New here, need some help on crew cab project

[cartman]

I am looking to build a 73-87 crew cab, 2wd, 1/2 ton, short bed. I know some of you have talked about it, and mabey some have done it? I know it will take probably a couple trucks to get it done, my question is what do I start with? as far as a chassis? put a crew cab body on a 1/2 ton frame and legthen it or shorten a crew cab frame and change suspensions? suburban frame? any help from some one who has done it would be great. Some pictures would be good also. I may already have access to a good crew cab (body only) left over from someone elses project that never happened. He was going to swap cabs, ( one crew cab to another ) but found out that the truck he was going to swap it onto was too far gone, so he junked it. I want to use the 73-79 nose on my truck, with full trim and 2 tone paint, lowered etc. You get the picture. will I have to use a pre 1981 frame to hang the 73-80 nose on? sounds strange I know most are going the other way, But I love the round head lights and trim. I miss my 73 c10 but I need more doors now to fit the little ones. I think it would be a fun family cruiser/daily driver. Any help in choosing doner trucks would be a great help. Thanks

[lolife99]

Search member OJOE. He has done this to a couple of these trucks. Look at his threads.

[mike nutt]

cartman , here's a link to the post http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=218953 , helped joe get the truck in the shop yesterday , pulling the big block out to make room for the lt-1 , maybe we'll have more pics in a couple day.

[btp76]

I shortened the frame on mine. Just did it last week.

I met a guy who moved the suspension forward and cut the back of the frame off.

You'll need to start with a crewcab truck.

I hate typing... If you want I'll pm you my number for details.

Brian

[streetstar]

There was a guy on here a couple of months ago from Alabama who posted a WIW thread on his. The thing was seriously trick looking

If you can find a pic of it , it would serve as some inspiration. I think he transferred 1/2 ton suspension components to his big truck frame, but i could be wrong

[texassquarebodies]

Someday 1/2 ton 4 door short bed truck. Right now one hell of a shop truck. One of my many craigslist finds!!!! 1987 3/4 ton with a 350 tbi motor and 400 turbo trans. Both with less than 10k miles on them. Only damage is on the bottom of the bed sides. Just wrong color......

[mike nutt]

here's a couple of pics of joe's trucks. i'll get some good frame pics when we pull the bed bake off.

[NEVERENOUGH]

These trucks look very very cool. I have seen them done in a 4x4 also. There was a really nice one in street trucks magazine a few years ago.

[68GMC454]

i like the way these trucks look, but i just like haveing it as a 1 ton with duals in the rear....i just never cared for a 1/2,,sometimes i tend to over load the truck...lol..

[cartman]

I want a 1/2 ton because it will be used more as a cool family driver, not a " work truck" I have a 1990 K2500 with plow and 1970 C50 dump truck for serious work.

[cartman]

Is the rear of a 2wd and 4wd frame the same? Also did you just swap the entire front crossmember with 1/2 ton suspension up front, and did it just bolt to the 1 ton frame or were there mods to make that happen? Thanks for the posts, especially the one of the rear frame from OJOE. That is definitely the way I'll go

[OJOE]

Originally Posted by cartman

Is the rear of a 2wd and 4wd frame the same? Also did you just swap the entire front crossmember with 1/2 ton suspension up front, and did it just bolt to the 1 ton frame or were there mods to make that happen? Thanks for the posts, especially the one of the rear frame from OJOE. That is definitely the way I'll go

yes the rear is the same and the front cross member is the same and will bolt in same as the one ton. if you dont want to swap the entire crossmember you can just swap out the a frames and spendles they will swap out with the one ton

[cartman]

So I can just swap the control arms springs and spindals etc to the 1 ton frame? I figured they would be different where they fit the cross member, steering is the same also? If so this may be easier than I thought! OJOE, did you just lower the red truck with spindals and a axel flip? how much is it lowered? I love the stance of the red truck, that's what I want to shoot for just right for me not too low. You have been a great help! I put the word out today to a few friends, to let me know if they see a short bed I can rob the frame from. They are in VERY SHORT SUPPLY around these parts. Any thing that is half way decent is at a premium. A lot of these trucks have been scraped here due to the fact that the rear of the frame is rotted. Hopefully I'll run across a parts truck someone is done with, or a truck some kid pulled apart and never finished.

[lolife99]

OJOE,... do you still have the black truck with the gold bed? I'm still having trouble locatiing a good short fleetside bed. Just wondered if you would be interested in selling the bed.

[OJOE]

Originally Posted by cartman

So I can just swap the control arms springs and spindals etc to the 1 ton frame? I figured they would be different where they fit the cross member, steering is the same also? If so this may be easier than I thought! OJOE, did you just lower the red truck with spindals and a axel flip? how much is it lowered? I love the stance of the red truck, that's what I want to shoot for just right for me not too low. You have been a great help! I put the word out today to a few friends, to let me know if they see a short bed I can rob the frame from. They are in VERY SHORT SUPPLY around these parts. Any thing that is half way decent is at a premium. A lot of these trucks have been scraped here due to the fact that the rear of the frame is rotted. Hopefully I'll run across a parts truck someone is done with, or a truck some kid pulled apart and never finished.

yes, on the red truck that is just what i did, i was rebuilding front end so no need to take out crossmember. steering box was the same (4x4 diffrent) on the black truck i swapped out the whole crossmember. everthing bolts up

FRONT 3" spendals 1" springs, REAR flip kit. WHEELS 20x10 20x8

[OJOE]

Originally Posted by lolife99

OJOE,... do you still have the black truck with the gold bed? I'm still having trouble locatiing a good short fleetside bed. Just wondered if you would be interested in selling the bed.

sorry but i sold it to a friend. i kept the gold bed to use on my red truck.(real nice bed) and the red bed went with black truck.

[cartman]

Thanks OJOE, keeping a eye on your crew cab build thread. lots of great info and pics

[lolife99]

Here's a good start for you '73-'80 guys. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-...QQcmdZViewItem

[Greenlee]

Here is another good start. Only $600...

http://houston.craigslist.org/car/526589772.html

[bigoates]

Hey guys, I too am looking for a crew cab body here in NY area. Nothing nearby of course...

If anyone sees one can you pm or email me?

Thanks so much!

[wildmanaaron]

I'm a little confused. Lets say I have a 1989 1 Ton single rear crew cab and I want to put a short bed on it and use only the 1 ton frame. What do you have to do to use the longbed 1 ton frame and put a swb bed on it and still be able to bolt a rear sport bumper on the back?