I looked thru the archives and did not get my question answered. I have tried the body work section with no success. This is not a want add. My question is; has anyone put on an entire roof on a crew, super or reg cab for the 73 to 79 trucks?? I have a crew with quite a bit of rust along the drip rail Rest of cab is super.

If you did can you give the do's and dont's.

Since I do not want my keyboard slapped for asking what I asked in a prior post, I will ask that question in PJB.

 

I am not an body man expert, so don't take what I say for gospel. Finding a replacement crew cab roof is not going to happen, so don't worry about that. If I was going to undertake a project like this, the first thing I would do is strip the inside of the cab completely. I would go to a junkyard and buy roofs off of 2 reg. cab trucks. Before I would get the grinder and torch out I would carefully measuer the inside dimensions of the cab so if something moves when you start cutting, you have numbers to help you put the cab back where it should be. Get at least 20 measurements (measure carefully) document where you measured from, make reference marks where you measuered to.

I would take a grinder and go see how far back the cancer goes. measure so that the replacement piece overlaps the good metal a 'lil ways. (say 1/2" or more)cut out one bad section at a time (over each door) only as far as you need too, and weld in the new sections, using short welds, 1/2" at a time. Hopefully you can get the rear drip rails to somehow be made worked with the second roof (dont ask how, I couldn't tell ya without actually figurin it out myself)

The reason why I say you need to do all of this measuring, and also only do one part at a time is because if you cut too much out at once, and have no reference measurements, the cab might tweak itself, and your doors and windows might not seal properly. As far as the actual method of securing the new sheetmetal, there is more work involved than what I have time to detail, more research on you part is needed. More food for thought, it might be more cost effective to go to a shop and have them do the repairs, or at least have them explain to you a better, and probably the proper way of doing this enormous task. Anyways, good luck, you will need it.

Tony

'77 F250, 4X4 460 transplantee, "Flamer"
'74 F250. 460, "beater" now "1 dead ford"
'73 F250, "midnight auto" now a trailer for the flamer


Ya know what really sucks??? I found a crew cab truck at the junkyard last weekend, however it was a pre '73 (CA=little to no rust):*

 

I've got a neighbor selling a 1978/1979 crewcab. (2wd/351M/c-6, red) It's a rust free southwest(New Mexico) truck. Let me know if you are interested. I am looking for some interior parts for my 1975 crewcab. Maybe we can work out a deal.

 

I really don't need the whole truck. Just a roof. Unless I would find the whole vehicle cheap enough. Thanks for the post though.