The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Swaping front of cab

Tell me what you guy's think.
I found a 37 panel but It's been hit. Some one cut the A pillars at the wind shield and welded then back crooked. it's a mess. the cowls are caved in but all is good after the doors. I have a good cab.Can't stop thinking about swapping the whole cab.Doors and all,I would hate to cut up a good cab but I would like to save the panel.
What do you think?
Bill

measure it all up carefully, you'd likely need to keep the panel roof to the top of the A pillars, where there may be a leaded factory joint - on the later panels the crown of the roof at the front is different than the pickup's shorter roof

Bill

Save the panel! When you say cab, do you mean a truck cab of the same year or a another panel "cab" area? Measuring is the key as Red58 says and, of course, bracing the hell out of it before you start. Cut big and trim after you get it up to it. Weld in some tabs to screw it together while re-measuring and trimming until it fits like a glove. Write down 3 or 4 ways to do it (cut it) and then pick one after thinking about it awhile. Try to join at a place where there is the least complicated body configuration. Red58 is good at this stuff. Pics would help all.

The cab I have is a 38 pick up.The only seam on the pick up is on the a pillar bottom of the windshield.

Looks like the cab skin is spot welded around the door and windshield. I think drilling out the spot welds would be the way to go. I haven't made the guy an offer yet.I want to pick as many minds as possible before I commit.Thanks for the input

Bill

plenty of pics/videos of grafted vehicles on the net and some have done it here also.

Well I got the panel home. The damage is worse than I thought(ain't it always)I'll try to post some pictures. Good thing I have a donor cab.now to figure a plan of attack bent cab

It looks like the bends go clear into the roof above the door. Keep us posted.

Can't see much but I'm thinking bang it/pull it back into shape, until I see more pics. I don't se grafting that. Try like hell and learn how to work the metal. Pull it with a come a long or hydraulic jacks. Plan B= graft. That metal can take a bend and pull back without weakening. But not several. Nice panel, great you are saving it, not many of those babys around. Original seats, horns, air cleaner, dash, steering wheel, engine, running boards, rear doors, fenders good, handles, emblems.... Are you kidding me? WOW! Photobucket private?

That's all the pictures I have right now. I was just reading an original repair manual on straightening a bent cab. They were using what they called a push pull device. A bottle jack with extension bars (port a power) To bring the cab back to square.
Other than the BIG DENT it's in good shape.Even the rear wood floor is in great shape. Last registered in 1954. Bent cab

yes, a port-a-power is what a body shop uses to apply a force in exactly [or close] to the reverse of the force that caused the damage, gives a slow action so you can watch and control it .... if you have a good tool rental place around you may be able to rent one, but straightening that pillar won't be easy because it's a box structure, you'll probably have to at least make a hole inside the cab so a bar can get at the kink on the outside shell

Bill

I've got the panel striped down and can see most of the problems. cab damage I'm working on a plan of attack.you can see how the body seams at the top of the wind shield pulled apart and were welded without pulling them back together. These body pieces will need to be replaced. Not to hard to copy from the other cab.
You can see where the the A pillar bolts to the dash and body mount is stretched.
Not sure yet if the A pillar is bent at the winshield or the bent body skin just makes it look that way.

I'm switching back to grafting. I see the nice donor in background. It can be done with pulling and bending but why do all that when you have a good donor. I know I'm arguing with myself but I changed my mind about this. It's your call of course and you are there up close. too many matches to be made and too many previous fixes. Can you cut the cowl, dash, window frame, A pillar and part of roof as one piece? You need good reference points to do the graft. Measure every conceivable measurement and make a drawing of the donor before cutting it up. Use points on the donor that will "stay behind" and that are available on the Panel. It seems like cab mouting hole would be good? Be sure to reverse engineer that donor with an accurate drawing with every measurement from everywhere. Plumb bobs and all. I know it's a truck cab going to a Panel but there must be some common points to use as ref. (example: B pillar, seat mounting holes, gear shift hole, brake fill, battery box) Check and see how the doors fit on the donor. Just My opinion. Not trying to tell you what to do but this is very interesting to me.

Well after close inspection and trying to pull things straight I'm going forward with the the cab swap. Drivers side A,B,C posts are all twisted. fire wall has a slight bow in it.Just about every structural member has a problem in the cab area.
looks like most all parts are universal as GM did for so many years.As soon as I get to the point of pulling the cab Ill start taking pictures to post.
Wish me luck I'm going in!!!
Bill

That's a good choice. It will work out fine. I'll cover you.

Well here is how it went.

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I'm pleased with the out come.A little more tweaking rebuild the hinges and all will be good.
Red58 and Bartamos thanks for the help.
Now to straighten out the roof I think I'll put it on some saw horses. It's pretty bent from being hamered out. Should be a challange.

Impressive! Great accomplishment.

Man, you don't mess around do you? Good job.

seriously dedicated resurrection, keep it up

Bill