Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

This is one of my new projects itbelongs to "extd56" one of the board members. I will be doing all the panel and rust removal as well as a full build up. extd56's plans for it are to fix all the rust(3 rockers and inner panels, both kick panels,cab corners and as of last night the passenger side winshield post and both passenger side doors. Then shorten the frame 12" (it is a long bed now) but leave the rear stock behind the rear wheels. Once this is done I will shorten the bed to fit and install a 91 burb 42gal gass tank under the rear and add a gass filler door to the passenger bed side. Next is to install a 91 TBI 454, AOD and T-case, 4" lift and 35" tires. Also I will be rewiring the truck with a painless harness, doing body work, smoothing the fire wall, paint the inside, door jambs and inner doors and the fire wall. If things stay the same the out side will be orange with a white top and burb trim around the cab just below the windows.

I will be posting pic's as I go and try and explane things as I go or as questions are asked. I will not get to all of them just because time is short and I am building this truck after a full days work. I will also be doing small jobs for others as they come up and inbetween steps on this project.

Just a quick note on this truck. It started out as a Suburban that was chopped behind the third door and a truck cab was grafted on the back. Who ever did the work originaly did it right and used the tops of the truck doors instead of leaving the square tops that so many people do when trying to build a truck like this. The top skin was cut off and laid back down an inch or so lower to get rid of the high roof on the stock burbs. Then it was placed on an 80's crew cab long bed frame and adjusted to fit. ight now it has a 350/350 combo with a T-case on the back.

First task will be the drivers side rocker..

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Well all the parts are now here or at extd56's house so it is time to get started. First order of buisness is the rockers and cab corners. Tonight I started with the drivers side rocker, inner rocker panel, kick panel and "A" post bottom removal. This week end I plan on cutting out all the rust , treat the affected areas and replace all that was removed (minus the pile or rust) and prime. Then maybe start on the other side. I hope you all enjoy the build!

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

The fun begains!!

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Holy crap what a mess. It's good to see you at it again. Post some pics of the truck so we can see it....:)

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Looks familiar! hehe, should be a nice project. Whatever happened to the 67 extended cab? Is she still in the works or done? Thanks for the pics and keep us updated. Jeff.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Get that rust,"outta there!!!"Said like an umpire on the third steerike.It`s going to be nice.Question:why not a standard shortbed?I guess this question is for Extd56.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

The extended cab is on hold for now not knowing of its fate at this time.
Reason for a shoter bed but not a short bed is for two reasons. extd56 likes it as a full on long bed crew cab and I think it should be a shorter than short bed. It is his truck but I guess I wined enought to make him want to shut me up so he is letting me shorten in ftont of the wheels to give it a shorter look but keeping the real long to hide that 42 gal fuel tank. Trust me that tank will take up every bit of that over hang..

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

When I read the title, the first thing that came to mind was Extd56. :)

Are you going to leave it a 3 door or are you going to add a left rear door?

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

That rust looks worse than school lunches........have fun working on the truck.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

:agree:

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Looks like it should turn out really nice keep us posted..

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Yes it will be a bit of work removing and replacing it all:crazy:

Wel I started the morning off finishing the cut away prosses. Then I bent up some inner rocker panels that have a nice return lip for the floor to sit on as well as a small return lip at the bottom to add a bit of rigdity to the rocker. Then it is a matter of clamping it all into place and test fitting it all. Once you are happy with the first round of fitting then I like to use self tapping sheet metal screws to hold it all in place while I test fit the door. Once that is to my liking I remove the door and unscrew it all, clean and paint all the parts with rust prevenative paint/ primer.

Time for lunch then weld away!

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

and

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Looks great. It always amazes me what good body guys can do in a short period of time.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

I really enjoy watching your builds. Gets me motivated to practice my welding and metal skills. I like that trucks look. I'd love to find one like it someday.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Agreed, are you for hire? :lol:

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

One down and two to go:b69:
It is ready for a light skim coat, seam sealer and paint!!

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

One more unexpeted find! I stared to remove paint for the drivers side cab corner replacement and found way more bondo than I expected! The quarter panel is almost 3/4" out past the "door jamb" area. It might be easier to just remove it and fab up a fourth door:crazy: The truck cab's door jamb is still in place and a B post would not be the hardest thing to scratch build, but who knows! I need to dive into my magazine archives and find that 2wd 4 door crew that was built a few years ago. He listed what he did to get a fourth door.

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Funny, I was just talking about the crew cab tonight, and BAMM heres a post. Love the look of the crew cab, keep us posted on the progress.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

I vote for the fourth door. It's nice to have when 3 people are seated in the back. Also it is easier to get a bench seat in. And bolting down the left rear seat bolt to the floor might be difficult unless the sliders move the seat far enough forward. At least in a burb you have all the space to get behind the seat. Nice work. Keep the progress pics coming!

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

so, I am not familar with the 70's pick ups, is that a true crew or is it something someone fabbed up?

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

When a burb and a pick up get in a head on this is what happens! Burb front half of the cab and a truck rear section grafted together.

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

sweetness i wish i could find something like that it be cool to drive

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Nice work!

could you do me a favor and take some pics of the body mounts? Im going to be putting a 70 cab on a 79 frame and would like to see what they did for the body mounts. Thanks

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Just curious Rokcrln, from start to finish on the floor, rocker repair,etc. about how many hours have you got in to it? I'm going to start replacing panels next weekend. I'll be way slower but I'd like an idea.
Thanks.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

The body mounts are removed and re-adjusted for a correct fit. If the frame is the same width all you have to do is re-locate them for the proper cab to body allignment.

From start to finish it was about 10-12hrs.

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Very nice work.

SLIMJIM

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

I will be keeping an eye on this one. I have a spare burb just sitting waiting for a crew cab treatment.

Keep the updates coming!

Aaron

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Well I only spent a few hours working on it today and most of that involved a cut off wheel! Looks like we are heading in the 4th door direction. After looking at options to fix the rear cab corner correctly I ended up cutting off the skin and finding tons more rust. After a bit of looking I think the 4th door will not be as hard as most people think. extd56 is looking for some more parts and we will put to gether a doner list of pieces.

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Kevin, more great work! Thanks for giving us the pics and updates. How do you weld your rockers on? Do you weld around the edges, or do you use pilot holes and fill weld? Thanks, Jeff.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Depends on how bad the structure is to begain with. This one was so bad in the front I welded everything solid for more suport. The rear was plug welded to the jamb and the threashold was also plug welded. If the front had been in good shape and ONLY needed a rocker cover I would just plug/spot weld it. Hope that answers your question.

Kevin

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Looking good man its good to see others repairing stuff correctly instead of just covering rust up with new panels. Nice work man and on that 4th door u should be able to use a left door and just shorten it and use a door post outta truck in the rear and then just fab the center post,but im sure u got that figured out seeing the great work u do. THUMBSUP

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

I've said it before, you do awesome work! Incredible to see how much you get done in such short time.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

That was what I was wondering. I am using plug/spot welding on mine and just wondered if you went the same route. Your welds are so good I can't see them. Mine aren't quite that good.:o Thanks, Jeff.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Awsome work, Kevin! Love to watch a master at work, and still have the time to document so well! Should be awsome when finished. I'll be following closely. Jamie.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

It's funny that I just found this thead. I have been thinking about building myself a 4 door truck like this in the future as a daily driver, and found a suburban just last night, lol. Looks like someone is telling me to do it!. I'd be interested in seeing pics of how/where the rear panel was added on.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Here are a few pictures of the donor truck that I found for the cab parts that Kevin needed.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

:phat:

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

Lookin sweet. Looks like the back window would have been a challenge to roll up and down with all the rust in the roller jam. It will be a head turner when you get it done, no doubt.

Re: Project Penicillin~ 68 crewcab build up!
 

So now if you have to work on Prez day it is double time right:rolleyes:

Looks like I will get to have a busy four day week end!

Kevin