g741.org

i havent searched was just thinking about it. I knew how the 5 tons were stored, did that enough times
I do like the drawers although wont keep any tools in it. looks to me would leak like crazy. Then again i suppose the drawer would keep things off the bottom of the compartment. I keep tools/air hose etc in one of the 5 tons side tool boxes. Much bigger and when we go to shows, all the trucks are together. But, was thinking drawers would be great place for my wifes things when she takes it to shows, extra jacket, hat etc etc.

hey Bruce didnt I buy a tow bar form you??? if so, sorry I missed you when you delivered it. i'd have showed you our old M37 and the other green toys.

Not me, if I had a tow bar, I might not have sold it? Our paths may have crossed at Aberdeen/Ripkin?

sorry about that, the name seemed familiar and the fellow was from Va as well. I've not used the tow bar yet and hope I don't need it.. I have it just in case.

Finally back to work some. I ordered the rear bed cross member from Midwest. I planned on repairing the old one. After I cut open the outside I found the whole inside a mess. I could have made a new one but I would have had to make in at least 4 or 5 different pieces. The cost vs labor wasn't worth it. The rear cross member looks great. In the picture its just sitting in place. The brackets that go in the end of the cross member and up into the bed sides were all but gone. In the pics you can see all that's left of them. I couldn't find a picture anywhere so I just sort of made them to suit me. Also the passenger side bed side bottom where the piece fits into was gone about 5" up so had to make new one as well. Got it all together now and have ordered some 5/16 truss machine screws for the floor to cross member bolts.

few more of end brackets

Repaired the bottom of the bed corner

Moved around to driver side and replace outside edge of the cargo door and part of the inside edge. Now on to the driver rocker panel. Its not as bad as the pass was, so hopefully go quick. These warm days and my wife wants to drive it . But Still have plenty more to do.

The brackets you made look great and substantial. I have some pic of the originals, I'm guessing they are cast? Good work and progress, I gotta get back out there!

Thank you.
The pieces that were left of mine looked like stamped steel. Like made in a die and press. Maybe some were cast not sure. It just really helps hold the side to the bottom. So I think any kind of "L" or upside down flag bracket would work I would think. Lots more work to go, worked on the drivers rocker panel today and got all cut out. Hope this week to get new pieces made and back together.

Very nice job on the "L" brackets, they should hold up for quite a while. I did the same corner of the bed repair on mine, it was the only spot that was rusted on the whole truck.

Bert

Thank you. You were lucky. Mine is certainly not as bad as some I have seen. But it has its share of spots for sure. I get this driver side rocker panel done and all that's left of the tub and rear bed is one spot by the accelerator pedal. The whole front clip is in great shape as is the hood. The biggest body work job will be the hard top. I do ok with sheet metal with bends etc. But the cab has a lot of compound curves. so we'll see how that goes.

With the level of skill that I have seen in your work so far, I'd bet that the hard top will be a challenge but turn out great.

Bert

Wow looks great. I was wondering how that rear cross member fits. Mine has a little rust I can see but never know how bad till you cut it open.

Those guys at Midwest made a perfect match. Like I said I had planed to repair mine, but once the outside was cut off, I realized inside was eat up. It would be a pretty labor intensive piece to make with out the right die, press etc. It was completely packed full of dried hard as a rock mud. I have no idea how that much mud got in there as there are really no open places. So I weighed the options. It also came UPS so freight was not bad at all. I've ordered some bolts for the floor and if they look good, I'll post part number.

The guys at Midwest made me the diamond stamped floors for the rear of my crew cab. Was very happy with them.