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03-18-2018, 06:27 PM | #1 |
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Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
It's been a while since I have been on here,and I did a brief search,maybe not enough effort on my part.Has anyone on here posted a build or seen a decent article that involved widening the cab of a '47 to '54? I have a '53 GMC I am preparing to put the sawzall to it.
In brief,this build will be for a custom everyday work truck,with a lot going on all over it. 2 ton cab on late model 3500 chassis,LS engine,Service Body,racks, and a fabricated sleeper-type cab extension for a passenger and tool storage.I have been planning for a while and am looking at 2000 man hours to put in for it,no delusions. Anyhow,a wider cab,in the 8 to 10 inch range will solve a bunch of problems and cause a bunch,like glass,hood,grille,etc...but I think I will regret not doing it,with all the other stuff being done. So does anyone have some good info on this? |
03-18-2018, 06:46 PM | #2 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
trying to widen a cab is gonna cause a lot of issues..some you've already pointed out....LOTS of fab work...you stated 2t cab...all the AD cabs from 1/2t-2t are basically the same..they all have the same dimensions ..all the ADs over 1t have wider fenders,hoods that are also longer and taller and larger wheel openings......there are several very nice stretched cab AD builds on here..not saying it cant be done....
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Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver |
03-18-2018, 06:48 PM | #3 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
heres a video of one that's been widened....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GowJeGcf_Kk
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Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver |
03-18-2018, 07:29 PM | #4 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
Thanks,the video was some help.This will not be a rat build,BTW. I plan to run 22.5s up front with 9r22.5s and stockish size 3500 tires in the rear,with a fender skirt to cover most of the wheel in the back anyhow.Dual rear.
I may give the cab some depth while I am at it.But not doing a crew...it's not a people mover. |
03-18-2018, 07:34 PM | #5 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
I wasn't really meaning build a ratrod...but that's the only widened cab I could think of...
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Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver |
03-18-2018, 07:55 PM | #6 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
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03-18-2018, 08:05 PM | #7 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
Hope you’re a helluva experience fabricator.
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'55 Big Window Shortbed, Drive-It-&-Work-On-It slid down the "slippery slope" to a Frame-Off Rodstoration! LQ4/4l85e/C4 IFS/Mustang 8.8 rearend w/3.73's Dan's '55 Big Window "Build" - Well, Kinda! |
03-18-2018, 08:16 PM | #8 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
Pretty decent.Very lucky to have grown up with and be nearby to friends and some family that are first class level for a living.As long as I take the the lead and bust it as hard as I can,I will get the help from them when I need it.It's not getting farmed out.
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03-18-2018, 11:22 PM | #9 | |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
Quote:
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'55 Big Window Shortbed, Drive-It-&-Work-On-It slid down the "slippery slope" to a Frame-Off Rodstoration! LQ4/4l85e/C4 IFS/Mustang 8.8 rearend w/3.73's Dan's '55 Big Window "Build" - Well, Kinda! |
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03-18-2018, 10:44 PM | #10 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
There is a really nice widened cab short box in this area that I see once in a while in good weather but I have never managed to get photos of it. It isn't widened that much though.
If it were me I'd cut a strip out of the middle of the cab just wide enough to get away from the obvious center points of the cab and then cut strips out of a donor cab that width plus the added widening. That would leave the center area of cab's peaks and points alone. That I would do down to the seam on the firewall and I would make a new center section to replace the old one maybe using a wheelbarrow that was the right size.
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Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. |
03-19-2018, 01:53 PM | #11 | |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
Quote:
though my truk does have a lot of custom modifications mostly bed and interior i'd say your off by a factor of 2 or 3 my painter is widening and lengthening a 65 dodge truck to fit a v10 dodge srt truck frame he's using all the srt frame wheelbase, firewall, dash and wiring 8'' wider, longer hood & fenders, 5'' door stretch, longer bed, all wheel opening adjusted for the srt frame this is being done for a paying customer, will probably be a $400k+ bill by the time he is done
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03-19-2018, 06:07 PM | #12 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
What is the purpose of widening the cab?
AD trucks have compound bends in their roof , hood, etc... Seems like it would very tough to mimic. If you are using a 2 ton cab, why not use front sheet from a commercial truck? If it still isn't wide enough, there are more than a few out there that have widened the front fenders on AD trucks. |
03-19-2018, 08:37 PM | #13 | |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
Quote:
The wide cab does a few things.Engine fits ,steering fits,hydroboost has room,more interior options and seat,and so on.Makes an easier transition to the wider body and equipment behind it,etc. Maybe the fenders stay intact. If you are saying there would be easier options to attain a "Cool Factor",no doubt. |
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03-19-2018, 09:03 PM | #14 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
if your intent on widening a truck you might check some of the later yr models...most of those cabs are a little wider from the start....but would also be easier to widen as the bodies are not as complexly shaped as the ADs are..
but I luv my ADs
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Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver |
03-19-2018, 09:35 PM | #15 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
if you are stuck on an AD cab, what about using the roof from another truck and make it fit? seen it done with an older ford I think. used the ribbed roof skin from an astro van. maybe not the look you are going for though since the roof on the AD is not really flat anywhere.
the nice thing is that the windows are split so it makes that part pretty easy since the glass is flat to start with. maybe get yourself an english wheel and practice a lot. check out some of the metal fab stuff by Lazze online, he has built some incredible stuff, like an old willy's coupe from scratch. he also offers classes. when it comes to roofs you gotta be slow or it will warp. I am sure you know that though. do you have the truck already? post up some pics of what you have. are you looking at a fully painted and smooth daily driver if not the rat rod look? |
03-20-2018, 10:10 PM | #16 | |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
Quote:
You get that little fever for something,well,what can you do. |
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03-19-2018, 08:18 PM | #17 | |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
Quote:
Very good post.I would say you are right in there.My brain was telling me to type another number...if I had I would have been too sick to my stomach to press the Post Button. Good reminder for me to pick and choose my battles.Hours are hours and they don't fall off trees. |
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03-20-2018, 09:25 AM | #18 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
Don't want to poo poo on your idea, but this cab has plenty of room. It's riding on a 1 ton Dodge chassis.
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03-20-2018, 10:24 PM | #19 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
There's something about those types of projects,and the giant Medium Duty crew cabs with pickup beds that makes me uneasy.I guess if someone drove a Mack for 40 years and retired and wanted a B-model pickup,I would support it.
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03-20-2018, 12:40 PM | #20 | |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
^^^ very cool truck whitedog (and the correct color)
Quote:
though i do think it would make a good work truck with the cab as is i understand the spoiled part, i've driven mostly apache's since the 70s i bought my 09 gmc extended cab, 8 foot bed new, it rides like a cadillac compared to the old 38 panel truck
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cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer |
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03-20-2018, 03:40 PM | #21 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
For my own purposes. I measured the interior room of my 54 cab. At shoulder height, I got 56. I also measured the same area in my F150, where I got 60"
Granted there are some different designs in the cab layout, doors, etc... Of course it's 50+ years of engineering and creature comforts at work. I've seen a few trucks with extended cabs, extended doors, etc... I get it. I even had a conversation on pushing the firewall/toeboard area into the engine compartment recently. I'm still not seeing the cab widening as viable. |
03-20-2018, 05:44 PM | #22 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
if you are thinking of widening 10 inches, lay down some masking tape and draw a line to extend the front window glass towards the center about 5 inches and see how close to the vent etc you come. that will be your windshield center point. realize the roof/firewall top area will need to be longer to accomodate that much more glass there. otherwise the angle of the windows, from outboard edge to inboard edge, will need to be changed to keep the center point where it is now, before widening. you will need to stretch the dash as well but that is not that big of a deal to add 10 inches in the middle, floor same, firewall same and maybe gonna need to modify that anyway for the engine combo, rear cab wall need to be stretched as well but the glass is flat too I think. some creative sheet metal work like the rest. honestly, it's gonna be a lot of work. make sure the rest of the cab warrants the work first. usually rusty around the front fender rear lower area and then the floors and cab corners.
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03-20-2018, 07:34 PM | #23 |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
He can keep the center point by doing like I said in post 9 and that is cut a strip out of the center of one cab just wide enough to take out the center point, cut the section out of the other cab with that width plus the amount he wants to widen it. That will most likely eliminate the cowl top vent but the truck will no doubt have AC so that is a moot point.
The glass will still be two straight flat pieces just five inches wider each than the original was. Ir's going to be a bigger exercise in cutting, fitting and rearranging than my chop, section and stretch on my cab will be though.
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Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. |
03-20-2018, 10:36 PM | #24 | |
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Re: Any Cab Widening/Sectioning Builds?
Quote:
I have a cab and nose,in very,very good shape,intact and complete.That's the way I got things,I never saw it on a chassis. |
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