I am making progress on my '52 F3 and hope to have the chassis complete by the end of November...with that said, it's time to assess the body and all that needs to be done. I have 3 major issues and the rest is just dings, etc. First off the farmer that owned it decided to take a sledge to the cab corner to allow the side mounted spare to fit between it and the fender....next, the front wall of the bed was bent forward and rubbed the back of the cab, to the point that it rubbed all the way through in the center, just below the window (near the roll)... last but not least, the roof has some crease marks from someone sitting on top? The floors are solid, lower cab corners are rust free and generally decent condition other than described above. Does anybody have a spare cab that might be a source of a rear cab wall patch and maybe a drivers side upper cab corner? I can repair what I have, but it will require more filler than I would want to use as the metal is stretched or rusted which makes for bodyWORK, not bodyfun.
As always, your advice is always appreciated.
w

 

Post pictures of your problem areas. It'll make it easier for us to see what you need exactly.

Where were you a month ago when I cut up and scrapped a 52 (F2) cab??

 

He's just about as far from you as is possible without crossing water!

Wade, any chance of prettying-up the sledge work so you can carry a spare there? I pity the foo' who has to take a spare down from underneath on the side of the road...

 

Yes, but I could have cut the pieces he needs before scrapping the cab. I did keep the back window opening and the upper visor reinforcement (inside) section since that rots out from rodents.

 

I could have used a couple of those "patch panels" in the pics...let's file that under "a day late and a dollar short"

The left cab corner piece would needs to be about 5" up from the bottom all the way to where the rounded "belt line" is, the back wall is rubbed through at the center indent that is rolled into it...could use all the ribs top to bottom which would make a nice patch.
I wont be ready until Dec. or so...keep an eye out for me.
Thanks,
w

 

I feel confident that I can work most of it out, but the metal was stretched badly, just thought it would be easier to patch in a new panel.

 

Wade, I have a complete cab back from a 52 that may be of benefit for you. PM me for details if you're interested. I know it's a long ways away and shipping may be more than it's worth, but it's here...

 

The stretching could be heat shrunk out rather than filled over since it is in an area that can be easily accessed from the rear. I did a post a while back on how to do a heat shrink, it's not that difficult to do if you have an oxy-acet torch and a decent body hammer and universal dolly. and a large plastic forpedo mallet to bring the dents forwards to see where to shrink. If you want to try it I can walk you through it. not a lot harder than removing the seam shrinkage and/or pillowing you'll likely get from patching it.

 

Thanks guys, my intent is to try to repair the corner area, but the back is going to need a patch as the bed wore a large area thin and then a small area all the way through. I will PM both of you to begin working options..
Thanks again,
w

 

Subscribe!

 

Typical.....just a week ago I took some cab parts to scrap because I thought they were useless and I was tired of tripping over them

 

Shipping is not a problem....I'll have Ross stop by and pick it up, then bring it to Truckstock '15!