Crash's 69 K10

[Crash_OK]

Well.. I have run out of mechanical things to fix.. So here I go on the cab repair…
Decided to start on the passenger side first.. That way if I don’t get it just right.. then I won’t have to look at it every time I get in the truck..

First step was to take some measurements and then start removing the rocker..






Lots of rust……











Started fitting the replacement panel





Thought I would see what the rocker would look like..



5 gallon bucket of sand in the passenger side rear support




Started fitting the cab corner… still lots of work to do here….





I got some co2/argon mix for the welder Saturday.. I bought a bottle instead of renting.. hope it was the right move.. Also picked up a roll of .030 solid wire.. But now I am wondering if I should use .024?

[tsnow678]

I cant say how much this thread is going to help me in the near future!!! Seems your truck and mine have the same issues in the cab. The .030" wire should be fine, the .024" would be better but I am sure you will find the sweet spot on wire speed. Keep the pics coming as I am sure there are a ton of us like you out there that will be doing the same fixes. Thanks!!!

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

WOW! That thing sure looks different after you shot it with sand (black diamond). It all looks so familiar for some reason. It's really not too bad, it's just time consuming. I know I was really glad to get the cleaning stage that you did today done.

Now that I know how bad it is.. I know what I need to do to fix... All it takes is time and money... :-)

[RCbowtie69]

Looking good,gald you got the motor ruinng.You've have done alot work on this truck so far.Keep the pictures coming & keep on Truckin'

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by RCbowtie69

Looking good,gald you got the motor ruinng.You've have done alot work on this truck so far.Keep the pictures coming & keep on Truckin'

Thanks RCbowtie.. Getting the motor running might have been the easiest part of this build.. I am working on the cab now.. I hate rust.. I am ready to go back to mechanical and wiring.. did I mention I hate rust... :-)

[mcbassin]

Super work Mark! I told you that you could handle it. That series of pictures are painfully familiar. I ended up taking off all day yesterday and might do the same today. Still no heat. It's freakin cold. Keep the hard work up, I'm sure you will be ahead of me in no time, if you aren't already.

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Super work Mark! I told you that you could handle it. That series of pictures are painfully familiar. I ended up taking off all day yesterday and might do the same today. Still no heat. It's freakin cold. Keep the hard work up, I'm sure you will be ahead of me in no time, if you aren't already.

Thanks Mike.. Yes.. I think you said it right a few days ago.. all of these old trucks have rust.. man.. I am sick of it, and still have a ton more to do. I might need your help with the cab corner.. damn thing doesn’t want to fit… I got tired of fighting it and just moved on…
I come home last night… so I will not get to work on it today… No way I catch you.. you are too far ahead and much better and efficient at this stuff then me..
It ain’t that cold… It is all in your mind…. Lol…

[tsnow678]

I will have to agree with you on the mechanical and wiring. I never mind working on the drivetrain, its the rust removal, metal replacement, and pain staking body work that kicks my butt everytime. You look like a pro at the body work so give yourself some credit! Appreciate you looking over my thread on LS1Tech. Hope it didnt bore you too bad. I cheated on the bodywork on the Camaro and paid someone to replace panels, bodywork and paint. Wont be that lucky on the truck. I want my truck to be a show winner but reality is its going to be a 20 footer. Keep the pics coming and all the details are great, thanks.

[DD1]

Wow! The body work looks great. You actually did a lot of work that was overwhelming me. Did you find it necessary to weld a bracing rod on the cab when you replaced the outer floor? I am going to have to do the same thing on my (new) cab. Remove the rocker, replace the outer floor, and the rear cab support. A friend suggested I brace the cab to make sure the doors will still fit properly.

Where did you get your patch panels from?

It's looking good so far!

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by DD1

Wow! The body work looks great. You actually did a lot of work that was overwhelming me. Did you find it necessary to weld a bracing rod on the cab when you replaced the outer floor? I am going to have to do the same thing on my (new) cab. Remove the rocker, replace the outer floor, and the rear cab support. A friend suggested I brace the cab to make sure the doors will still fit properly.

Where did you get your patch panels from?

It's looking good so far!

Thanks DD1, I did not weld a brace. I don't think it was needed, nothing moved, I took lots of measurements, and they did not change. However, I would see nothing wrong with using one.. it would not hurt a think. Good luck with your project...!!

[67c10rustbuket]

Man you are knocking that thing out quick ! very nice.

I dont know if you ever got an answer on the xmember Q for 6 or V8, All I know is on a stock 2wd the motor mount stands bolt in farther to the rear than a V8. If you look on your pass upper front frame rail you will see 3 holes. the rear and middle hole is the stock placement for a 6 while the center and front hole are for a V8, The xmember itself is the same.

Keep it up and enjoy the snow!

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by 67c10rustbuket

Man you are knocking that thing out quick ! very nice.

I dont know if you ever got an answer on the xmember Q for 6 or V8, All I know is on a stock 2wd the motor mount stands bolt in farther to the rear than a V8. If you look on your pass upper front frame rail you will see 3 holes. the rear and middle hole is the stock placement for a 6 while the center and front hole are for a V8, The xmember itself is the same.

Keep it up and enjoy the snow!

67c10rustbuket,

I never got an answer on the cross member.. The 4wd cross member is completely different than the 2wd. I finally used the x-member from Pacific fabrication. It worked well, however, I do have a few concerns on pan clearance that I need to talk to them about.

[mcbassin]

Mark,
It looks like your pass. side cab corner fits much better now. I know how frustated you are about now with the patches and rust. I think we may have been better off using Tabco parts on all it.
I really like your cab dolly BTW.
Oh and I have a few blood stains on my shop floor too. WTH, were we thinking???

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Mark,
It looks like your pass. side cab corner fits much better now. I know how frustated you are about now with the patches and rust. I think we may have been better off using Tabco parts on all it.
I really like your cab dolly BTW.
Oh and I have a few blood stains on my shop floor too. WTH, were we thinking???

This is a lesson learned.. If I ever do another one of these.. I will use tabco or something other than what I used on this one. The parts are that bad.. they just don’t fit..

I have no idea what we were thinking.

Hope you are making progress on you cab…

[VA72C10]

Nice progress.....gotta love rust....NOT!

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Nice progress.....gotta love rust....NOT!

Thanks...


Rust and poor fitting patch panels.. Makes me drink...

[mcbassin]

I hear you Mark, these old rust buckets will drive you to drinking. It looks to me like you have it going your way on the driver side. Keep it up! I didn't touch my cab today or rust just golf clubs

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

I hear you Mark, these old rust buckets will drive you to drinking. It looks to me like you have it going your way on the driver side. Keep it up! I didn't touch my cab today or rust just golf clubs

Thanks Mike...


It was a good day for golf.. or just about anything outside.. I was tempted to take the cover off the boat and go for a little boat ride.. I still might tomorrow...

[mud.man.rj]

Nice work Crash, loking good, body work does suck though doesn't it, so slow just a picking away and picking away, sure cool to get a part over and see the difference on the old rusty parts to new.

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by mud.man.rj

Nice work Crash, loking good, body work does suck though doesn't it, so slow just a picking away and picking away, sure cool to get a part over and see the difference on the old rusty parts to new.

Thanks mud.man.. You are right about it being cool to see the rust go away and new metal in its place.

[notsolo]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

Thanks Mike...


It was a good day for golf.. or just about anything outside.. I was tempted to take the cover off the boat and go for a little boat ride.. I still might tomorrow...

Hey Mark The truck will be waiting for your attention when you get back, a little R&R is always good. body work looks great, will look better with paint... have you picked color scheme.

[BeefyJoeDirt]

I have been following your build and am in the process of doing the exact same thing. The only difference is I am using a 67' cab with a small back window, but have a 1972 frame cut down from long to short and am replacing the same sheet metal. I started with the sheet metal first because I hate it so much. I wanted to leave the fun stuff until last so I didn't get burned out or bitter about the project. You are doing great and the LMC panels are hit and miss with fitment. I put up a fight with the driver side inner rocker for hours last night and am still not happy with it yet. Keep up the inspiration man!

I wish I could find the bottom 3 inches of toeboard like you cut out of your other cab. I have the same rot there, but dont have a good spare cab to steal from. I wish they sold they section as a patch instead of the entire firewall. I dont need 300 bucks worth of sheet metal!

[mjensen]

Your progress is awesome! I love the detailed photos.

[Crash_OK]

Originally Posted by BeefyJoeDirt

I have been following your build and am in the process of doing the exact same thing. The only difference is I am using a 67' cab with a small back window, but have a 1972 frame cut down from long to short and am replacing the same sheet metal. I started with the sheet metal first because I hate it so much. I wanted to leave the fun stuff until last so I didn't get burned out or bitter about the project. You are doing great and the LMC panels are hit and miss with fitment. I put up a fight with the driver side inner rocker for hours last night and am still not happy with it yet. Keep up the inspiration man!

I wish I could find the bottom 3 inches of toeboard like you cut out of your other cab. I have the same rot there, but dont have a good spare cab to steal from. I wish they sold they section as a patch instead of the entire firewall. I dont need 300 bucks worth of sheet metal!

Thanks BeefyJoeDirt.. I feel your pain with getting some of this to fit.. But I have to admit that I am feeling better about the way things are working out.

I agree with you on the patch panel I wish they had more to choose from.. I really hated to cut up the other cab like I did.. I could have repaired it about as easy as the one I working on.. But I am sure it will be used to fix other cabs... I think McBassin may use the drip rails for a cab he has..

Good luck with your build..

[VA72C10]

nice progress on the rust repair!!!