Freightliner Corporation

Ernest Friesen

Luis A Novoa

Homer Franklin Wright, Jr

Edmond Kalstiantz

An opening is provided through the front of a truck cab assembly during the manufacture process for allowing access to the interior of the truck cab for installing components therein. The opening most preferably substantially extends from sidewall to sidewall in the horizontal direction, and substantially from the roof structure to the floor structure in the vertical direction. On an assembly line, the front opening is preferably oriented perpendicularly to the direction of travel of truck cabs along the assembly line during a major portion of the vehicle truck cab assembly process. A firewall-dashboard assembly which facilitates easier installation and assembly of certain components is also disclosed. Specifically, the firewall is pre-assembled and combined with a dashboard sub-assembly prior to mounting these components to the truck cab. The firewall-dashboard assembly preferably contains at least the instrument panel, and the brake, clutch, and accelerator mechanisms. The firewall-dashboard assembly is mounted in part to rails along the floor of the truck cab structure. The firewall-dashboard assembly and door frames of the truck sidewalls include brackets which position the firewall to define the lower boundary of a windshield window opening.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Ernest Friesen