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1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? #2473501
03/28/18 08:10 PM
03/28/18 08:10 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143
Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary Offline OP
top fuel
ChallengerGary  Offline OP
top fuel

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143
Port Saint Lucie, FL
I found a cool old truck - 1978 318 manual long bed. The worst part that I can see is the roof is pretty bad over the passenger side. Does anyone make replacement roof sections or am I stuck either trying to find a decent one or getting creative with sheet metal?

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Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: ChallengerGary] #2473524
03/28/18 08:45 PM
03/28/18 08:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Guitar Jones Offline
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Guitar Jones  Offline
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
You're stuck. You can find plenty of the newer style single cabs rust free but that style, like my 92 club cab is much harder to find.

There are three panels in there and they rust from the inside out. I have located a roof for mine, it's not rust free but it's close. I'm going to start the surgery on my truck this summer. I'll take pics and will post a thread either here or at DTR or maybe both.

You could replace your whole cab with a newer style rust free one though. Just be sure to treat it very well so it doesn't rust as well.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: ChallengerGary] #2473606
03/28/18 11:11 PM
03/28/18 11:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,131
Canada -- Posts: 4034 -Registe...
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5thAve Offline
Doesn't care what this says anyway
5thAve  Offline
Doesn't care what this says anyway
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Posts: 4,131
Canada -- Posts: 4034 -Registe...
Not that it matters since the roofs are the same but that's the 1979/80 front end.

Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: ChallengerGary] #2473669
03/29/18 01:54 AM
03/29/18 01:54 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,179
Canada
D
demon Offline
super stock
demon  Offline
super stock
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,179
Canada
That truck is a 79.
Roof fits 72-80.
You could change the outer skin and drip rail from a parts truck.
It will most likely need the inner skin and possibly the header too.
If you are capable, it's not a difficult repair.
Find a junkyard truck, saw through the pillars, bring the chunk home and carefully disassemble it.
But look at the floor and rockers and decide if it's clean enough to do the work to, or if you should swap a cleaner cab on.
There trucks are super easy to work on

Last edited by demon; 03/29/18 01:55 AM.
Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: ChallengerGary] #2473723
03/29/18 09:22 AM
03/29/18 09:22 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,710
ohio
R
ruderunner Offline
master
ruderunner  Offline
master
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,710
ohio
Gj, must be a Florida thing. In my area the flat roof trucks have less rust out than the peaked roof trucks (81-93 regular cab) Even the 70's roofs are easier to find.

To the op, 72-93 regular cab truck are all donor candidate, 81 up has a crease above the windshield but it's strictly cosmetic.

If you want to do it factory style at the spot welds, be prepared to take a big chunk of the cab apart.


Angry white pureblood male
Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: ChallengerGary] #2473733
03/29/18 10:01 AM
03/29/18 10:01 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
S
scratchnfotraction Offline
I Live Here
scratchnfotraction  Offline
I Live Here
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
I patched mine with sheet metal and formed a new section of drip rail.

I slide a flat sheet in, weld to roof skin, weld to frame. bent and trimed to form new drip rail.

but mine was no where that rusted and it was a 91 cab going on my 85 truck

did I mention it took me from july to December to get it and the floor patched first? and I leaned to weld sheet metal for the first time LOL!

GOOD LUCK! and find paint & body man as your NEWEST BESTEST FRIEND.

that was the best thing I did and now both trucks are painted and rust free.

just purchased a 95% rust free 86 cab from my local recycler for 150 bones to start my gasser truck build.

IIRC there is a 73 cab there that you could buy or chop if interested shoot me a PM.

I know all the glass/doors are gone so chop saw the whole top off for cheap.

Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: ChallengerGary] #2473734
03/29/18 10:06 AM
03/29/18 10:06 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
S
scratchnfotraction Offline
I Live Here
scratchnfotraction  Offline
I Live Here
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
is it a manual 3 speed (3 on the tree?) long bed?

have not seen a 3 speed manual truck in yrs myself.

Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: scratchnfotraction] #2473778
03/29/18 12:11 PM
03/29/18 12:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,458
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart Offline
Rhinotruck
Rhinodart  Offline
Rhinotruck

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,458
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
I have a nice rust-free club cab roof already cut off, won't do you any good though. shruggy


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

JB Rhinehart, Realist

A-Body's RULE!
Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: ChallengerGary] #2474255
03/30/18 09:39 AM
03/30/18 09:39 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
S
scratchnfotraction Offline
I Live Here
scratchnfotraction  Offline
I Live Here
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
man! a club cab roof and a RC/TD roof are gold. single cab roofs a silver turning to gold.

Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: ChallengerGary] #2474405
03/30/18 02:52 PM
03/30/18 02:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,400
Trumbauersville PA
ric3xrt Offline
pro stock
ric3xrt  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,400
Trumbauersville PA
Best bet is to find a donor cab and use the roof, if your good with metal work, they are not that hard to fab, With an English wheel , you can pop out a replacement roof section, and a stretcher/shrinker you can do the fence and inner support panel.
A pillar....been a long time but I've used F-body(with some serious work) to graft in on a few trucks back in the 90s
With Time and effort you can save anything if you have the tools.


Truth has no agenda, but those with an agenda make their own truth.
Some of us are so open minded they only see their View



Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: ChallengerGary] #2474533
03/30/18 08:07 PM
03/30/18 08:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,713
Central Florida
larrymopar360 Offline
Stud Muffin
larrymopar360  Offline
Stud Muffin

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Posts: 15,713
Central Florida
maybe www.car-part.com

Cool truck btw.

?


Facts are stubborn things.
Re: 1978 D150 roof replacement any sources? [Re: ChallengerGary] #2491611
05/03/18 06:01 PM
05/03/18 06:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143
Port Saint Lucie, FL
ChallengerGary Offline OP
top fuel
ChallengerGary  Offline OP
top fuel

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,143
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Well, truck did not end up happening anyways. Seller disappeared







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