Skip's 39 Ford PU. How it happened

[Torchie]

Originally Posted by Skip

Spring is in the air.

Yesterday I worked on this little beast. The modified transmission cooling lines for the old radiator were not even close to working for the new radiator. So, a bit of cutting and bending, and unbending got things pointed in the right direction.

One step closer.

Same here Skip. At least for today. Tomorrow colder and rainy.
I haven't been all that enthusiastic about either of my projects lately. I'm hoping that cleaning up the shop will relight the fire......
Keep on keeping on.....

Torchie

[Skip]

Well, since I didn't get the Olds coupe, does this idea look stupid? It is a quickie photochop of one of my cab extension ideas. I have seen sedan back panels on PU conversions, and they don't look terribly terrible. I am thinking more likely having the upper part of the back stay straight up and down instead of tilted forward as in the pic. I also thought about leaving the whole back tilted back and just fill in the gap. Thoughts???

The goal is to gain about 6 or so more inches of currently wasted cab space. It would match the back slope of the seat. I would have to shorten the bed again, but it might just be worth it. I am also thinking about a similar treatment for a 38 Ford RPU bobber, complete with rag top. But that is another build.

[Burgerman]

I like it Skip. That is complex fab work to handle the cab corners and curves. The end result would be awesome. Shorten the bed...no problem.

[Torchie]

How much are you trying to gain, Skip?
Lengthening that cab is do-able but would be easier if you had a donor cab. That triple belt line will be interesting to replicate.
I would go with straightening the back of the cab up. It looks like that could be done all above the belt line.
Is your current seat all the way back to the cab rear wall?
Maybe post up some interior pics.
Plenty of brain power on here to help.

Torchie

[joedoh]

those slots look so great on there.

add a couple inches at the cowl, and kick the footwells out a little deeper. no one will ever notice!

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Torchie

How much are you trying to gain, Skip?
Lengthening that cab is do-able but would be easier if you had a donor cab. That triple belt line will be interesting to replicate.
I would go with straightening the back of the cab up. It looks like that could be done all above the belt line.
Is your current seat all the way back to the cab rear wall?
Maybe post up some interior pics.
Plenty of brain power on here to help.

Torchie

Trying to gain all the room I can.

Yes the seat is as far back as it will go in the current configuration. There is a bit of room behind the seatg at floor level. I think about 6 inches or so. Thus the idea of sloping the back wall. I could sacrifice my other cab and do the door stretch that would be the most work, but it would also be the best looking in the end. The other cab doesn't even have rain gutters any more, its that bad. That is why I plan on tossing the top on it. 302.jpg It's a Suburban 3rd row seat. I'll do some more measuring tomorrow.

I wonder if making the seat a bit higher would help much???

[DozerII]

I think it would be a lot of work but doable for sure. I'm wondering if you could add the 6 inches right at the front edge of the rear of the door opening, taking a straight line up to just above the door then forward to roughly the center of the roof then straight across the the other side. For the roof you could use a donor section from the other cab, and new sheet steel for the new piece behind the door opening with a donor junk of the belt line welded in the proper spot.

[Old Iron]

Extending the rear of the cabs always looks odd to me.
Cutting the cab in half cross ways, extending it with a donor and extending the doors is what appeals to me. my 2 cents
On a vehicle that is getting a new frame, extending the firewall to get leg room is the easiest thing to do.

[Torchie]

Before you go cutting up the cab i would suggest looking at a simpler way. I would look for a different style seat first.
Some thing with a thinner back that could be moved rearward more.
The seat back in my chopped and channeled truck was in a more upright position. To some it may have been uncomfortable but to me it felt right.. I have also seen some of the older truck cabs with the back cushion actually attached to the rear wall of the cab.
Do some mock ups.I used some 2x4 and a piece of 3/4" plywood to get the seat height. I also planned on not having seat springs but a solid padded seat, like a boat cushion.

JMHO.

Torchie

[Skip]

Having seen enough magic done here and elsewhere, I have every faith that stretching the cab can be done. I even have some faith that I can do it. I am just about convinced that I will. But first, I am going to try Torchie's idea and see if I can squeak out a couple more inches going back, up, or thinner (someone suggested bomber seats) before breaking out the surgical tools. This seat folds down, so we'll have to see.


On another note, do y'all know that an MG midget windshield is within a fraction of an inch of being the same width as a 39 Ford PU windshield? (that is measured form outside to outside of the A-pillars) And when sitting on top of said cab, the mounting points for the top bows line up just behind the doors. Furthermore, the back wall of a T-bucket type roadster slopes back to form something of a comfortable seat back. These roadsters all have shorter doors, with more side wall behind the door. I know the windshield looks a lot more modern than the rest of the truck, but I think if one were to put a dummy center bar on it, it would "old it up" quite a bit. And I have all the pieces to do it.

Am I crazy yet?