Cab supports

[ACK]

The C10 didn't pass its yearly inspection. Most of the items I can fix ... leaky brakes, rusted trailing arms and bed supports, but what has me perplexed is replacing the rusted out cab supports. There's 2 ways I see this, do it right or make it pass – I'm choosing make it pass. That said, I would like to know more about slip on cab supports. Does the cab need to be raised to weld the slip ons? Down the road when I have time to do the cab supports correctly, I'll need to replace a small amount of the floor pans along with the rockers, will the cab need to be raised to accomplish this? Well, times ticking for me, its going to be an exciting 30 days!

[donthekawguy]

If you have a welder you could make your own. Or you can take off the old ones and have a fab shop make some up.

[padresag]

Originally Posted by ACK

The C10 didn't pass its yearly inspection. Most of the items I can fix ... leaky brakes, rusted trailing arms and bed supports, but what has me perplexed is replacing the rusted out cab supports. There's 2 ways I see this, do it right or make it pass – I'm choosing make it pass. That said, I would like to know more about slip on cab supports. Does the cab need to be raised to weld the slip ons? Down the road when I have time to do the cab supports correctly, I'll need to replace a small amount of the floor pans along with the rockers, will the cab need to be raised to accomplish this? Well, times ticking for me, its going to be an exciting 30 days!

unless you are a magician you will have to raise it. might as well fix it properly. your also going to have to replace the insulators and mounting bolts. tomorrow never comes.
ron

[tincan1966]

I've used the OEM style from Top Banana and VERY happy. Good metal gauge and fit real good.

Put the OE style in and be done, the "slip-on" are just a cosmetic cover and don't repair anything. The part they slip around is the actual mounting area where the cushions go-also known as the part that fails/rusts.

Fronts are $16 ea and rears $10 each you won't get a fab shop to make any for that.

Just like Ron said, get new cushions and bolts, too, you'll be much happier with the end result.

[tincan1966]

Added note:
A quote from my old auto body instructor is a good one to remember:

"..why is there NEVER enough time to do it right, but plenty of time to do it OVER?....."

[RANDY COX]

Originally Posted by tincan1966

Added note:
A quote from my old auto body instructor is a good one to remember:

"..why is there NEVER enough time to do it right, but plenty of time to do it OVER?....."

I like that quote...

[LT1 Burb]

The real question is, why the hell is there states doing inspections on 50 year old rigs, time to move.

[ACK]

I don't weld, so I need help gauging the time required to have someone do it for me. Doing just the supports alone, is that an afternoons worth of work? Roughly how long would it take to do floor pans, rockers, and supports ... at least 2 full days?

[dougf]

To do my front right cab support, footwell, floor pan took me probably 30 hours of work. I made sure everything lined up, and slowly ground away metal. Plus I had to fabricate the s channel support that the cab mount bolt goes through, which took a lot of time. I still havent done the rocker panel backing plate and rocker panel. No time now that I work so much. I agree that the top banana parts i bought were great. Good luck!

[61K10]

where are they rusted? at the tips (by the rockers) or at the cab mounting pad? if just the tips you could just use part of the slip-on or fab some to get by the inspection. to replace the whole supports and rockers is no a quick and easy job. good luck.

[padresag]

Originally Posted by LT1 Burb

The real question is, why the hell is there states doing inspections on 50 year old rigs, time to move.

you have to much rust up here they can take it off the road
I guess that they are worried that the cab is not stable
ron

[padresag]

Originally Posted by 61K10

where are they rusted? at the tips (by the rockers) or at the cab mounting pad? if just the tips you could just use part of the slip-on or fab some to get by the inspection. to replace the whole supports and rockers is no a quick and easy job. good luck.

now teach them good things and not bad things, not just fab some to get by inspection
ron

[61K10]

He said he was going to fix right at a later point when he does the rockers.

[ACK]

I'll admit it, I'll try to squeeze quarters from nickels. Think I should approach a local high school vo-tech and see if they can do the rockers, floorpans, and mounts? I'm not looking for free, just trying to save money – d@mn money tree isn't in bloom this time of year.