fatfenders56-
I would be interested in seeing how you built yours. I will be starting on my next 56 soon and I'd like to build something to rotate the cab when doing the metal work. I was thinking of fabbing something like John Niolons using two engine stands to get the rotation feature. Thanks in advance. Larry

 

I have been thinking and looking all day - I think I will bolt an arm to some extra door hinges I have, and extend that to the rear cab bolts. Then I will take some 1/4 X2 angle and bolt across the inside of the cab, extending out past the door line. I will weld some short lengths of 3/4" pipe to each end of the cross angle iron and make some sort of hanger to slip over the pipes.

I want something that will work on several different cabs so I hope by using bolts and a door hinge I can modify it to fit as needed. I also expect that most cabs will not be rusty at the upper hinge, or the rear cab mount. I considered using the seat bolts as they go into the same bracket the cab mount does on my 59, but I am unsure this is true of older cabs.

I have an extra tall "A" frame I use to lift the engine out of my boat, so I will hang the cab from it. I will just run some chain from the hangers up to a come-along - one on each side - to adjust the height. The cab will rotate inside the hangers.

I will have to brace it from below with something to hold the cab still while I work on it.

 

This thing is kind of hard to explain, but it is so, so simple. I will draw it up, scan it in and post it.

 

Thanks Tim. Let me know when you post it.

 

pictures of ''my rotiss'' in the patch panels section of my gallery. Hope it's as clear to you as it is to me

 

Tim, What happens if you want the other side "up", can you swap the mounts?

 

fatfenders your idea is fine but it seems to be more of a stand I like what jniolon has looks as thou you can put the cab in any position you need

 

Tim-
Is this attached to something that rotates such as an engine stand? I'm not sure I understand the need for the front vertical part with the angles if it doesn't attach to something.

 

Ok, I looked at it again and my previous question is off base. I thought the vertical angled part was to the front of the cab but on looking again it appears it is on the side. Still not sure how it "rotates".

 

Looks to me like it is a stand, and you can rotate it 45 or 90 degrees by hand - just push it over onto the corrisponding angle.

At first I didn't think it would be handy as it didn't rotate around, but then I got to thinking - 45 and 90 are the angles you need, and then it is held solid so you could work without the cab moving around.

I like it.

 

OK, I was trying to make it more complex that it is. Yeah, you just push it to the 45 or 90 degree and do your work. Now it makes sense. Thanks, I couldn't see the forest for the trees.

 

Tim -

When I used to do Tool Design for aerospace stuff, we called that style a "tumble jig". Pretty slick.

 

I hope I have answered everyones questions. As for Ax, I never had occasion to need the other side up, this was mainly for working the bottom of the floors and the roof panel. I don't see why it couldn't be made in a ''u'' shape that would go either direction, or 'legs' could be made detachable and changed side to side. By the way the bottom section had sleeves welded through the tubing so that a dolly wheel could be attached and the cab could be rolled around. There's really no limit to what could be done with detachable parts and a little ingenuity. You guys can run with this now.

 

I have seen a unit similar to Tim's design with curved "runners" sold to roll an entire car on it's side.

 

we went with the angled design solely because of the expense of getting someone to roll the round stock into the right curve