment, body gaps.



Side note. With the cab off you can stamp or etch your vin number on frame where only you know and hidden by cab. Just I case some wise guy get a crazy idea.

Did you bleed our brakes and check for leaks?

Paint the bottom of the cab with a product like POR-15,I do it but use Cassis Saver to my cabs before remounting them that way I don't have to worry that the floor will get rusty again.

Pete

Thanks, Gus and Pete.

I have done both- checked out the manual and treated the bottom of the cab with KBS.

I transferred the ID with the VIN from the '51 cab and attached it to the '53 cab.

I'm still playing with the braking system.

I just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing something relatively obvious.

Thanks again.

Changing your vin over on cabs can be a red flag, especially if at some point it gets inspected and the inspector knows what to look for. Be very careful when doing things like this.

How would an inspector know the difference between a 1951 cab and a 1953 cab (just the cab, not any other parts)?

Dave,

Will you be using a combination of other parts, or mostly 1951 parts?
Which frame will you be using?
What engine will you be using.

Good luck with your vehicle's resurrection.

Isn't it more likely the inspector will be examining the rivets on the inspection plate if he/she is doubtful about something? or maybe the condition under the plate?

Do you think the inspector knows which years used the "rivets" and which years used hexagonal-head clutch-head screws?

"Yes ma'am, I installed my ID plate after I painted the cab."

it's most likely Dave has the vehicle already registered, and the paper work related to the wreck, and the receipt for purchase of a replacement cab, which of course needs to be carrying the proper number plate for the registration ..... what can be doubtful?

Bill

my 50 uses philips head screws on the door post plate.

I almost had a bad day at the DMV over that.
had to explain thats how it came from the factory.

the inspector had no idea, finally had to talk to an older supervisor

My earlier suggestion to transfer the vin number to the frame was for personal purposes, not DMV or inspection.
as our AD truck have no frame stampping.

Exactly. They get suspicious if it looks to be tampered with at all, such as being screwed on, etc.

They were screwed on in some years. So, it looks like you cannot win, even if it is unmolested?

Beer.

In Alberta anyone with a journeyman mechanic ticket can sign off on a vehicle inspection and I can say for certain that some will simply walk around a vehicle and sign without touching it. The inspection is only required to obtain insurance and there is NO inspection done by any level of government so it's easy enough to find somebody who sees things your way if the price is right.

Not if the vehicle has been wrote off and is being inspected for return to the road, or is coming from another province (or for old vehicles, isn't in the system). This is a completely different inspection and the inspectors are heavily regulated and need to keep records of EVERYTHING.

For a regular insurance inspection they aren't regulated and anyone can do one, but for the inspections that apply to the majority of antique and custom vehicles in this province, you can't get away with a whole lot.

The RCMP and DOT can inspect your vehicle and pull it off the road if they feel it's been tampered with.

I'm working on that right now. I need to apply for a "builder title" because it was VINed off of the engine... that has been long replaced.

So I need to have a rolling chassis with steering and some form of a cab. but not ready for the road. They inspect it to make sure that there are no numbers on it.

Next I need to have it bonded at x2 of the apprised value of it in the none running condition. This give it a taxable value to get the builder title.

That stays in place during the build process for however long that takes.

Once it is roadworthy, it goes back in for another inspection along with the "builder title" and is inspected for safety requirements. If it passes, then the DOT physically attaches a NEW VIN to it. At that point I take that paperwork back to the DMV and file for a change from builder to actual title.

You may go talk to them and see if there is a way to apply for a new VIN to replace the screw on tag....?