Rebuilding a Salvage Crew Cab Dmax 4by

[036.6turbo]

Like the title says, my son and I are rebuilding a salvage crew cab Dmax. We've out grown the ext cab Z71, wanted to go with a crew. When this ones done, we'll go back thru the ext cab and fix-it up for my son.
Pics of what it looked like when I bought it.

[036.6turbo]

Here's some of the extras that came with it.

[036.6turbo]

As soon as it arrived at the house, I bought a new cab corner from dealer, and tore it down to get it ready for the frame shop.









And loaded up the extras for the frame guy.

[036.6turbo]

Seven days and $800.00 later;

[036.6turbo]

Kind of out of order, but heres some of it up on the rack;







I'll post some more of my progress so far.

My reason for posting is advise, there are obviously some real talented body shop guys on this site. Please feel free to chime in.

I'm definately a shadetree body guy, and will be painting it in my shop. I know it won't be perfect, but plan to do the best job I can. Thanks in advance.

[Beyond Static©]

everything looks good. Just needs a little mud work where the pillar and rocker is welded on, and it's ready for paint. Was the floor buckled any?

We just got a single cab '02 in hit the exact same, but it pushed the rocker in about 10", and bent the cab mounts. Looks like it's going to total, but not sure yet.

[LOWZ71]

Good work on the project. That was a good find. That is nice that the parts you need came with it too. Keep us posted.

[036.6turbo]

Originally Posted by Beyond Static©

everything looks good. Just needs a little mud work where the pillar and rocker is welded on, and it's ready for paint. Was the floor buckled any?

We just got a single cab '02 in hit the exact same, but it pushed the rocker in about 10", and bent the cab mounts. Looks like it's going to total, but not sure yet.

Yes the floor was buckled alittle, the frame shop just pulled it back out then welded the new rocker and "B" pillar outer in place.

While the truck was ay the frame shop, I worked on the bed. Sandblasted the surface rust, then coated with Chassis Saver.

[036.6turbo]

That led to body work on the bed. Every corner has been run along something, and been creased. And the passenger side bed rail looks like it had the goose neck dropped on it.
Decieded to work as much as we could with it upside down.

[thecodeman]

Cool! I saw a rebuildable crew cab duramax on ebay today and thought about it, but then I only have time for one project at a time...

[036.6turbo]

While the mud was drying, I used a heat gun and pulled the plastic cap off of the tailgate. Welded up the holes, ground the weld down and filled it with fiberglass.









The glass will be topped off with plastic filler.

[Beyond Static©]

you forgot about shaving the tailgate handle......lol

[036.6turbo]

The pass side of the cab is ready for self-ectching primer, then primer surfacer and lots of block sanding.

[036.6turbo]

Originally Posted by thecodeman

Cool! I saw a rebuildable crew cab duramax on ebay today and thought about it, but then I only have time for one project at a time...

Thats where I found this, I never saw it in person before buying it. Wired the funds and found a company near me that hauled it from Madison WI, to Flint MI for $550.00.

[phatfarmer2]

i cant belive that only cost $800 for the shop to put the used pieces on.. damn.. my work woudl have charged way more to do that..

if you dont mind me asking how much did you buy the truck for?

right now im rebuilding a wrecked sierra for myself. (you can check it out in the exterior forum)

[036.6turbo]

Originally Posted by Beyond Static©

you forgot about shaving the tailgate handle......lol

No, I will be shaving it. I have a Bell Tech kit that I bought for an 88 model I had. Plan to see if it will work. If it won't, I'll order the correct one.

A little hard to keep all the parts in the right place at the right time on such a big project

[036.6turbo]

Originally Posted by phatfarmer2

i cant belive that only cost $800 for the shop to put the used pieces on.. damn.. my work woudl have charged way more to do that..

if you dont mind me asking how much did you buy the truck for?

right now im rebuilding a wrecked sierra for myself. (you can check it out in the exterior forum)

The original qoute was $700, when I picked it up he was kind of reluctant to tell me about the additional $100. I offered to pay him more than that, but he was adamant about the price.
Keep in mind that we had removed anything that was in his way, and I was paying cash. Big plus.

The truck with the parts shown, plus a complete replacement leather interior from an 05 Silvy, was 11K. I could have it straight and all one color for approx. 14.5K.
But I'm building it as a keeper, not a seller So I'll have alot more it than that.

[GMC HD 4x4]

looking good keep up the good work

[phatfarmer2]

Originally Posted by 94383Z71

The original qoute was $700, when I picked it up he was kind of reluctant to tell me about the additional $100. I offered to pay him more than that, but he was adamant about the price.
Keep in mind that we had removed anything that was in his way, and I was paying cash. Big plus.

The truck with the parts shown, plus a complete replacement leather interior from an 05 Silvy, was 11K. I could have it straight and all one color for approx. 14.5K.
But I'm building it as a keeper, not a seller So I'll have alot more it than that.

good deal man. so far everythgin looks up to par. as long as the gaps are good and the doors open and close perfect, then the shop charging you $800 was a steal... theres alot of work involved in what was done, thats why i couldnt belibe it was only that much..

anyways cant wait to see what it looks like when done!

[99gixxer]

good find & nice job. yeah $800 was a steal. keep up the good work.