69 GMC "Ol' Blue"

[mjensen]

Okay, any more delays on this cab are all on me

I was able to pick up a "new" door and the guy even had a driver's side bedside for when it comes time to do the bed!!! The door is in decent shape, no speaker hole cut in, and the bottom isn't all rusted out. It does have a slight crease in the bottom, but I think it should be good.

[mjensen]

Well, I'm pre-fitting everything....I can tell that I'm going to have my work cut out for me. They look okay in the pictures, but they're not

[mjensen]

Well, I had to drop the front of the inner rocker about 3/8" to line up with the door. Tomorrow I should work on the outer rocker. You know, it doesn't sound like a lot of work...but it took all day

[mjensen]

Okay, so I got the outer rocker fitted today. I wish the passenger side would have turned out this tight. Luckily this is not going to be a show truck, but it does bug me a little bit. Of course I guess the tolerances weren't that good from the factory. That's my story and I'm sticking to it

[mjensen]

Pulled the door, and finished fitting the rocker....took some slicing and dicing...







I am pretty excited to be this far.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice work and great find on the parts!

[mcbassin]

Nice project! I'll follow along too. Everyone loves rust repair.

[dougminton]

nice work. I wish my rockers had turned out as nice as yours. subscribed

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice work and great find on the parts!

Thanks! I appreciate that!

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Nice project! I'll follow along too. Everyone loves rust repair.

Thank you very much...I'm not sure if I would classify this as love

Originally Posted by dougminton

nice work. I wish my rockers had turned out as nice as yours. subscribed

Thank you! I think it's turning out okay considering I'm a computer geek and have no experience with this stuff.

Hopefully I can keep this project moving now that I have all the parts for the cab. I should be able to finish at least the cab corner this weekend. The floorboard will need some help from a buddy of mine (I'm going to have him put the bend in the front so that it fits snug where it meets the firewall)

[funkytechmonkey]

mjensen... I am in the same boat as you. I’m just about to finish up my suspension and want to do all the replacement panels..... but I am very intimidated. How did you get started on this? Did you just start this and learn as you go? I really have no idea where to start. I just learned how to weld working on my suspension (welding in come notches). so I pretty scared I will screw something up pretty bad.

BTW... do you have the measurements on your roll around for the cab? I’d like to build one for mine.

Thanks for doing this thread. It really helps us rookies!!!

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by funkytechmonkey

mjensen... I am in the same boat as you. I’m just about to finish up my suspension and want to do all the replacement panels..... but I am very intimidated. How did you get started on this? Did you just start this and learn as you go? I really have no idea where to start. I just learned how to weld working on my suspension (welding in come notches). so I pretty scared I will screw something up pretty bad.

BTW... do you have the measurements on your roll around for the cab? I’d like to build one for mine.

Thanks for doing this thread. It really helps us rookies!!!

I started by reading all the posts I could find on this wonderful site (there are a lot of them on cab repair). I was very intimidated at first, but after taking copious notes and measurements I started dicing away. My only suggestion would be to make small cuts and trim the parts down with a grinder to get them to fit, and only cut the minimum necessary to replace the damage. I know that it probably would have been best to go up to the body line on the cab corner, but I didn't trust myself to get that line right after welding the new piece back in. Take your time and plan on 3 times as long as you think as you will be fitting, tacking, grinding, fitting, tacking and grinding .

As far as the dolly, I'll get measurements for you and post them here in just a few minutes. I'll even give you my suggestions on what I would change with it (it's a little too tall and a little too wide).

Thanks for looking, I really appreciate the encouragement. It's been fun, frustrating, exciting, and nerve racking all at the same time

[mjensen]

The dolly's outside dimensions are 39" x 48" x 24" tall. If I were to do it over again, I would make the width 37" (to fit between the cab supports) and the height I would trim down to no taller than 18" as the roof is pretty difficult to reach. It's a very stout dolly and other than being a bit to big, it works out perfectly. Let me know if there is any other info you would like about it.

[Curt's_72]

Any updates?
You've got have come along way!

[mjensen]

Thanks! No new progress other than I took the frame down to the blasters on Friday. I'm hoping to have it back late this week or early next week.

[funkytechmonkey]

Very cool..... Thanks man.

Do you plan on doing all the filler body work and paint?

[mjensen]

You're welcome!

Yeah, I think it would be "fun" to do it all myself. I'm not building a show truck, but I think it will be good experience when it comes time to work on my '47 Chevy Fleetline. That would probably be in about 20 years when I finish this project

[mjensen]

Well, I actually got off my butt and worked on the cab corner today. I still have a few more welds and grinding to do, but here's where it sits today:





I'm pretty happy with the alignment of the rocker to the cab corner.

[sjarrett71]

Awesome work!

[mcbassin]

Looks like some good progress to me.

[mjensen]

Thanks for the compliments guys!

[timcos]

Nice job Mike. Looks like you are having fun.

[mjensen]

Thanks! I am having a good time when I can actually get out and work on it. How's AR treating you?

[hotrodchevy1999]

nice work

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by Erick Barnett

nice work

Thank you! I'm hoping to be completely done with the cab before the end of August.

[mjensen]

I had to patch a hole that I created while welding the cab corner in. It turned out okay I think. Next is the floorboard and the metal work for the cab will be done!! Yeah!!