87 1/2 ton crewcab swb

[tbirdman88]

Is there anyone else, besides me that has ,or is building a 73-90 1/2 ton shortbed crew cab.

87 shortcrewcab
donnie

[N2TRUX]

I think you are the only member building one. I know almost everyone on here would love to own one....

[zden]

i had an 89 a couple years ago that i converted from a 3/4 ton. i wish i had'nt sold it

[Prerunner1982]

One of my project ideas is for a crewcab on a reg cab long bed 4x4 frame. I wouldnt be able to put a short wide bed on it, but it would definately be a short flat bed... a crew cab longbed is too long for any trails.. heck a reg cab long bed is still pushing it.. but atleast with the crewcab I could take the whole family and still have enough room on the flatbed for equipement. I think GM should have offered the crewcab shortbeds in this body style.. some people have families but still need to use a truck once in awhile...

[60-66 Nut]

A member named OJOE was supposed to be starting one earlier this year. He had listed the dually bed, rear end and front suspension in the classifieds. I was hoping to get the bed and rear end for my GMC R3500 to make a dually with it, but time and money didn't allow.

60-66 Nut

[lolife99]

I'm in the process of collecting parts. Right now I have a pretty rust free '89 single wheel 1-ton crew cab. Does anyone have some photos of the frame cut area? Just wondering if some of the 14" (to be removed) has to come from underneath the cab,... or if all of it was removed from behind the cab? Also how many inches exactly from the ends of the frame rails? I know someone has posted pics,... but its been awhile.

[magnethead]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I'm in the process of collecting parts. Right now I have a pretty rust free '89 single wheel 1-ton crew cab. Does anyone have some photos of the frame cut area? Just wondering if some of the 14" (to be removed) has to come from underneath the cab,... or if all of it was removed from behind the cab? Also how many inches exactly from the ends of the frame rails? I know someone has posted pics,... but its been awhile.

I think it's forward of the first bed holes but behind the cab...somebody correct me if wrong.

[84 400]

got pics of the 87??

I have seen a few on ebay and such but non so far on here

[Bad71chev406sbc]

pics my friend.....pics.

[tbirdman88]

Hey lolife99
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/828517/2
Go to this sight i have a few pics for reference, the measurements on your truck might be different. but you can get the general idea.
As far as the end of the frame i just put my bed on and mark the frame and cut enough off for the bed to set flush on the frame, around 5 inches, but double check.

donnie
87shortcrewcab

[vern350]

my sisters b/f and his dad have created a few of them. I've posted their crewcab shortbox, 1/2 ton on there. I can't seem to find any pictures of it right now. Heres another one they did. Looks identical. Except it is a 3/4 ton.

[vern350]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=143179



heres the other tread i had.

[bigarmzz]

man, that looks cool

i wander why the heck GM never built them like that?

Originally Posted by vern350

my sisters b/f and his dad have created a few of them. I've posted their crewcab shortbox, 1/2 ton on there. I can't seem to find any pictures of it right now. Heres another one they did. Looks identical. Except it is a 3/4 ton.

[79Silv4x4]

Originally Posted by bigarmzz

man, that looks cool

i wander why the heck GM never built them like that?

Yeah, and why did they leave off lock cylinders on the rear doors--keyless wasn't so popular back then!

[Stano]

I am currently in the planning, dismantling stages of my crew cab 4x4 3/4 ton shortbed. I got a 77 with a really good body(needs rockerpanels) and am planning on putting a 89-91 frontend on it. Have the sheetmetal just need the core support and grille stuff. Am still needing a left short bedside and/or a whole bed. Best part is I got only $20 in the running gear,truck and all. Will be powered by either a 472(11,000mi) or 500(needs rebuilt)cid caddy engine. 4-6in lift and at least 35's. I also have a complete power window,lock and bucket seat interior from a 86 Burb that will be going in thats gray in color. Now all I need is the time to do it. Probably this summer when I am not teaching school.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by bigarmzz;

man, that looks cool i wander why the heck GM never built them like that?

According to the GM exec that I spoke to in the mid 90's about this subject "GM feels that the consumer doesn't want a short bed crewcab" Their studies showed that people who bought crewcabs used them for work trucks and wanted a long bed. I pointed out how well Ford was doing in the market with the F150 Supercrew which is a "shortbed crewcab". It was at that point that our conversation got cut short....

[Prerunner1982]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

According to the GM exec that I spoke to in the mid 90's about this subject "GM feels that the consumer doesn't want a short bed crewcab" Their studies showed that people who bought crewcabs used them for work trucks and wanted a long bed. I pointed out how well Ford was doing in the market with the F150 Supercrew which is a "shortbed crewcab". It was at that point that our conversation got cut short....

well seeing as how crewcabs were only offered in longbed then yes most got used for work, not everyone wants to drive such a long truck around. Sounds like they lost out on a market that they could have started long before ford..

[Bad71chev406sbc]

Wouldn't they look just awesome with a 4-6 drop kit, tubbed, and norrowed rear, and 572!!

[lolife99]

tbirdman88,... thanks for the link. Vern350,... both of those trucks are sweet. What is everyone doing for the 1/2 ton rear suspension? Just installing the 1/2 ton springs in the 3/4 ton or 1 ton hangers? Or are you changing hangers also? Maybe a 4 bar from Air Ride Technologies would be easier. Thanks, lolife99.

[tbirdman88]

lolife99
I used the 1/2 ton rearend with the 3/4 ton springs with 2 leafs taken out, thats all the springs i had.Dont know yet how it rides, haven't got the truck running yet. Truck is also dropped 4-6 with 18's. You will have to use to the 1/2 ton spring hangers.
the factory 3/4 ton springs on the crew cab frame are mounted inboard 2 inches more than the 1/2 ton, or weld the spring perches on the rearend in a different location,a long with the shock mounts. the shocks on the 3/4 ton are mounted backwards from the 1/2 ton. I learned my lesson the hard way.
hope this helps.
donnie-shortcrew87 1/2 ton