jed : M715 Cab Removal

M715 Cab Removal
Post by jed on Jul 4, 2006, 11:38am

Here's some pictures of when I pulled the cab off my M715.
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/726/m71537ca.jpg

Chevy 350 installed by previous owner.
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/75/m71679bg.jpg

Home-made T-98 to Chevy adapter
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1545/m71569yf.jpg

Here's the reason I decided to pull the body off. This is the wrong way to mount a power steering box! There were also lots of cracks all over the front of the truck that needed to be fixed.
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/608/m71547qw.jpg

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/2759/m7155ue.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5397/m71584vl.jpg

The good news is that I already have the front end fixed and I just started sandblasting today. I'll try to get more pictures of the reworked front end (SOA, remounted ps box).

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by socal715 on Jul 4, 2006, 12:54pm

Geeez nice crane dude.. thats out of hand

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by robertcowan on Jul 4, 2006, 1:40pm

if i lifted a body with the straps hooked to the grill guard, across the door sides, over the drip rails with the front clip still attached everything would be bent, tweaked or dented. some guys have all the LUCK

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by k8icu on Jul 4, 2006, 2:16pm

Any tips on lifting the cab off with out the use of a crane? Look forward to seeing your pics of the reworked front end.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by jed on Jul 4, 2006, 2:32pm

I made sure cab was solid BEFORE lifting it off., then set it on a big pallet so it's nice and easy to move around with a forklift. Yeah I know, no fair with the crane and forklift, but hey, if you've got 'em, you'd be dumb not to use 'em right?

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by mikel on Jul 4, 2006, 2:43pm

Wow Looks like someone chopped off a chunk of FSJ frame (with the steering box attached) and very poorly welded it to the M715 frame

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by robertcowan on Jul 4, 2006, 3:12pm

TO GET A CAB OFF WITH OUT A CRANE. after unbolting everything and i recomend removeing the front clip, you can jack each side up untill it clears the highest piont of the frame-tires etc. then roll truck out from under it. dont try a cherry picker cause its too heavy becaise of the ackwardsness of the lift. even 2 pickers will get you hurt and a cab dropped. also 4 good stout guys can lift a completely striped cab ok. TAKE DOORS OFF THERE HEAVY. ALSO IF YOU HAVE A CRANE USE LONGER STRAPS TO LESSEN THE INWARD PULL OF THEM.I USE 12FT. LONG AND I USE SOME SPREADERS TO HOLD STRAPS OPEN (APART )

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by jed on Jul 4, 2006, 9:02pm


Quote: <TABLE class=bordercolor cellSpacing=1 width="90%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE class=quote cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">ALSO IF YOU HAVE A CRANE USE LONGER STRAPS TO LESSEN THE INWARD PULL OF THEM.I USE 12FT. LONG AND I USE SOME SPREADERS TO HOLD STRAPS OPEN (APART </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Or you can use 8FT. straps, they did the job just fine.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by elwenil on Jul 4, 2006, 9:31pm

I disagree, I have removed and replaced my cab tub with a engine crane, by myself, repeatedly. It can be done easily, you just have to have enough room on the sides to manuver the engine crane. I did it with the front clip, top and frame, doors, and the windshield frame removed. I must stress that without the top and doors, the cab tub will fold up when you lift it from it's four corners with chains or straps. If you can't make a rig to distribute the load so that the straps or chains lift straight up, instead of pulling toward the center, then you will have to either leave the doors on, or temporarily weld in some braces in the door openings to keep it all square.

Here's a pic that sort of shows my workspace in a two car, barn style garage. In the background you can see the cab tub on the ground with a Dodge truck hood laid across it.
http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/3158/winch0069kf.jpg
I had to remove the cab and replace it a few times while clearancing the firewall and making mods to the shifter hole in the trans cover.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by hetzer on Jul 4, 2006, 10:46pm

I took mine off after I had taken everything off of it with a cherry picker. I rigged some chain and used the seat bolt holes and a third point up front (don't recall exactly) for balance.

It would have been nice to not do it myself but I got it off.

I did not put it back on that way, used a service truck crane to do that. Much easier.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by tacomainoh on Jul 5, 2006, 1:07am

cool. I have to take mine off and put in the Rockwell frame with a cherry picker. No other option. Looked plenty doable to me, glad I was right!

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by poolmike on Jul 5, 2006, 5:52am

I used my engine hoist, but I also welded braces all over the inside of the cab, knowing that the floors, rockers, and several other rusted areas were going to be cut out and replaced.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by fredrader on Jul 5, 2006, 7:30am

Chris and I have removed and replaced 2 cabs and with the fenders etc removed..The first time we did it by hand with one guy on each side pretty easy..The second time we used the 1500lb cap engine crane..We just slid a 4x4 across under the cab and dropped the chain down thru the trans cover and around the wood and raised it up and rolled it over the frame and let it down..I was balancing the cab while chris was rolling the jack..Easy and quick..

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by porkchop on Jul 5, 2006, 9:20am

I removed mine with a cherry picker on more than one occasion. I just put the 5K cargo straps around the cab from rocker to rocker. I used two straps that met in the middle. Adjusted the straps so the picker was low when it started to lift the cab. I also installed it this way.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by warthog on Jul 5, 2006, 9:49am

I used the engine hoist to pull mine. Left the bolts in for the body mounts connected chain from the 4 points to the eye on hoist, keeping the front ones 3 links shorter than rear as the front was heavier. Then used 2 wratchet straps to balance/level final load. This was while working on a slanted driveway. Just bulky for one person, but it was the only choice I had and made it work.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by 40grit on Jul 5, 2006, 9:50am

I placed a piece of angle iron across the door openings, using the windshiled mount point and the 2 bolt holes that the soft top frame bolts down to ( on top of cab, behind door), this kept the cab square and provides a nice handle for 2 people to lift the cab off and walk it forward off the frame....

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by luckypabst on Jul 5, 2006, 12:47pm

Not a very good estimate but the cab I shipped to Lee was 900 lbs, with a full OSB shipping crate, doors mounted, a set of door glass and a bunch of extra parts thrown in for good measure. The crate was probably good for 150-200 pounds of that 900.

By myself with prybars and a jack, I was able to tip the crate on its side; built a ramp and with two come-alongs, I come-along'ed the whole mess into the bed of my 715.

I can't say for the life of me how we moved the cab around but we loaded it with 3 people and unloaded it with 2 to get it to my house. Probably rolled it like a square wheel in the yard where the dirt and grass wouldn't damage anything.

Chris

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by porkchop on Jul 5, 2006, 12:49pm

The front is of course heavier than the back. Three of us lifted mine with no problems. Two on the front corners one in the back. Three average sized guys can do it, or as you put it, the normal schmoe.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by brute4c on Jul 5, 2006, 1:55pm

Agreed...I have a cab tub wi715 picked up in Missouri for me some time back...3 of us got it off his trailer easy enough...I have used the engine hoist too when we moved and put it in the shop on top of my mega size homebuilt sawhorses....not too hard.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by warthog on Jul 5, 2006, 2:58pm

Cab w/o windshield and doors can easily be moved by 3. Can be moved by 2, with a few breaks, but can be done (me & the wife).

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by robertcowan on Jul 5, 2006, 3:07pm

40 GRIT THATS how i do it. still guys post a pixof you cab hanging from a cherry picker please. i,d love to see it. i have a h/d picker and its not too heavy just to awkward. i,d love to see how professionals ( taco quick to jump in ) do it and move it without the lift tipping.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by elwenil on Jul 5, 2006, 3:09pm

Easy, shorten the boom and lengthen the legs. It probably helps that my crane is for large engines and probably weighs at least 500lbs by itself.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by brute4c on Jul 5, 2006, 3:49pm

Bob,
If I had taken one either time I would already have posted it...not really in the mood to do that right now but when I get there I can...

I ran 2 straps....one from rocker to rocker toward the rear of the rockers and the other I ran, starting from the passenger compartment side of the firewall, through the master cylinder hole on the drivers side, then back through the heater hole on the passenger side...then pulled the ends up and had the shop crane come in from the side, through the door opening with the straps on the hook in the center of the front of the battery box to rear of shifter area.

Worked real well...once it is off the ground, it is real easy to adjust for balance.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by robertcowan on Jul 5, 2006, 4:39pm

10-4 i,am done

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by poolmike on Jul 5, 2006, 5:12pm

I don't understand what the big deal is. Take th cab off with what you have on hand. My method happened to include a p.o.s. engine hoist, a brace welded from the center of the dash to the rear/center of the cab with provisions for the hoist/hook. With the boom fully extended, I moved it around with no effort at all. I also picked it up one half at a time by myself to get it in the back of my van.

Now hike your skirts up girls and get it done!

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by tacomainoh on Jul 5, 2006, 6:48pm

hahhah this thread is a classic example of... .. ahhhh never mind, that other thread is over.

I'll take some pictures. My hoist is somewhat short compared to others, I feel that it is a little unstable compared to the nice, wider and taller ones. So we'll see. Eyeballing it looks like I can keep it really, really low to the floor and get it done without too much drama.

Tacoma
Professional Guy.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by jed on Jul 5, 2006, 6:55pm

Yeah! I really should have put "Why I removed my cab" in the subject line, and that was because my power steering box was ready to fall off! Taking the cab off took two minutes, no big deal, fixing what was underneath took two weeks (off and on). Anyway, It's all good!

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by poolmike on Jul 5, 2006, 7:10pm

Admit it dude, your cab folded up on you. There is no possible way you did what you did how you said you did it. Impossible.

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by tacomainoh on Jul 5, 2006, 7:30pm

!!! hahahah

Re: M715 Cab Removal
Post by binfordm715 on Jul 5, 2006, 8:19pm

Sheesh, poolmike.... Stoking the flames a bit, eh?! And they subtitled me a troublemaker!