jeli
Member
- 414
- 1
- 18
- Location
- Stillwater, MN
Ever since getting the MV bug I've wanted to do a crewcab. I have four kids so anything I do will be enjoyed more if everyone can participate. My first GL purchase was a new cab tub never put into service. It managed to get caught in both major snow storms last December on it's voyage from California to MN. The rockers and cab corners are banged up but nothing a little bondo won't fix.
I've finally had a plan that seems doable for me. I am not a body man and am not good at finish work so it has to be simple yet end up looking good. I don't want to cut the existing cab because I will for sure screw something up and will end up needing a new cab just to make it original.
The plan:
Cut the second cab at the mark shown in the pic. The widest part of the cab is 70". The cut mark is 62 1/2" I will widen the front and build a 1 1/2" square tube frame for the front of the cab to strengthen it. The other pic shows the reinforcing bars on the back of the cab. A piece of 11 ga sheetmetal will be mounted to the back of the first cab using longer bolts through these holes. The sheetmetal will also be bolted/welded to the 1 1/2" frame in the second cab. The sheetmetal will have a 90 degree bend on the sides with the extra running forward. The edge will end at the edge of the door jamb on the front cab. This will fill in the gap between the cab's. I'm not worried about finishing the metal at these joints. The existing rear cab bracket will stay in place and the second cab firewall fabbed around it. A second cab bracket and rubber bumpers underneath will be needed. I have a hard top which may be used to make a full top. Not sure and I'm not worried about figuring this out. By hanging the cab this way I can leave the front cab intact including the top over the winter. I don't have door for the rear cab so the final work won't get done until next season.
The spare tire carrier can stay but the pioneer kit goes. A sheetmetal step/spare tire cover can be done later. The bed will end up at 8'6" outside dimension. I'm concerned the interaxle tire might hit the cab so next summer's project will also be to push the rear's back 18". Someone did that recently and it will allow for additional clearance, center the tires in relation to the bed, and give me enough room for taller tires some day.
Let me know what you think and if I missed anything.
I've finally had a plan that seems doable for me. I am not a body man and am not good at finish work so it has to be simple yet end up looking good. I don't want to cut the existing cab because I will for sure screw something up and will end up needing a new cab just to make it original.
The plan:
Cut the second cab at the mark shown in the pic. The widest part of the cab is 70". The cut mark is 62 1/2" I will widen the front and build a 1 1/2" square tube frame for the front of the cab to strengthen it. The other pic shows the reinforcing bars on the back of the cab. A piece of 11 ga sheetmetal will be mounted to the back of the first cab using longer bolts through these holes. The sheetmetal will also be bolted/welded to the 1 1/2" frame in the second cab. The sheetmetal will have a 90 degree bend on the sides with the extra running forward. The edge will end at the edge of the door jamb on the front cab. This will fill in the gap between the cab's. I'm not worried about finishing the metal at these joints. The existing rear cab bracket will stay in place and the second cab firewall fabbed around it. A second cab bracket and rubber bumpers underneath will be needed. I have a hard top which may be used to make a full top. Not sure and I'm not worried about figuring this out. By hanging the cab this way I can leave the front cab intact including the top over the winter. I don't have door for the rear cab so the final work won't get done until next season.
The spare tire carrier can stay but the pioneer kit goes. A sheetmetal step/spare tire cover can be done later. The bed will end up at 8'6" outside dimension. I'm concerned the interaxle tire might hit the cab so next summer's project will also be to push the rear's back 18". Someone did that recently and it will allow for additional clearance, center the tires in relation to the bed, and give me enough room for taller tires some day.
Let me know what you think and if I missed anything.
