Removing whale fin on W900

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Hanadarko, Oct 15, 2010.

  1. Hanadarko

    Hanadarko Independent Owner/Operator

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    I have opted to just remove the whale fin on my W900. I am not going to even get it painted, just remove it...once I find a ladder or something to get up there with..
    Does anyone know how these are mounted and when you remove them - can you do that w/o leaving holes in the roof of the sleeper?

    I also want to install sleeper roof lights to completely match the cab roof clearance lights. I think that will be perfect...Is this something one can do on their own? - My buddy took it to KW's body shop to do that and I'm not sure it would be that hard...also I suspect I just tie into the existing cab wiring for power.

    If anyone can shed some light on this project, I would appreciate it.

    This is the look I am after:
    [​IMG]
     
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  3. billandlori

    billandlori Medium Load Member

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    When you replaced the cab lights did you see how they are mounted? You should be able to duplicate that.

    Some friends of ours ordered their W900 with the cab and sleeper clearance lights and also an extra set of air horns for the sleeper. Looks killer!!

    Not sure about the fin, hopefully they are blind holes that you can just put some sealer on some stainless button head bolts and not worry about it.

    Make sure you wrap the ladder with lots of rags to keep from scratching the bunk.

    Good luck!

    Bill
     
    Hanadarko Thanks this.
  4. Hanadarko

    Hanadarko Independent Owner/Operator

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    I didnt replace the cab lights - only the wiring, but the mount was a bit different than what I expected - it's not just a nut and bolt...
     
  5. billandlori

    billandlori Medium Load Member

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    I'm pretty sure the KW roof is steel or aluminum, try and Google Rivnut or Nutsert. They are a rivet type thing with a threaded hole for a bolt to go into. With these you don't need to get to the inside for the nuts. With good gaskets and sealer you shouldn't have any problems.

    Bill
     
  6. RW.

    RW. Heavy Load Member

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    I'm not familiar with how those are mounted, I'd guess some kind of brackets on top of the roof? Our T-8 came with an air dam on the bunk, after we took it off, we took the brackets off too. They were huckbolted on, had to grind the tops of them off, CAREFULLY! I put stainless machine screws in the holes with windshield caulk inside the holes with them. Had to take the interior trim loose to put the nuts on and them up, but it wasn't too big a deal. The sleeper roof is fiberglass, walls are aluminum.

    I would bet you could put the extra lights on yourself, just make sure you mount them properly so they don't leak. :biggrin_2555:
     
  7. blackw900

    blackw900 The Grandfather of Flatbed

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    If the "Bird banger' is mounted the way that style usually is it'll have a pretty flat looking bracket attatched to the roof with screws/bolts/whatever. If they have some sort of insert in the fiberglass roof you can just unscrew the bracket and then reinsert the screws with a little thread sealer so it won't leak and fuggetaboutit!

    If the screws have nuts on the other side then you'll have to remove the sleeper headliner and get to them that way...The bright side of that is, You'll then be able to mount your sleeper marker lights and tie them into the wire harness for the cab markers with a minimum of hassle! While you're under there you can mix up some fiberglass resin and get a little fiberglass cloth and patch the holes from the inside and then you can either finish them from the outside and paint them or (the option that would be the cheapest, easiest and would work just fine)...After the glass has set up, squirt a little epoxy, JB Weld or whatever you want to in the holes outside, Wipe away the excess and FUGGETABOUTIT!

    Nobody ever looks up there anyway....Right?

    While you have that nasty old headliner out...You can clean it or replace it or whatever!

    Killed a bunch'a birds with one stone...Yes?
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2010
    FriedTater Thanks this.
  8. Hanadarko

    Hanadarko Independent Owner/Operator

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    How do you mount/align the sleeper lights so they are inline and match the cab lights?
    Thats my next question...

    I will be taking off the fin Thursday but not sure how far I will get. I am gonna bet 5 cab lights wont be cheap :biggrin_25521:

    ..also need to find a decent source for 5 of these fixtures. I will start with KW..sometimes they surprise me with pricing
    and well sometimes they REALLY surprise me with pricing..:biggrin_2556:
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2010
  9. canuck in da truck

    canuck in da truck Road Train Member

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    nice old style round lens lights on top and lower would look great--and then might as well switch to round horns as well---a nice retro look
    look at iowa 80 for lights
     
  10. Hanadarko

    Hanadarko Independent Owner/Operator

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    Round is too old school for this dude....I like the square look :biggrin_25525:

    Iowa80 is great but DAM...too much $ unless they have a sale like $50 off $300 or so on. Thanks for the tip though...You can get virtually anything there as long as you have a nice FAT wallet - which I don't.

    But I figure tossing this fin and replacing it with lights will look better and likely be cheaper than refinishing the fin. I think it will fit nicely in my trash can.....ugly looking thing..
     
  11. canuck in da truck

    canuck in da truck Road Train Member

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    i am not sure if grote makes a replacement or not--other than that it is probabely kw$$$$$ or a truck wrecker
     
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