Broken cab mount (rust)

I’m going to try and save this one. I was just looking at the safe-t-cap site and they sell these sections

 

this is the one you manual swapped right? gotta save it.

 

Yeah, I agree. Trying to keep this one around for as long as I can.

 

Haven’t posted in a little while. I made the decision to repair the damage to the frame and then to do box in the rear part of the frame. Here are some shots of the driver side. Still need to some grinding and work with a flap wheel, but it’s getting there. I bought the shock mount from Safe-T-Cap.

 

I didn’t take very good photos but what I did was cut out all the rust damage and the weld in a 1/8” plate. Then I reinforced the frame rails with 1/8” plate (top and bottom) and then boxed it in. I was inspired by this guy called “PostRT” on YouTube who was dealing with the same rust issue in Michigan.

 

A couple of more photos. I’m finally getting to end of frame repair, and am hoping I can get the new body mount bracket in tomorrow.

 

I got most of the old one ground away. I need to get the body lifted a bit so I can grind off old weld on top of frame. I removed all the body bushing long bolts on the passenger side. Tomorrow I will loosen the ones on driver side, and can hopefully get the body lifted an inch or so. I also bought all new poly body bushings.

 

I got the new rear body mount bracket welded in today. I decided to change all my body mount bushings in the process and in doing do, found out my driver side rear mount was just about gone as well. I had bought all 6 new mounts so I just cut that one out as well.

 

Well-done @BossFan -- I commend you for keeping this one out of the scrap heap! Trucks can be fixed, at least for a while. Lot's of lessons here including follow your instincts.

 

Holy moly, you really know how to fix things.

 

Made some progress this weekend. Got all the body bushings replaced (except for the middle one on driver side). Replaced both rear body mount bushing brackets, tack welded in the passenger shock mount, and got gas tank mounted. It’s starting to look a little bit like a truck again. You can kind of see how I had to shorten the gas tank crossmember to fit between the boxed frame rails. I welded in some mounting brackets for support. I’ll hopefully get the shock mount fully welded one night this week. I need to purchase one of this riv-nut guns do I can mount the rear proportioning valve. I’ll take some pictures tomorrow.

 

Thanks! My wife makes such fun off me for spending all my time on the ‘old man’ truck. She says I should just sell it and buy a new one, but the 1st gen’s are my favorite. I’m hoping to get another decade out of this one if I can.