cutting out driver side
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
cutting out driver side
I really don't have the people or place to get a whole cab to replace mine. I thought of the idea of finding one that has a real solid rocker panel and using a saw-zall and just cutting out the whole area. Would this be a thing that could work out good? I have yet found a good cab to replace mine all I see are ones that are all smashed up, I have my eyes on one that has a great looking driver side area but the passenger side was hit hard. Then that would cut some costs or new replacement panels.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Niceville, FL.
From what I've seen the best way is to use a tool called a "panel flanger" so you can make lap joints rather than butt joints. That way you cut the area to be repaired a little smaller than the patch panel, flange the hole all the way around, lay the repair panel in place and tack or spot weld. Click: Panel Flange Tool - TP Tools & Equipment to see a manually operated tool.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
I have thoughts of doing the same thing on my truck because of rust. Ya know,
I've come across beautiful cab assemblies in the yards a handful of times, and
sometimes the seats & carpet and everything has already been removed, it'd
have been easy to cut out if I had the proper tools. But I later came across a
Ford-truck-specific junkyard around here, they say they'll cut out whatever pieces
I want for me using a torch. I also look at replacement panels out of the catalogs
since that'd certainly be easier.
For installation, well, I don't have a welder, nor do I know how to weld. I look on
Craig's List occasionally for welders but I'm not really sure of exactly what I want
or need. I'm hoping to take some sort of Beginner-level class from a community
college or something.
Regardless, this hasn't reached a high enough priority for me yet and prolly won't
until next Summer at the earliest. So, let us know if/what you decide on and how
well it works, I'd certainly be interested.
-chris
colorado, usa
I've come across beautiful cab assemblies in the yards a handful of times, and
sometimes the seats & carpet and everything has already been removed, it'd
have been easy to cut out if I had the proper tools. But I later came across a
Ford-truck-specific junkyard around here, they say they'll cut out whatever pieces
I want for me using a torch. I also look at replacement panels out of the catalogs
since that'd certainly be easier.
For installation, well, I don't have a welder, nor do I know how to weld. I look on
Craig's List occasionally for welders but I'm not really sure of exactly what I want
or need. I'm hoping to take some sort of Beginner-level class from a community
college or something.
Regardless, this hasn't reached a high enough priority for me yet and prolly won't
until next Summer at the earliest. So, let us know if/what you decide on and how
well it works, I'd certainly be interested.
-chris
colorado, usa
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,977
Likes: 2,733
From: Virginia
I was going to suggest getting a panel from LMC truck, since I have personally installed two of these, but I can't find it for the 80-86 trucks? Here's the 80-86 truck page, and all they have is the #15. http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fd/full.asp?page=21
That's a pretty lame piece of metal.
The one I installed is on this page, #18. http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fd/full.asp?page=22
You can see this panel covers a lot more, and is what I used on a 89 model. It really adds strength to the cab, and it goes all the way in and butts up against #23. The joint created between #18 and #23 creates the raised lip that the door seal rubber snaps over. On the truck I was working on, there was nothing in this area.
I cannot figure out why this panel is not offered on the earlier trucks. I thought the cabs were mostly the same. If you notice, the front of panel #18 wraps around the front of the cab. If you want to keep this, you have to take the door completely off to install it. I just cut some of the front of the panel off, and it slipped right in. If you could figure out why this panel is not offered, and if it would really work, I would buy it to repair the rocker area.
That's a pretty lame piece of metal.
The one I installed is on this page, #18. http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fd/full.asp?page=22
You can see this panel covers a lot more, and is what I used on a 89 model. It really adds strength to the cab, and it goes all the way in and butts up against #23. The joint created between #18 and #23 creates the raised lip that the door seal rubber snaps over. On the truck I was working on, there was nothing in this area.
I cannot figure out why this panel is not offered on the earlier trucks. I thought the cabs were mostly the same. If you notice, the front of panel #18 wraps around the front of the cab. If you want to keep this, you have to take the door completely off to install it. I just cut some of the front of the panel off, and it slipped right in. If you could figure out why this panel is not offered, and if it would really work, I would buy it to repair the rocker area.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,091
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From: Suffolk, VA USA
Try Raybuck. I've used them and the panels are high quality.
Repair Panels-Ford - 1980-1986 Ford Pickup/Bronco
Repair Panels-Ford - 1980-1986 Ford Pickup/Bronco
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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Likes: 3
From: GANS
I was going to suggest getting a panel from LMC truck, since I have personally installed two of these, but I can't find it for the 80-86 trucks? Here's the 80-86 truck page, and all they have is the #15. http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fd/full.asp?page=21
That's a pretty lame piece of metal.
That's a pretty lame piece of metal.
I accidentally bought an 87+ slip on, and it really didn't fit quite right.
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Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
My first thing to get is the inner and outer floor pan and cab mount, then to get the rocker panel.
Guess I have to buy separate the piece in the back that curves, and also the cab corner.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
The rocker panel for a 80-86 is just a U-shaped piece of channel.
I'll get a pic later on this one.