Ok, so I've got the front end apart on my 56 f100 and start looking at getting the cab ready to get stripped down and soda blasted next week when I notice the few rough spots around the drip rail are very irregular. I bought this truck from a salvage yard in California after seeing pictures and was told the truck was "restored" in the early 80's so the drip rails were solid except for a few small places. After scratching around, my friend who does body work for a living discovered the "restoration" I was told about was nothing more than a bondo and paint to hid the rust job. I have a solid cab as far as the firewall, cab corners, floor, doors and door jams but I need either a complete roof or another SOLID cab and drip rail. Also just for the info LMC, F100 central, mid fifty and just about every other parts dealer doesn't carry drip rail patch panels. The reason is because according to mid fifty the company that use to make the patch panel kits for the drip rails went out of business and all of the inventory they had is gone and on one else is making them.

 

Yep, this is one area of very typical problems, and no easy solutions. Finding another cab is the first best choice, then a cab with a good roof, then constructing fixes to the existing cab.

Is this a small window cab?

Sam

 

Yes, regular window but at this point I'll chop the top off anything 56 with solid drip rails. Anyone want a convertible I'll do the work for free.

 

Finding a good roof cab to part will be lucky.

Sam

 

Yep, got my fingers crossed and working every lead on a good roof.

 

Good luck.

I have a good roof cab truck. Took me 2 yrs to find it, even here in tx.
Not parting it out tho. Even have a title!

Sam

 

I got a few leads right now but most of them are either in the same condition as mine or are 5k+ half finished restorations.

 

Why don't ya just cut the driprail off . I THINK SAM DID THIS. I saw a 54 that had it cot off then they put a 1/4 inch coldroll in the gap and weided it back up. LOOKED DAM GOOD TO ME. I got a 53 that i plan on doing this too.

 

Yeah I mentioned it to my friend about shaving the drip rail to get to the rust but its not the rail that is rusted its the cab above the rail. Shaving it would do nothing but expose the rusted area more which, I thought, would be easier to fix. He said that the best thing is chop a roof of a donor and leave the rail on mine then after he welds the new top on and the goes back with seam filler the rail will help hide any seam.

 

Sounds like he has roof rot too. Not just a drip rail problem

Sam

 

However I've located a donor truck nearby that if I buy may be parting out if things work out. I'll be in touch later in the week so have your list of parts needed and I'll see what we can do to help some people out and try to re coop some cash on this.