I've come to that part of the build where I can no longer do the work myself and will have to rely on someone with more experience. Meaning it's time for sheet metal work. Went out and got several quotes, and they all came to be about the same. So I am at a standstill till the funds come available. So time to clean up and put it away till later.

Here are a few pics of my cab, more in my garage

 

Looks like you're at a point where you have an excuse to get another toy. A $500. mig welder and sheetmetal cutting tools and you're on the move again.

 

Hey Indy,
What to outsource & what to do yourself? That's a challenge but I would think the cab refurbishing might be the part you do yourself. It's hours & hours of work that at say $50/hr shop rate can run into serious cash quickly. My cab had rotted cab corners & the floor was totally gone in places - that's a lot of hours of grinding & cleaning & welding. Winter is coming on what else are you going to do out there. If you just start in small places learning - you will get the hang of it quickly. Leave the more complicated or structural stuff for the $50/hr guy but I would guess you could do 85% of it yourself & save a bundle. You can get the replacement cab corners both inner & outer online - those might be the trickiest.

Ben in Austin

 

Try YOU TUBE for bodywork basics. I learned to airbrush from YOU TUBE. Might be worth a try.

 

I've thought about trying to do the work myself, but I want it done right and I want it to last! I plan to keep looking for someone who can do it in exchange for other work. Since I am also a home brewer maybe I can trade some home brew beer for sheet metal work!

 

No one will put more effort into getting it done right than you will.
Hold off delivering the beer until the metal work is done.

 

Hey Indybeer, I am doing, my first truck too and the body work was a little over my thinking as well. But as Raytash said, its time to spend that cash for a mig welder and some other tools and try it yourself. The cost of the tools will be a pile less than having someone else to it and the satisfaction when complete is awesome.
A welder friend of mine really cleared it up for me when he said it's only metal, too short add some more and if too long cut some off, its not like working with wood! Sure you will find some stuff more challenging but even those you can find away to get it done.
The guys here will walk you through the harder stuff you need help with and having these extra tools will always be needed during your build.

I hope you take the step into that unknown, I think you will love it!!!
Good luck.

 

Or do Like I didn;t do with my 51 and find a cab that has almost zero rust, they are out there and while seeming initially expensive they really aren't once you add the time and expense to fixing one. im almost 800 into fixing my 51 cab and it's still not done.

my 52 F6 I found an almost perfect cab with zero rust to swap on, it was a $1500 parts truck but had good 20" lockrings and new rubber all around which made it worthwhile right there. then the ford script stakbed which I really wanted. cab was perfect, and the Flathead V8 ran so I sold it for $650 not to mention all th eother usable/sellable parts.

but sometimes the economics just don't work out on a parts truck too, and or can't find that perfect donor? but ya never know, while your saving your green keep your eyes open for a nice donor??

I wish I had kept this truck. I paid 350 for it and the cab was perfect, My friend wanted it so i kept the flathead and sold him the truck for $250







He was going to make an F100 but ended up selling or trading to his friend and then I seen it up for sale later, for a lot more of course.

good luck
Josh

 

Hey Indy, just start out slowly, clean up and remove the crud and crap. Like the guys above say, get yourself a small welder and some sheet metal. A good little welder and grinder are not too expensive.You'll surprise yourself. When it comes time to take her over to your body working guy you'll have saved yourslf a ton of money. Metal work isn't hard, it just takes patience and you have all winter. Good luck and let us know all about it. Take lots of pictures for us and between all of us on here we can guide you along.

 

Give it a shot? what you got to loose? You plan to have some one fix it right anyways. so why not give it a try?

 

Or buy yourself a TIG welder which is even better for body work, easy to learn and can be used for chassis work too. Just my 2c. John

 

Intimidation stops alot of people, thinking "I can't do that"
If you can drive to work, you are capable of welding. Look on craigslist, I see mig welders all the time! I wish I could upgrade mine as its about as cheap as they get. But it still does the job.
I have been welding for many years, never took a class, just started playing with it. Built my own trailer in 1993 and it has never had any failure.
Don't tell yourself you can't do it, you can!