Inner cab Corners true purpose

[thump16]

Kabwe, I was going back to look at your roof replacement build. I admit I was nervous about digging into my truck to make repairs but the more I browsed on the site and the web, I found trucks worse than mine being brought back to life. Now if I can just stop buying stuff. Hope to have the back half ready to tack in by next friday. Only 50 more days until I officially stop working for the Air force then Final retirement in Aug. 20yrs, 11 months and 7 days!!!!!!

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by thump16

Kabwe, I was going back to look at your roof replacement build. I admit I was nervous about digging into my truck to make repairs but the more I browsed on the site and the web, I found trucks worse than mine being brought back to life. Now if I can just stop buying stuff. Hope to have the back half ready to tack in by next friday. Only 50 more days until I officially stop working for the Air force then Final retirement in Aug. 20yrs, 11 months and 7 days!!!!!!

Yeah my truck was a mess but there is no need to be nervous, metal is quite forgiving. You are doing a massive about of work so I understand, but you can do it buddy. BTW my brother is retired Air Force. Congrats on your retirement, I can't wait until I get there time to really work on cars at that point.

Originally Posted by dwcsr

I agree that the top of the corner adds no strength to the corner and should be covered . What I meant was the the bottom where the outer and inner are spot welded together the two make the corner stronger. Much like a box has more sideways strength than a straight piece of paper. But again we don't use these trucks as farm and off road so I don't think a full inner is absolutely necessary.

You can disagree with me and it won't hurt my feelings you do/have done some very nice fab work so I have no argument in you disagreeing with me at all,,,,As long as you agree that I'm right

I will agree that you are right quite often. Is that good enough.lol

[dwcsr]

Good enough.

[NEWFISHER]

Well said BAM
I am now going to make some popcorn

[lynx5653]

My husband and I are both novices trying to build our 58 stepside. We have always loved these trucks and feel fortunate to have found a group of people in this forum who are willing to share their talent and knowledge.

While we may not agree with some of the mods done to the trucks we definitely appreciate the sharing and expertise that this forum is based on. We also have seen a lot of ideas that we are probably going to "borrow".

We understand both sides of the debate of the inner cab corners however we are going to replace ours, just because they were there. (and we need the practice welding !) This truck is being built as a work truck and we would like to protect it from the elements as much as possible. We will be sealing and rustproofing these areas in hopes they will last longer than we do .

We definitely value the opinions of the people on this forum and it is good to know that if we ask a question, we won't be insulted or made to feel that our questions or ideas are ignorant.

It is good to see that respect is shown for all those who have built their vehicle with "blood, sweat, and tears."

NEWFISHER, would you please pass the popcorn?
Gail & David

[Kabwe]

lynx5653,

I'm sorry, I should have said I respect any guy or woman who builds a car or truck. As a guy who has a wife who could care less about turning a wrench I have to remember there are women who can work on cars with the best of us.

[GMtrucknut!!]

I have nothing against stocked, modified, kustom or whatever I'm just a carnut. I may not have the same taste as some of the people on the forum but I respect any guy who has the talent or desire to build a ride at home in his garage

I have to agree and considering the quality of work I have seen in your build ,your opinion in valuable in my book !

[dicer]

I'm not trying to insult anyone or knock the great work many here have done. Until every part on these old trucks is repoped, I'm just trying to convince people to save the rare parts. I'm not saying don't do a mod, I'm saying get something already goofed up to mod on. I am working on a 59 cab now, when weather and time from work permits, doing the inner cab corner replacement is a huge pain. I can understand the logic why some want to avoid it. My only reason for comment was when someone said an article in a magazine said it has no reason to be there. Yes it does, believe me GM would cut corners (no pun intended) any place they could. They saw a reason for those inner corners, and they did cut a major corner in not sealing or painting in areas that should have been. Then they had some advertizements showing a man with a mask spraying a rust preventative into doors etc. Lots of false advertizement.

My comment about the inner roof panel, meant to have it removed so you had access to the upper panel to make sure there would be no rusting. I have seen many rusted above the windshield, and even through the inner panel in the same area. Any hidden or double panels in any old car or truck are potential rust through areas. Eastwood sells a special rust preventative spray that could be used to help prevent it.

[Kabwe]

Dicer,

First, I just wanted to say thanks for the civil response. I really like to believe that we can disagree and still be civil to each other. IMO there is nothing wrong with a civil debate. I have learned from debates because someone may give me another way of looking at things. So I welcome civil debates.

You must understand that people buy nice trucks to mod also. Why? because there are a lot of people who can't or don't want to do the intense sheetmetal work but yet they like modified rides. Have you seen the prices that body shops are charging these days? Man its ridiculous. To some a modified ride is just improving the handling by installing IFS, and maybe a newer engine and trans. That's it everything else they want stock. Now if they buy a truck that needs a lot of work that they can't do or have the time learn. The body shop will get them.lol Really stick it to them. Their best bet is to buy a nice truck to began with. Its the best platform to start with. I'm sure a lot of guys on the forum will be the first to tell you that had they known the shape their trucks were in they would have just bought nicer trucks to begin with. I can't find fault in that. Its a lot of work replacing and repairing these panels.

I fully understand how much work it is. I have replaced my inner cab corners, outer cab corners, floors, steps, roof, and almost everything else before I could even start to think of mods I wanted to do.lol Let me tell you I wish I could have had a better truck to start with because if I did I would be a lot further along now.

As far as sheetmetal for these trucks they repop almost everything, you can build a truck from a catalog if you have that kind money. They sale everything from complete cabs to fully modified frames. But I must also point out from my experience I prefer the original metal. The aftermarket panels I've had experience with left much to be desired (fenders). The metal seems thinner but it could also be the fact that its not the quality of steel that the US used back in the day. There may be some nice aftermarket front fenders out there but the ones I had were horrible I ended up using them as patch panels.

All I'm saying is we all want nice trucks that we can be proud of and there is room for everyone and every style on this site. I think this is the most open minded site on the net and I like it that way. We all have something to share. Plus you got to also remember that be they stocked or modified a lot of these trucks have be saved from the crusher. IMO that is a great thing.

[dicer]

I know what you mean about some of the repop stuff. I got a driverside step awhile back and it wasn't even close to the factory one. I think it was a counter part or something like that. I took it back and got both R and L side made by dynacorn, and they even had the little brace at the rocker panel area towards the front. I didn't check thickness on them yet for gage, but I know some of the other parts I got were right on as far as thickness. Most likely they too were dynacorn. Also I need to mention the dynacorn steps had much better sharper looking ribbing on the step portion. I just wish if anyother out fit is going to repop, that they would do a better job making it like original. Dynacorn is not perfect and could also use improvement, I figure since they make a full new steel cab, that they must have their act more together than the other bunch. Oh and good point about the crusher.

Wow, you really did do a bunch of work on your truck. Does that new roof panel have the sill for the windshield all ready on it, meaning the full deal all the way to the end of the pinch weld?
The thing about your cab, since it was so messed up as far as rust, it was a good candidate for all the mods you did, and yeah I understand where your comming from starting with a better truck. You do good work, and I like the dash board mods, and actually some day I would like to do a modded truck, I know I said I wouldn't but I do agree there is lots of room for improvement on these trucks the floors and seat attachements are not very strong, rest of the cab not very crash resistant. For a driver I feel the most important mod is the brake system, single to dual. A good mod that no one ever thinks about would be a hidden roll cage with in the structure yeah that would be difficult, but a super safe vehicle would be nice.

[thump16]

The only problem I honestly have is that somedays I am in love with the small window builds and other days its big window heaven. I am so confused!!!!!! Thanks for the input everybody. Just know, I will be picking your brains...well actually gawking over your builds. It's what I do. As I said before, this is gonna be the truck me and my baby girl cruise in on the weekends.

[Kabwe]

Dicer,

I know the repop fenders I had were counter parts so I think you are correct about the dynacorn being better. I read a discussion somewhere on that net that also said to try dynacorn but I was so disappointed in the fitment of those repop fenders I just said the heck with it I will try to save every factory piece no matter how much work it is.lol

As far the the roof panel. Yes it has the complete eyebrow area that you pinch weld and it also has the top drip rail area that sits inside the cab drip rail that you pinch weld to the roof section. Its not perfect but you can make it work with a little effort just like you would any other patch panel. We may complain about patch panel but they are a god sent.lol They give us something to work with.

thump16

The big window debate is the same as the 55-57 Belair sport coupe (no post) vs the 55-57 Sedan (post) argument. It will never end. Personally I'm a big window guy its the only reason I tried so hard to save my cab. Now saying that there are some awesome small window truck out there. Cal58GMC's truck comes to mind. Have you checked out Chevyrestroguy's truck? Awesome work and ideas and its very different. Jimm56 has a nice small window. IMO its what you do with what you got to work with. If you think its worth the effort to make you cab a big window, I think you should do it because you will be riding around regretting that you did not do it when you had the chance. Its your dream buddy so go for it and do it the way you really want to do it.

[G&R's57GMC]

I have 2 small window TF's and 1 Cameo.

I have driven the small window trucks any time during the day.
The one time I drove the Cameo mid day heading with the sun to my back I was surprised at the burning sensation on the back of my head, I never had that with the small window trucks. I'll be tinting the big back window with limo tint.

A few years ago we were traveling with a friend who has a Cameo and a teardrop trailer we could see him in his truck as he was being light up by the sun reflecting of his teardrop. Did I mention we were headed east to Flagstaff,AZ on Rt 66 and it was 125*. His Vintage Air a/c couldn't keep up with the heat load, He was melting.

When we got to Flagstaff I found a glass shop that could limo tint his back window without making any cuts and in the time it took us to go out for breakfast. The kid who did it was amazing, fast, one piece and cheep. To bad he's not there anymore. It would've been worth the trip to do my Cameo. His a/c had no problem keeping up with heat from then on.

[G&R's57GMC]

Here's his Cameo with limo tint back window. He did a dark blue instead of red on his '55 for the trim. Pay no attention to the man behind the truck

[Kabwe]

G&R's57GMC,

You did not know about the back of the neck burn of the big window trucks?lol Well the urban legend is true, the cost of the big window looking so good is a neck burn.lol

BTW. That is one beautiful Cameo. That is another thing I wish I had.

[dicer]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

G&R's57GMC,

You did not know about the back of the neck burn of the big window trucks?lol Well the urban legend is true, the cost of the big window looking so good is a neck burn.lol

BTW. That is one beautiful Cameo. That is another thing I wish I had.

You can get repop parts to build a cameo rear end. Just won't have the correct s/n / vin, still would be a cameo look though. Need a short frame.

http://usbody.com/
find the 55 - 59 trucks and scroll down and find the cameo bed sides

Theres no reason not to have a cameo for us all now.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=32
Heres the steel inner bed sides on right side of page.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by dicer

You can get repop parts to build a cameo rear end. Just won't have the correct s/n / vin, still would be a cameo look though. Need a short frame.

http://usbody.com/
find the 55 - 59 trucks and scroll down and find the cameo bed sides

Theres no reason not to have a cameo for us all now.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=32
Heres the steel inner bed sides on right side of page.

Yeah I know but man that is expensive, plus I can tell the difference by look of the rear bumbers. Here is a pic of a guy I know cameo (well its a factory cameo bed on it).


See the chrome bumper pieces? The last I've heard they do not repop those and the new aftermarket cameo beds I've seen don't have them either. To me its just kicks that bed up a notch.lol

This is the aftermarket bed. The ones I've seen are like this and have a very plain look about them. The chrome accent pieces are very hard to find and cost a lot when you do find them. The first pic I posted the guy was able to find the complete factory bed with all the trim many years ago and he just sold his step side bed and put the cameo on.

[Kabwe]

Thump16,

I hope you don't mind that your thread has become a general body parts discussion page.lol It still may help some people who are considering repop parts, big window vs. small, and aftermarket cameo bed parts.

[dicer]

Carter trucks also has all you need to make a cameo. At least in their parts book thats a few years old.

[thump16]

I dont mind.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Just curious - How do the Cameo fiberglas sides attach to the standard short bed sides? Is it bonding or are there bolts? Honestly, I've never looked at a Cameo up close.

I like them when they're in "hotrod" mode like the one Bam posted, but I'm only so-so about totally stock ones. Whew, $1500 IS pricey....I guess, though a used Cameo in any kind of shape will cost you at least that much more than a similar standard shortbed.

PS: I wonder if that spray-on chrome would work on fiberglas to make the Cameo bumper ends & guards look stock? NOT the spray paint, the higher tech spray-on chrome.

[G&R's57GMC]

The factory bolts the fenders onto the top rail through a chrome strip. The lower sides or bracketed to the bed, the rear of the panel is bolted to the stake pocket and the front of the fender is bolted to a filler panel that is bolted to the front of the bed.

If your doing a custom with after market parts bonding to the bed would be a clean way to do it.

You could send the fiberglass bumper to Paul's Chrome and have it Chrome Plated. http://www.paulschrome.com