I bought a 70s standard cab roof top, that was rusted when I opened it up. Then got a 93 club cab roof at the junkyard which looked nice inside when I drilled out the spot welds.
The 1970s cabs, club cabs and crew cab all have the same ROOF PROFILE. The standard cab trucks from 1981-1993 have a slightly different stamping where the crease that is above the drip rail is higher and more prominent. Realize Chrysler was notorious for cutting corners so rather than design a new die for the club cab or crew cab in 1981 when they changed the standard cab roof, they just kept using them. It is also noticeable with 1980s-90s front doors. Do you think they faded out the upper door crease to the key lock for styling or for the cost savings of not making a new die to match the new door profile on the cab? They probably were trying to cut costs and update the body style enough to make the consumer not complain about or shy away from an outdated truck.
As for a ramcharger roof, it has no creasing in the front and is instead a rounded, smooth panel. I was looking into a ramcharger roof from a local yard but it wasn't close enough to graft in. It could be used but would be a messy job.
Anyway,
This consumed most of the day:
Had to wire it into the panel, remove drier/regulator from old compressor, change fittings around, make a bracket to mount it, new filter in drier etc. LOVE the new compressor, No leaks, quiet, and can keep up with the sandblaster and any air tools. 17cfm.
I made these to weld into the upper rear interior pillars for the shoulder belts. There were holes but no threads so I welded these in so I can make mom happy I have shoulder belts for at least 4 of the passengers.
Firewall almost done:
Sandblasted driprail and found 2 pinholes near where the new skin mated to the old skin. Was nervous about burning through too much and having to do a patch panel but the mig was nice and filled it right in:
Sandblasted some of the back of the cab:
Finished the other rear cab mount modification. Removed access cover that was caulked in, cleaned it out, ground the panel joints a little nicer then cut open the lower part of the cab mount box for easy cleaning and access. No more rusty rear cab mounts now....
Need to weld one crack in the rear panel, finish firewall, clean up bottom of driprail above windshield and then cab can be shot with epoxy primer in remaining areas, fill the roof areas and then it will be ready for paint. Getting closer.....
Charlie