Unfortunately I had a rollover accident due to a tire blowout (luckily nobody hurt just my truck... ) Anyhow I'd like to keep this truck fairly original and if its possible to save the doors and cab that's what I'd like to do. The cab doesn't have any holes cut in the dash and the cab corners, mounts and floor pan are in decent shape as well. Would it be possible to replace the roof only at the seam above the window and on the windshield supports just above the dash??? I'm also worried that the back wall of the cab near the roof was pulled slightly forward which complicates getting the doors to fit right again. Is this a task that a decent body man can accomplish? I'd like to keep as many original parts as possible but I also want the doors and windshield to line up and seal as they should as well. If you think a roof replacement / realignment is worthwhile or if I should scrap that and replace the whole cab let me know!! Also would anyone have a ballpark idea of a cost estimate for the bodywork? (excluding paint) I have some detailed pictures of the truck and er... damage located at: http://people.aero.und.edu/~aarong/ford.html

I would GREATLY APPRECIATE any help or input!!

Sincerely,
Aaron Griffith


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I'm not a bodyman, but I'd replace the cab. It would be cheaper. That cab would require quite a bit of work and I'd bet you'd pay more to get it fixed that a replacement cab. You'd have to buy one anyway to get a roof section, so save some time and $$ and swap it out.

Barry

 

Frame OK? If its OK, then use this opportunity to do a frame up restoration. Keep as many parts from the old one as possible along the way, get a used cab (may have to travel south and west a piece), put her all back together. That's if you want to have a truck that retains sentimental value. (I know WAY too much about this.) It'll cost ya.

But if the sentimentality could be grafted, transplanted or otherwise forwarded to a different truck, same year etc. then you should really consider that option. Unfortunately, a rebuild after a wreck will always leave you with something less good than the original, that probably costs more than the alternative.

Sorry -- just trying to be honest......

Oh -- I learned to drive in my 65 as well. About 30 years ago. I am now midway through a frame up restore. I wish I had listened to my Dad (still alive and well) and bought a better 65' to start with. I think I could have had the same sentimental relationship to it, when done. As it stands, I will have have a nice looking truck, after about $15k. But the cab corners, supports, floor, door posts, all will be much lower quality than original. Trust me, the guys doing it for me are top notch -- no bondo here. But there is only so much that can be done. Sigh.....

 

Yeah - a good fit on the cab is deffinitly more important than the sentimental value of just the cab section. There are some areas where I might get lucky with a cab in Montana and Idaho in a relatively dry climate, so fingers crossed I can find the same cab style and transplant all the other good parts. A frame up restoration is deffinitly going to be in the works for this truck, It may take quite a while but I"m looking forward to reworking the whole truck. I'm not sure if I"m going for a show stopper but it'll be fun to see it transform into a clean, good looking truck. Thanks for all the info and replies anyway!

-Aaron

 

Hi Aaron,
I am an insurance adjuster by day, so have a lot of experience dealing with stuff like your truck. It's not an easy decision, and honestly would probably be based more on what parts would be available over ease or cost.
Cab floors and mounts like to rust out on these, but then so do the roofs along the edges where the drip rail are. Depending on what you could find would determine which way to go.
Replacing just the roof panel itself isn't that big of a deal, but I'd probably suggest cutting the w/s pillars at the joint and replacing there, and sectioning the roof inside the rear window opening. Not a factory seam there, but it's not hard to do for most body guys and would get rid of some other issues up higher.
Kind of hard to tell from the photos, but are the door window frames damaged also? If they are, those are more difficult to repair and I'd probably say you need doors in that case. If so, the cab as an assy is looking like a better value.
Hoods fit all the years but tend to rust along the front edge, and more often than not are dented all to hell, so aren't as easy to find as you may hope. They are out there though.
Costs: cab replacement is something you could do yourself, book time is probably about 15-25 hours. Doing the roof section is probably 10-15 hours depending on what's needed and where it's cut, but it's a job for a pro. If you do the cab you could probably flip it over, cut out the floorpans and sell them for a few bucks to help you out.
Not an easy decision. With the amount of work that truck needs (hood, cab, doors?, fender repair, still needs a bed) I would suggest starting over with another truck and using yours for parts. A lot less headache (and you already have the stuff to make a six into an eight!). I understand emotional attachment to a vehicle, but usually when that's happened to me the long term result was less than positive. Don't let your heart control your smarts.
Let us know what you decide...

 

Fordman65,

Did you receive eMail I fwd'd comparing your repair problems to top chopping techniques?
Sent it last night. No acknowledgement in my In Box, today yet.

Just wondering......... FBp

 

Well, as far as what I"m going to do with the truck, it sounds like the roof replacement is possible, could turn into a lot of work and a lot of tweaking to get it right, but depending on what kind of cabs etc. I come up with I will consider both options because it sounds doable by a good autobody man. In the mean time I will still be on the lookout for a new cab for a while, I know were there might be some and if I can find a fairly clean cab (and I use that term loosely) I think I"ll take that route. I might have fun learning how to weld patch panels anyway if I have to. I'm hoping to add a good welder to my tool inventory in the future anyway. I guess I just have to explore the options on my end a little more and weigh the pro's and cons. As far as the truck itself is concerened though, I'm deffinitly going to get it back into shape one way or another. The fenders, grill etc are in fairly good condition with only a few minor dings, the hood I might have to replace but I know where I can find one, and the engine / driveline is running and working fine and I've already done a fair amount of work in that area, although I'll probably rework it all in the future anyway - so I deffintily have a good base to start with excluding my cab issues. As far as the bed goes I'd like to find a fleetside bed that will work and could have some fun restoring that, but I'm also considering fabricating a flatbed for it so we'll see where that goes in the future. I'd like to keep it fairly original as far as options, color and look go other than maybe some brake upgrades (dual master cylinder at least) I'm only 23 and this is a project that I plan on working on for years. Budget will be a bit of an issue but since this will be a long running hobby I'll spread that out for as long as it takes. I'm doing this just as much for the fun of working on machinery and metal as I am striving for a great looking, fun to drive "slick 60" even though its likely that will be a little more in the distant future - but time is something I have. Its also a hobby that helps keep my sanity... but if I were trying to use this as a daily driver or I wanted to get it back on the road real soon I'd agree with ddavidv and go look somewhere else and consider parting out the truck. From what I've heard - unless you REALLY have something to start with consider it a huge investment of time and money - often more so than just getting a new or different vehicle. I guess since I learned to drive on this truck and have used it for many years on the farm its something I'd like to hang on too as well, as my love of the farm lifestyle is not an option in the future unfortunately - its a way for me to hold on to the memory I guess. I've also enjoyed the aspect of breathing new life into vehicles since my grandpa restored a 1931 Model A coupe. If you've read this far in my ramblings I'm impressed! But anyway thats my battle plan so far. I'll try to keep everyone updated as things happen though. Thanks for all the postings!

-Aaron

 

Sounds like you could sell the old damaged cab to someone who going "Pro-Steet" As they'd cut the roof pillars anyway. You won't get alot for it but it better then nothing, It might break 1/2 even.

Keep us posted.

44Dwarf

 

If you want.......you could turn it into a '67! There is a free '67 cab listed in the classifieds!