Many people I know of have done something very similar. They cut out a
section of the back of the cab just under the rear window and then do the
same in the bed. This is done for numerous reasons, most of which being
access to the bed and for stereo. Usually nothing is done to strengthen
the area, but if you wanted to the idea provided by Mike makes good sence.
Im a mechanical engineer too :) if that makes any difference!
Also, to connect the bed to the cab, usually a rubber seal called
"accourdian boot" is used. It presses over the fresh cut metal edge on
both the bed and the cab and provides a nice seal. Only problem is the
stuff is like 10 -> 13 bucks a foot! OUCH!
Clay
84 Dodge Ram, scrapin pavement w/ 440 8bbl
96 Indy Ram, scrapin EVERYTHING w/ 360 Magnum!' -(www.indyram.org)
69 Road Runner 440 6bbl, project car
http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~cooke
On Tue, 4 Apr 2000, Mike Schwall wrote:
> Ahh you can get away with it if you bolt a steel ring around the edge of
> the hole in the sheetmetal to keep the sheetmetal from flexing. To join
> the cab and bed together you can use a flexible coupler like what is used
> on pickup truck camper shells (tused between the shell window and truck
> slider window). Cutting a huge hole would weaken the structural integrity
> of the cab, but sandwiching the sheetmetal around the edges of each hole
> between two 1/8" metal plates about a 1/2" wide would do the trick to
> retain the skin's structural strength. I'm pulling this out of my a$$,
> just so you know, but think about it, makes sense. Any civil engineers on
> the list? If your making this hole pretty big, forget it, but if it's a
> foot in diameter or so, yeah it'll work without any abnormal metal
> flexing. Use lots of bolts, like every two to three inches or so around
> the ring.
>
> I dunno, it sure sounds good though :) Just keep in mind the front and
> rear window are part of the structural support of the truck
> body. Compromising the metal strength near the rear window could cause a
> nice glass shower if in a wreck.
>
> Mike
>
> At 08:00 PM 4/4/2000 , you wrote:
> >Way bad idea. You're effecting the structual intgerity of the truck.
> >
> >>From: "Griffo" <griffo@cfl.rr.com>
> >>I am wanting to cut a hole through my standard cab below the window and cut
> >>a hole in the bed below the top of the bed and somehow join the two together
> >>and mount a box or something in back of the cab to extend the bottom part of
> >>the cab. Anyone have any ideas, pictures, or info on doing this?
> >>
> >>Thanks
> >>Griffo
> >>griffo@cfl.rr.com
> >>Network/Field Engineer
>
> __________________________
> mschwall@flash.net
>
>
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