50 Chevy Rat

zpi28 · Sep 27, 2012

Got my Cab to the house today. Should get it in the shop tomorrow and start stripping it down more. Going to chop this one about 4" and build me a frame with some 2 x 3 tubing, 9" rear, straight axle out front, put my farmall nose on it and some steelies.

zpi28 · Sep 27, 2012

How about some cotton. Its pickin time here in Arkansas.

zpi28 · Sep 29, 2012

Got the cab in the garage. Pulled the windows out, and stripped the firewall. Now got some holes to fill in and smooth out. This cab is in really great shape.

bruno · Sep 30, 2012

Looks like you have a good plan, cab does look in good shape. Just one suggestion...... you might want to shorten the legs on your chair so your head doesn't hit the roof

zpi28 · Sep 30, 2012

bruno said:
Looks like you have a good plan, cab does look in good shape. Just one suggestion...... you might want to shorten the legs on your chair so your head doesn't hit the roof

Thanks , after doing some measuring im going to only chop about 2 1/2" out of this one. I plan on keeping the full back window and taking out the section underneath it. I felt that the chair was sitting a bit high while I was in there pulling the window trim

zpi28 · Sep 30, 2012

Found some goodies in the cab. The heater/Defrost unit is in great shape, only going to clean it up and test the motor. Now time to find some good doors and get some tubing for the frame.

Dirtyrat · Sep 30, 2012

Looks like the start of a good project!

zpi28 · Oct 2, 2012

Getting it ready to chop, looks like it will be 2 7/8" and I can keep the full back glass.

Tim...Ok · Oct 2, 2012

Nice cab..sounds like a cool project..keep the pics coming..

mikec4193 · Oct 2, 2012

Hi ZPI28

Just word of advice...dont chop the top...these cabs look a lot bigger than they actually are...I have been crawling around inside of mine for a couple of winters now and they are a tight fit just the way they are....you go chopping the top and you lose even more space....I am 5'-7" and with 2 aluminum racing bucket seats mounted 5 inches off the floor it is a tight fit in the head area...this is with no padding in the seats at all. I "z"ed the frame to get it lower but left the cab stock. Doing any work inside the cab you will need to be a contortionist too.....I can barely move when I spend an evening inside the 1952 Chevy truck cab that I have.

Just my smelly old 2 cents..thats all.

MikeC

zpi28 · Oct 2, 2012

Its Ok mikec the deed is done. Got the top off cut and started putting it back on. Got to get some more cut off wheels tomorrow, and decided if I want my relief cuts on the back of the cab on top or the bottom. Thinking of putting them on the bottom and bending it into the top then weld it up.
Had a set back today, my 68 C10 brakes decided they would stick on me in my driveway. So thats another job on the list of to do's.

Here is a little trick I did since I was working by myself on this. To hold the front section up I used two short pieces or rebar stuck down in the pillar. I will remove them before doing the final welds. Or maybe not, It would be my mystery rattle while driving.

zpi28 · Oct 6, 2012

Here is the profile of the cab as it will be. I picked up some cutoff wheels and got another welder so I can stitch this back together. I also picked up the title last night, last titled in 1981 what a cool looking title.

lowbudget50 · Oct 6, 2012

Not a big fan of these trucks with chops, but that looks good. Just the right amount

Oldrodder43 · Oct 6, 2012

Everyone is chop happy. BUT, each to his own! You got a great start and a great starting point. Truck looks really nice. perley

jfg455 · Oct 7, 2012

Most people chop rhese way too much. I think you hit it just about right. [P

Bamamav · Oct 7, 2012

zpi28 said:
Here is a little trick I did since I was working by myself on this. To hold the front section up I used two short pieces of rebar stuck down in the pillar. I will remove them before doing the final welds. Or maybe not, It would be my mystery rattle while driving.

Looks like a good safe way to use rebar! [ddd

I've seen pics of old time chops where they put a reinforcing tube inside the post in case the welds broke in a wreck, the top would still be supported in the post.

zpi28 · Oct 7, 2012

I put that in because I was working by myself and it was an extra hand. I took 2 7/8" out of it about the most I could get out and keep the full back window. Thanks for the compliments this is my first chop job and I didnt want to over do it. I chose to do this truck over my 64 because of the windshields. Going to pick up a Hobart Handler 120 from the old man so I can finish the seams up. My craftsman Mig is crap for sheetmetal.

jfg455 · Oct 9, 2012

Bamamav said:
Looks like a good safe way to use rebar! [ddd

Rebar is always used inside support beams![cl

Of course they are usually concrete..........

zpi28 · Oct 10, 2012

Ive started putting the top front back together.

Sam_Fear · Oct 10, 2012

2-7/8" was perfect!

50 Chevy Rat

Help Support Rat Rods Rule:

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Crusty Rusty Old Rat Rodder!

Well-known member

Well-known member

Got Fins?

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Creators of all things awesome

Well-known member

The Hot Rod Cop

Well-known member

Well-known member

The Hot Rod Cop

Well-known member

Brother Rat

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!