Unibilt conversion

Hey motor heads, got a problem I could use some advice on. I want to open up the cave style opening on my 1984 359 cab and a double eagle used sleeper I've purchased to the max opening without an integrity issue to the cab. Do I need to purchase a unibilt ring and boot which might be too tall or is there a better less expensive solution to finally being able to fit behind the wheel comfortably being 6'1..? I would appreciate any advice on the best plan to open this up the right way. The sleeper also has the old cave opening. Thanks, Bob.

 

I believe you're right about the flat top unibilt ring being shorter as I've spoken to Cliff Wilkins in Tonkawa, Ok. about this briefly last fall... I'd forgotten our conversation until your post... I guess now I'm going to have to get a price on the rings and boot. I was told by Cliff that I could put the cab and bunk on air ride if I change the radiator supports from the cowl to the frame rails... This sounds like a lot of fab work, doesn't it...?

 

I've thought about aluminum channel and mounting the cab and bunk on that after cutting the opening to the max and adding two new square aluminum tube frames, one in the cab, one in the bunk. Then bolting the two directly face to face. The channel needs to have enough cross members to not allow any twist, or the cab may be damaged and cause door problems or more. Seems viable... any thoughts..?

 

I completely understand brother. Mine is an 84 short hood that spent about 6 years as the prettiest quad axle dump truck I've ever seen by the pics given to me by the old guy I bought it from before he changed it back to a tractor. He'd reinforced the frame taking all the flex out of it... That plus the two extra heavy springs under the 4 stock stack made it ride like hell at 265 wb... I pulled the all the springs and replace with new stacks, then put a 12 Guage air ride over the top to take out the chop. Now it's getting stretched with a cut off 4:11 ratio and another axle. I bought an old Double Eagle 110" sleeper yesterday in San Antonio, which I'm currently gutting to the shell and rebuilding the way I need it... My God, no wonder these bunks are heavy... I'm going to cut about 500 lbs. out of it... The bunk has an air ride tail, of which my oil field welder, now mechanic, Cory Woods and I are going to figure out the best way to put together and float on air... We will make this happen, I'm sure of this. I need room and I'm going to get this old truck to give me a Cadillac ride if... No... Before it kills me... You got a nice old ride there brothe... I'll post new pics when she's otta the paint shop in hopefully less than a month... Hopefully rates on the big heavys will be back up again by then brother... Bob