Truck Cab

[davbell22602]

How do i take the cab apart at the seams? I need to repair a rotted out spot on the inner part of the cab where the heater box is attached too.

[72BahamaBlue]

You will need to locate and drill out the spot-welds. Some are difficult to see, and may not be evenly spaced. Sanding with sandpaper over the welds may help make them appear. A center punch as close to center on the spot, drill out. You may also find making some sort of tool is needed to separate the metal. I use a gasket-scraper and flat blade screwdrivers, sharpened to help cut any remnants of the spot welds. Having a bench grinder, and/or a drill but sharpener is useful, the welded metal is pretty hard. Others have had fair luck with the spot-weld drilling tools from Eastwood or Harbor Freight.
Have any photos of the repair area?

[70 ranger]

You can buy spot weld drill bits that have a centering point in them. An air chisell is a great help for seperating the panels.

[davbell22602]

You will need to locate and drill out the spot-welds. Some are difficult to see, and may not be evenly spaced. Sanding with sandpaper over the welds may help make them appear. A center punch as close to center on the spot, drill out. You may also find making some sort of tool is needed to separate the metal. I use a gasket-scraper and flat blade screwdrivers, sharpened to help cut any remnants of the spot welds. Having a bench grinder, and/or a drill but sharpener is useful, the welded metal is pretty hard. Others have had fair luck with the spot-weld drilling tools from Eastwood or Harbor Freight.
Have any photos of the repair area?

The area that needs repaired is seen inside the one door hinge hole on the passenger side.

[davbell22602]

You can buy spot weld drill bits that have a centering point in them. An air chisell is a great help for seperating the panels.

Is this the spot weld drill bit your talking about?

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsea ... eld+cutter

or

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... _200397825

[70 ranger]

That's not quite like the ones we have at work, The ones we have look like regular bits with a center point in them. but it looks like it would work good. $5.00 how can you go wrong?

[davbell22602]

Ok, Maybe I'll hit up the fastenal rep see what he has and for how much. The area that needs repaired is the vent area inside the cab where the heater box mounts to. There's old wasp nest in there too when looking through the door hinge holes.

What size bit do I need?

[70 ranger]

3/8 should do it. Do you have an air chisel?

[davbell22602]

3/8 should do it. Do you have an air chisel?

Yes, I have a cheap $30 from advance and a long piston ingersol thats got some power behind it that use for cutting through rivots on ball joints.

Fastenal has the spot weld bits.

http://www.fastenal.com/web/search/prod ... l%20Bit%22$|~

[70 ranger]

Man those are a bit pricey! They are the ones we use though. I would try the $5.00 ones first. The only thing cheaper than that is me!

[davbell22602]

Does anybody have a copy of the layout on how the cab comes apart at the seams?

EDIT: Found cab exploded view of the seams by email from flyboy71.