Thread: 55.2-59 cab rust - is it bad?
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Old 05-09-2024, 11:19 AM   #11
regan56
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Regina Saskatchewan Canada eh!
Posts: 171
Re: cab rust - is it bad?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dsraven View Post
i wouldnt worry about fenders until you get the cab done. do like ogre says, poke around the roof gutter, all the way around, to see if you have any soft spots. blasting the cab will reveal any spots as well. before you go cutting anything apart i suggest to install the doors, if theyre off, and once they fit the cab then brace the door openings on the inside, like an x, and also the front area from door post to door post, then the doors can be removed and tinwork cut off as needed without worry of the cabchanging shape as you fit and weld stuff back on. if the windshield fit well you may also wanna brace the windshield opening just to be sure the windshield fits back in the hole when done repairs. that eyebrow panel is/was available and also comes with the complete roof panel. there are guys here who have replaced the roof and posted pics so you know what you are getting into before you start. I suggest to download a free copy of the 55-59 chevrolet truck factory assembly manual from the trifive site and peruse through that as it will show you where all the spot welds are located and how stuff fits together.
most of thesecabs have the rusty floors and hinge pillars because water gets trapped in the cowl plenum and drains out through the foot vents. the inner cowls have drains at the bottom but it doesn't take much to plug them at the little hole they have at the bottom. leaves, pineneedles, dirt, whatever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsraven View Post
since the cab mounts are connected to the hinge pillars and cab inner steps make sure to check those areas well and look for a floor that is flat on the inside, fore to aft, because bad cab mount supporting sheet metal in the pillar area allows the heavy front section of the cab to sag and the give away is a floor that isn't flat up near the pedal area.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsraven View Post
on one truck I had there was a mouse nest in the eybrow area that extended to cover most of that area. pretty common I guess.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsraven View Post
check kabwe's build as he removed his roof. you can see the inner structures in his pics.
all great stuff..thank you!
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