Step 4-Remove the Cab Wrap Roof Assembly

This step is fairly straight forward. At the very front of the cab wrap, where the bumper used to be, are two tabs that are bent over to hold the chassis to the cab wrap. Using the tool of your choice, pry the tabs up slightly. I use a small wood chisel. You can finish straightening the tabs with your trusty needle nose pliers. Now for the back of the cab wrap. You will notice another tab, that is part of the chassis, inserted into a slot on the cab wrap. Sometimes this tab is bent over, sometimes it is straight. In any event, if it is straight, your cab wrap should just pull forward and off the chassis. If the tab is bent over, pry up with you favorite tool. Once again, I use my trusty wood chisel, tapping lightly with a hammer to get it under the tab, then pry up. You can finish straightening the tab with flat nosed pliers.

Step 5-Remove the Roof

This step varies slightly, depending on year on manufacture. For the 1955-1957 models, keep the roof on the cab wrap. For '58-'67, just work with the front roof posts. Using the needle nose pliers, straighten the barbs at the base of the posts. Now the fun part. The roof can be a little temperamental so take a deep breath and think very positive thoughts. The roof sort of snaps into place so you are going to find yourself grasping the bottom of the front roof posts firmly with your pliers, pushing up and through the slots of the cab wrap. This step is kinda hard to put on paper, much less a web page. Just work with it and REMAIN CALM. After the front posts have been pushed / pulled through the cab wrap, continue to pull the front of the roof up and over toward the bed. The tabs at the rear of the roof will release their own. As an added bonus, if your pickup still had a windshield, it has already fallen out. Now isn't that special.

Step 6-Take a Break

This is as far as I tear down a pickup. You can go much further if you want to remove the rear fenders from the bed and the bed from the chassis. You can achieve excellent results however, by leaving those parts in place. As you are taking parts off of your truck, put them into one of those re-sealable plastic bags. A two gallon size will hold everything. Also of note, no pun intended, leave a note in your big bag as to color of the truck, a description of the door decals and any parts that obviously need to be replaced. Continue to add to your notes as required.

Step 7-Time for a Trip...

To your favorite auto parts store, like Auto Zone, Checker, Pep Boys, whatever the name in your part of the country. Take along the truck parts to help you select a paint color. You will find that Dupli-color will be featured at one chain and Plasti-kote at another. I use both brands and each works great. The only colors I have not been able to approximate, is a turquoise and mint green. You will not have any problems finding white, red, tan, teal green, metallic blue, green or bronze. If you don't have the following items around the garage, while you are hangin' out at the auto parts store, pick up a 3M Scotch-Brite Finishing Pad for metal, Blue Magic Metal Polish Cream and Turtle Wax Polishing Compound for clear coats.