Deluxe Cab Conversion
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Last year we did a restromod conversion to our 48 Chevy 3100. 5.3 LS, 4 wheel disk brakes, coilovers, blah, blah, blah... The truck turned out nice and my wife drives it almost every day. (which is why I'm now working on a 49 for myself) Anyway... one of the things that we did was convert it from a 3 window to a 5 window "Deluxe" cab. This also turned out nice and made the truck much safer to drive without the big blindspots. The shop that did it had never done one before, but used what I believe is the conventional method of doing this (?) by cutting out the old corners and replacing them with new inner and out skins with the window cut outs. Again they did a nice job and you would never know that this truck wasn't originally a 5 window from the factory.
But after it was all done they told me that they would never do another one like this. After digging into it they discovered a few "seams" in the cab. (one on each A pillar and another one along the entire back of the cabe under the rear widow) They have a theory that these trucks were actually "convertibles" when the rolled down the assembly line. Then the tops were added per the build sheet if it was supposed to be a 3 window or a 5 window. I have no idea if this theory holds any water or not? But I thought it would be fun to throw it out there to hear everyones thoughts? BTW... they say if they ever do another conversion this is how they would do it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bSU9xoS-BE Attachment 1987773 Attachment 1987774 Attachment 1987775 Attachment 1987776 |
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Nice change...looks good...
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Truck looks great. As far as them not wanting to do another one. I'd say that they may have underestimated the actual hours they would have tied up in the conversion to get it looking as perfect as it does.
The job is simple but those who have done it themselves will tell you to get it right it is tedious and time consuming. |
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great work!
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I've driven 3 windows and it was a real challenge compared to a 5 window. Lane changes and backing up come to mind. There is no doubt in my mind that the 5 window is far safer and a no brainer by GM to increase rear view in ADs and most future trucks. Also it "makes" the look if you know what i mean and well worth all the OPs great work!!
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I'm really interested to hear if anyone knows if this is how the factory really did it or not? |
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Very nice! Love the color too
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I like my 3 window better. I think they look cooler but I have one. I drove mine as a daily for nine years with a convex mirror on it in SoCal. It wasn't that bad. I plan on passing everyone anyway.
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the side windows are usually the first things folks comment on and how much they like them. I see the Chinese are producing complete 5 window cabs but not 3 windows.
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It's what you are used to as far as seeing out. I learned to drive in a 54 3100 5 window but don't remember looking out the quarter windows that much. My step father had a wood box he had built mounted behind and above the lean back that covered some of the window from view anyhow. I have probably 400 K miles on the 48 over the years many of them with it being chopped (it was my daily driver for over 20 years) Never had an issue with the blank spot. I actually have more blind spot issues with my BMW than the truck. Maybe because I am older and maybe because drivers seem to like to pace the BMW while driving in the blind spot.
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Sam, your truck looks great. Just curious, Where did you have it done? I'm in Lawrenceville.
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Brian |
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brian - those windows look to be stock size - just re positioned. am I right?
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[QUOTE=nvrdone;8698392]brian - those windows look to be stock size - just re positioned. am I right?
Appears that the back window opening was customized to a taller piece of glass |
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The top is chopped 3.5 inches so the side ones are 3.5 inches shorter. The center one is about a half inch chopped being I lowered the bottom down to the body line. Then I widened it making the pillers between it and the corner windows only 4" where it was about 6".
Brian |
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Brian: it looks damn good. looks like you've become a true Idahoan by the Boise State logo in the back window.
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Brian |
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By the way on the widening of the center glass, I made all the posts the same, 4". We are talking with the doors on, between the quarter window and the door glass and between the door glass and the windshield are both 4" so I made them all the same. I was actually going to go more than that making the back to the corners sort of like the 57 Buick but decided against it.
Brian https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...wPsdsJVElOxGuQ |
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I'm thinking that Brian had to make his own quarter windows as you can't cut the stock ones with any normal glass cutting process.
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Brian |
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