How much labor to change a cab???

[sailor2000]

My Deuce sheet metal has rusted out where the cowl in front of the windshield meets the windshield support... and also has rust in the 4 corners of the cab at the bottom... so.. I ma faced with a bunch of cutting and welding (off the frame to get it 'right'...) or just replace the cab with one that has less rust... yes.. I know 'worthless without pics'...

I would need to pull the dash anyway to do the cowl re-weld right... so what is the best plan... buy a non running Deuce with a good cab and strip it or do all the bodywork?? Ideas please???

 

[Recovry4x4]

I woud effect a cab change. You will be dollars and hours ahead of the game doing it that way. I'm about to get started on one myself.

 

[Blythewoodjoe]

Change the cab. I have changed one and it wasn't too bad. I have a track-hoe to do the lifting with though.

 

[clinto]

Cab swap

 

[BFR]

how to remove the old one
http://steelsoldiers.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=65436#65436

 

[hndrsonj]

I did mine in less than 4 hours and 2 cases with 3 others!

 

[Blythewoodjoe]

Now that I think about it the only thing that was a pain for me was the steering column. I removed the steering wheel and lifted the cab up and back. I couldn't get the steering box stuff loose. Of course I had no bed on the truck so the rearward movement was possible.

 

[JDToumanian]

I'm with the group on this one, too... Give it the heave-ho. Finding a cab at a wrecking yard should be easy with so many good trucks going to scrap these days.

Jon

 

[sailor2000]

I'm with the group on this one, too... Give it the heave-ho. Finding a cab at a wrecking yard should be easy with so many good trucks going to scrap these days.

Jon

Well... that begs the question... anyone know of a yard full of M35 parts somewhere near South East Texas?

 

[halftrack]

Theres one near Tyler texas. Some old Marine vet who ones a scrap yard and has about 100 trucks. I'll get the number for ya. Sorry it is not closer though.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Speaking of cab changes, I'm just getting underway on doing a cab resto then swap. Here are a few pics. The cab was already half stripped before the camera came out. This cab will be going on the M108 crane deuce.

 

[Recovry4x4]

0ne more thing, have a close look under the dash for rust at the cowl. I'll post pics in the am

 

[gimpyrobb]

Is it morning yet?

 

[Recovry4x4]

I don't know if it's still morning but its still AM wisecracker! Here are some pics looking under the cowl area. As a point of reference, the cab is laying on the drivers side. My plan is to sandblast all the flake off and coat with POR15. I have a pint that I've had for years, hope its still good. You will find that there are alot of little problem areas on these cabs just by virtue of design. Glad I caught this or I woudln't have been happy in a couple of years.

 

[ken]

We swaped my 52's cab at the museum in about 4 hours last year. I replaced the wiring harness so i wasen't to worrined about hacking the old one. It's alot easier than it looks. The only slow down is the 40 year old fine threaded rusted bolts. But air tools made short work of that.

 

[sailor2000]

Looks like I need to find a 'Good' cab....

 

[littlebob]

I don't know how much time it would take if you had the right equipment and motivated to just do that as one project. Mine is kind of a labor of love that gets interupted by weather, soccer games, Young marines and work. I unbolted my bed and then jacked up each side to put a couple of 2" pipe to be able to roll it back to make enough clearance . I will try to post pictures. I have more pictures but will try and keep it short here. I am still working on hooking up all of the air and electrical stuff. If you do it make sure you take detailed pictures of where everything goes. I have found lots of info in the TM's, but a picture is worth a thousand words and it takes me hours to find what I'm looking for in the
TM's. PM me if you have any questions.
littlebob

 

[kcimb]

I don't know how much time it would take if you had the right equipment and motivated to just do that as one project. Mine is kind of a labor of love that gets interupted by weather, soccer games, Young marines and work. I unbolted my bed and then jacked up each side to put a couple of 2" pipe to be able to roll it back to make enough clearance . I will try to post pictures. I have more pictures but will try and keep it short here. I am still working on hooking up all of the air and electrical stuff. If you do it make sure you take detailed pictures of where everything goes. I have found lots of info in the TM's, but a picture is worth a thousand words and it takes me hours to find what I'm looking for in the
TM's. PM me if you have any questions.
littlebob

Hey Bob,

Truck looks GREAT!