mattb73lt Posted January 29, 2019 Author Share Posted January 29, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, terry said: love that P/U haven't seen one of those for a long long time!! that one might be a little newer that I was thing of, what year? seems we had some of those in Viet Nam. terry👍👍 good luck on the blaster!! It's a 1968 Kaiser Jeep M715 5/4 (1 1/4) ton. Not quite stock, SBC 350, p/s, p/b, 12 Volts and 4.10 gears (from 5.86 stock). All so it's drivable. It's been getting a good workout helping with the restoration. Edited January 29, 2019 by mattb73lt 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-414388 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted February 5, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 5, 2019 Got the cab back quicker than expected, like less than two days. I was expecting at least a week. No big surprises. Got some primer on it late today, tomorrow I'll start cutting in to the sills for their replacement. 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-414902 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted February 5, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 5, 2019 OMG....What have I done!!!! Final cutting today and the most serious. The cab is where I need it to start the repairs. Sills are carefully cut apart and completely removed. On to working on the new panels to fit and modify them. My framework seems to be doing it's job and nothing seems to have shifted. It'll be a while before I post so there's more significant progress to report. 5 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-414951 Share on other sites More sharing options...
h67st Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 You've got that thing torn apart!! My H67 cab didn't look too bad until I had it blasted and all the bondo was blown out of the rust holes...then it looked a lot like yours. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-414958 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZB755V8 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 That is simply incredible!! The work that has been done and to just start to put it back together now. WOW!! It will be perfect I am sure. Are you keeping track of the hours and cost so far, what is the estimate on the total time and expenses you planned on? My L cab was in great shape to start when I restored it. I had a lot of money, my time and outside labor in it and NO body work was required, You are making a whole new body, just incredible. Is the frame, engine and all else being done to this level as well, it will be priceless!! I am starting to restore an 88 Superliner and almost ashamed to post the project compared to this. Outstanding!!! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-414959 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted February 5, 2019 Author Share Posted February 5, 2019 1 hour ago, AZB755V8 said: That is simply incredible!! The work that has been done and to just start to put it back together now. WOW!! It will be perfect I am sure. Are you keeping track of the hours and cost so far, what is the estimate on the total time and expenses you planned on? My L cab was in great shape to start when I restored it. I had a lot of money, my time and outside labor in it and NO body work was required, You are making a whole new body, just incredible. Is the frame, engine and all else being done to this level as well, it will be priceless!! I am starting to restore an 88 Superliner and almost ashamed to post the project compared to this. Outstanding!!! It's hard to estimate the man hours due to how long I've had it. It's always been a back burner project, as I was about to start my other B just when I found this one. So, I've done and collected what I needed over the years in between other projects. A lot of items are already done and stored, ready for assembly. This is the part I've dreaded, it's just dirty, time consuming work. I have the knowledge and experience to go this deep, just not all the equipment to do it. Fabrication is adding to it's cost, but it would be even higher to buy the equipment for what I see as a one time restoration. The cab has always been the roughest part. The truck was used hard up until, from what I could figure, around 1987 when the engine was removed and it was essentially abandoned outside until I found it in 1998. With that and the typical New England climate, rust has taken it's toll. Almost all of that is gone now, with new panels to go back in or existing ones repaired. It would have been nice to find one from your area, but getting it home would have been cost prohibitive. This style cab is somewhat rare and not easy to find. I saw one for sale up in Canada, but a close look at the photo's it looked like it might need similar work and again the cast of getting it home. This is certainly the most in depth restoration I've attempted and there won't be hardly anything that hasn't been touched. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-414971 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted February 5, 2019 Author Share Posted February 5, 2019 On 2/5/2019 at 4:56 PM, h67st said: You've got that thing torn apart!! My H67 cab didn't look too bad until I had it blasted and all the bondo was blown out of the rust holes...then it looked a lot like yours. Luckily no surprises when I got it back from the blaster. The areas that were slated for replacement opened up a little more, but the rest was solid. And no real bondo, several layers of paint was about it. Now to start putting it back together so it doesn't look like a rolling jigsaw puzzle when I'm done. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-414972 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Horse Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 Matt it will be a show stopper for sure. You should feel good about all the progress you have made. Easy for me to say but I do believe its all downhill from now on. Brooklyn 2021 for sure! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415130 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 On 2/5/2019 at 11:33 PM, mattb73lt said: OMG....What have I done!!!! Final cutting today and the most serious. The cab is where I need it to start the repairs. Sills are carefully cut apart and completely removed. On to working on the new panels to fit and modify them. My framework seems to be doing it's job and nothing seems to have shifted. It'll be a while before I post so there's more significant progress to report. Wow!! Looks much more exciting now! I'm sure you know what you do by my fingers will be kept crossed. What is the plan for that big 3" U-channel at the bottom of the back wall? Are you going to make a new one? Right at the moment I'm waiting for such part from fabrication but that one will be a straight piece. Hope to get it in the shape by cutting-welding-grinding. My new sills (or rockers?) are also in that order. At least I hope the shop folks will be able to bend what I have drawn Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415140 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted February 8, 2019 Author Share Posted February 8, 2019 6 hours ago, Vladislav said: Wow!! Looks much more exciting now! I'm sure you know what you do by my fingers will be kept crossed. What is the plan for that big 3" U-channel at the bottom of the back wall? Are you going to make a new one? Right at the moment I'm waiting for such part from fabrication but that one will be a straight piece. Hope to get it in the shape by cutting-welding-grinding. My new sills (or rockers?) are also in that order. At least I hope the shop folks will be able to bend what I have drawn I had another fabricated locally from a donor I picked up and cut apart for a pattern. Mine was too far gone and broken from the accident. The fabricator did a great job, considering how complex it actually is. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415168 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted February 8, 2019 Author Share Posted February 8, 2019 7 hours ago, Red Horse said: Matt it will be a show stopper for sure. You should feel good about all the progress you have made. Easy for me to say but I do believe its all downhill from now on. Brooklyn 2021 for sure! Thanks, I'm trying to make it my best one yet. I really like the style of this truck. Trying to be patient and get it back together right. I've had to drop it several times and walk away for a breather when I found myself frustrated or rushing/ 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415169 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 Your fabricator made a great job! At least as long as I can see it on my screen. So far I haven't found a shop which could made such 3D curves. The most of them are newly organized small companies with laser cutters and straight bending presses. Good thing they do exist though. Once again, thanks for the reference pics. 1 Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415183 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdog2 Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Did you ever deal with MaGee welding in Oakville Conn. Quote Ed Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415363 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 6 hours ago, blackdog2 said: Did you ever deal with MaGee welding in Oakville Conn. Yes, the aluminum castings were welded there. The guy that did these is close by, MaGee’s is farther away and running back and forth would take too long. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415386 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted February 16, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 16, 2019 Seems like it will all fit together. Finished all the modifications to the right sill/jamb, then test fit it all together along with the new rear floor panels. Lots of assembly/disassembly, test fitting, fitting the old parts back in, seeing if it will all line up. Still a ways to go, but it's getting there. 7 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415883 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Drool, drool, drool ! Are the front mounting areas hard enough to keep them original? Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415936 Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Lots of puzzle pieces but it sure looks like it is going to be better than new!! Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415984 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted February 18, 2019 Author Share Posted February 18, 2019 10 minutes ago, j hancock said: Lots of puzzle pieces but it sure looks like it is going to be better than new!! I'm very optimistic about this. Alignment seems good and I keep using the old pieces to check. It'll all come apart again for finish work and heavy priming. I still have to attend to some issues with the lower A pillars. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-415985 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted February 18, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 18, 2019 After finishing up the mock-up and marking everything for disassembly, I was trying to figure out how to get at the front pillars to get at some rust. Well, I guess I wasn't done taking it apart. So, I removed the cowl completely.. I can definitely get at them this way. 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-416003 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danpa Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Great job so far! 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-416067 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted March 3, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 It's official, March 1st, I turned the page and started re-assembly by putting the cowl back on and today welded in the new sills and lower back frame. It was very helpful to remove the cowl and rid the pillars of rust. It also allowed me to put the cowl up on a temporary bench to work on it and repair the right cab mount, which had completely blown through and left a fist sized hole. Lots of other small, time consuming repairs were made all over the cowl/pillar area. Overall, I'm very happy with the results and alignment looks good. Not that far off from removing the cage and test fitting the doors. Once that's done, it'll be back to the sheet metal and re-installing it. 7 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-417132 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted March 6, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 6, 2019 HUGE sigh of relief today. I cut out the cage and test fit the doors to check my work. Everything lined up and the gaps appear very even around both doors. I've been so worried about shift, having cut so far into this cab to save it. Like I've been saying, this is the worst part and time consuming. But, being careful and thoughtful about how I've gone about it is paying off. 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-417424 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted March 6, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 6, 2019 And one more from the bottom of the cab, after welding it all together and priming, before turning it upright. It looks so nice, considering what I started with. 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-417425 Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlotpilot Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-417427 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 WOW That's one heck of a job your doing Im not sure I am brave enough to get this far into a cab Great stuff and thanks for sharing it with us Paul 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/9/#findComment-417440 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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