COE 57 Chevy LCF crew cab update

I am moving along good on my project. I am about 80% done with the cab fab work. need to finish the b pillars, finish floor bracing, finish p***enger rear door and make driver rear door. Seems like a lot to finish but with what I have already completed, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. hoping for end of September to be in finish primer and ready to set it on the ch***is. Check out my progress. http://rides.webshots.com/album/580587250vqfuun

 

ROCK ON!!!
looking great.
JML

 

Yes looking Great. Cool Project.

 

lots of time an talent. gonna be a great ride

 

Nice work...very cool

 

Thanks for all the comments. I cant wait to get it done.

 

say, what's going on w/ the rear doors? can you talk a little bit about that daunting fab work?
JML

 

Looking good! Did you fit the cab to your ch***is before you extended it? I am planning to "crew" my Ford cab, so any pics, tips and tricks are appreciated. Keep us updated.

 

vintage56,
The rear doors are two doors from opposite sides using the rear portion of both. the doors on the 55-59 chevy trucks get narrower towards the front. I had to slice and dice them to get the body lines to come out correct. I used the rear protion from the opposite door so I could use an original b pillar flipped around backwards and the door edge would be correct. There is a lot of fab in the rear doors and b pillar area. I have almost all the pasengerside complete at this point. I did most of the fab to the b pillar and under cab bracing this weekend. I will post up some more pics later this week.


RMR&C,

I did not fit the cab to the new ch***is before I extended it. I built a rack that is the same width as the new ch***is and have the original frame mounts bolted to it. the theory is that if it all lines up and fits on the rack then it should fit on the new ch***is. the front floor section and lower firewall were pretty butchered from someone getting he original engine out. I am going to cut the floor pan and firewall so it will fit down over the engine in the new ch***is. Once the body is set down on the ch***is, then I will fab the new floor pan. I have a bead roller and metal brake which make the fab work a lot easier. The front axle track width is 4" wider than the orginal so it will fit no problem. My biggest hurdle is going to be the steering box. It is way out on the end of the frame and it might end up being tight against the back of my bumper. Wont know for sure until the cab makes its way on the ch***is. I'll just be happy to be that far to be worring about the steering box.

 

Vintage56,
I posted some pics of the b pillar. finished with fab work on the p***enger side and started on the driver side today. Should go quicker since I know what to make now.

 

yep yep. that's the answers I anticipated. looking great! thanks for sharing and definitely keep us up on it.
JML

 

Realy admire your craftsmanschip. Very fast work to. You make A great looking Cab. Have fun Building

 

heya buggy, how many hours do you have into that cab thus far?
JML

 

if you ask my wife......too many.....I would say somewhere around 125 to 150 range. not really sure. That time includes cutting up the panel I needed the roof from. I was hoping for primer by the end of September but that did not happen. Now that most of the fab work is done......it should go quicker.

 

Hey Buggy, Any updates? So far this is a nice build. Got both sides done?
-Donn-

 

Cool build. I am about to attempt a similar build for myself, and was wondering what u used for the roof sections?

 

Donnda...I have both side fabed at this point. I still have some bracing to finish on the underside. I got tired of fab work and started doing some body work. I have the post done between the two doors on the p***enger side and have about 90% of the roof done. I have tons of time in getting the roof straight. I know it will rearly seen due to the height of this thing but I want it to look good when somone does see it. Of course I had to make it hard on myself too since it will be black.

Derrick1032....I used a pane truck roof.

 

Got the roof blend finished and in primer today. threw some more pics on my webshots. Check them out.

 

Wow, your cab is looking great! Nice work...
Can't wait to see it all together!

 

Man, That is looking good. Is the ch***is going to be long enough with the cab on it to give the 5th wheel enough room to go 90 degrees?
What engine and trans is in that donor truck? Going to have enough power to tow that big 5er?

 

I have to move the axle back 8" to give me enough room. probably a good excuse to put air ride back there. It has a 350 with a 4L80E ******. It has 5:38 gears so there should be plenty of power. I have a friend that is good with tuning the computers to get the most power out of it. No rocket but it should be fine. The camper is designed to be towed by a 1/2 ton so it is a lite weight for its size.

 

I wouldnt pull a Chaparal w/ a 1/2 ton! not here in Oklahoma. 30mph winds are a "breeze" about 50 days a year...
roof looks fabulous, btw.
JML

 

I agree with you. Coachman says it half ton towable....I would never tow something that big with a 1/2 ton. I liked that it was lighter than others the same size.

 

Thanks fore the new photo's Love your project
Where do the blue front door come from?? You started with the grey doors
Have fun Building

 

They were some rust free doors from Montana. Mine were shot. I could not believe I found a set. I paid less for these than doors for a standard truck. they are off a gmc so nothing else off the truck was usable to me.

 

Posted some more pics. I got the under floor bracing done, pulled out the temporary bracing welded inside and painted it. I also made the frame mounts that will go under the middle of the cab. Not sure I need them because the cab does not even flex when I jump up and down inside of it but I will put them in anyhow. While that was drying, I started messing around with the 03 GMC. By the time I was done, all the wiring was out of the cab and I pulled the cab off. I test fitted the front clip and have some work to do on the steering box. I think I will be able to tilt it back 25 degrees to get it to work out. At least it works out on paper.

 

Tilt the steering back 25deg and bend the steering arm 25deg?

 

The steering shaft came straight down through the floor in the gmc and is pointing straight up at the front edge ofthe fender. I can not get the fender to sit on correctly the way it is now. if I tilt the box back it will do 2 things. Make it so I can bolt the steering shaft on and move it back about 3 inches so it clears the fender. The drag link will remain in the same position so no bump steer.

 

Buggy, Will you post some pictures on how you do this? I think it might benefit some of us that are doing the opposite trying to get a real slanted pickup gear to stand up more.

 

This will only work if it is not independent front suspension. The drag link from the pitman arm to the steering knuckle has to run the length of the frame. Most pickup boxes have the pitman arm the connects directly to the draglink going from wheel to wheel and there is really no way to change the angle of the box.