73-87 extended cab

[k20]

Well the rat on a wheel is running full bore. I know back in the mid 80s there was an aftermarket company that made the c/ks into extended cabs. Pretty sure it was fiberglass as all the pics I see the extended cab part doesnt quite match (paint wise) to the rest of the truck.

Anyway, does anyone have any idea of what it would take/how to go about making one into an extended cab w/ metal. Figuring you could chop up another cab, or the center section of a burban or something. I love my reg cabs but my 6'3 self has to fold up to get in. My dually has me spoiled with room.

Heres a couple pics of what I am thinking. No they arent my truck, just the same color, tire size, etc.

 

[fenderbender]

I've been thinking about doing the same thing to the k20 I have. Its that or make a short-bed out of it

 

[Confedneck]

that is hideous, if you have to butcher your truck, at least put some effort into it, maybe a set of the extended cab windows from a dodge, those are too square...

 

[Confedneck]

oh, and make it out of steel and paint the whole truck so it matches... and detrim... ugghh that thing is nasty

 

[k20]

well that is the original one they made back in the 80s. Ever look at the nose of a 3rd gen camaro? Very rare to see the rubber nose exactly match the steel on the hood. I dont know, kicking around different ideas in my head....I think the worst part of that is the rear window like you said, I think it goes too far back, and is a tick too tall, so it gets too close to that upper back corner.

 

[Confedneck]

well that is the original one they made back in the 80s. Ever look at the nose of a 3rd gen camaro? Very rare to see the rubber nose exactly match the steel on the hood. I dont know, kicking around different ideas in my head....I think the worst part of that is the rear window like you said, I think it goes too far back, and is a tick too tall, so it gets too close to that upper back corner.

No doubt, two different materials are nearly impossible to match perfectly. I wouldn't do an extended cab conversion, if you want that, buy a dodge with a 12valve in it...

 

[blazinzuk]

Over the years I have seen a couple very well executed extended cab Chevys.

I like em alot.

I think it would not be any little task, you would certainly learn alot about body work.

I have several friends who have taken on projects like this with older trucks, which I think would be a touch harder because of the roofs but it has taken them both a year plus to finish it out.

I would estimate a year to do it if you haven't ever done anything like it before.

The other thing about bodywork like this is set up a plan on don't compromise on it. It may take you 2 weeks just to join two pieces together. So? If thats what you want take your time and get to it

 

[496truck]

Pretty sure the originals were metal. They certainly rusted away like metal.

Keep in mind that with pics and sunlight and panel alignment off just enough, it can look like a different color shade. Which would make you think it's a different material seeing it on a computer screen.

 

[greywolf]

what about an extended s10 cab window? you could cut out of truck and have the frame and then it would open and close,cut and make it longer so it matches better..
if i get to that point i'll post pics

 

[gone huntin]

The ones that I've seen in junk yards were metal, well, mostly Bondo actually.

 

[rcpd34]

Looks cool; never seen one before.

 

[Big Ray]

I got Truckin magazine for years, seen some great executions of ext/crew cabs. Mainly 50's & 60's era trucks. Not so much with these...

 

[GMC Truck]

Looks like they chopped the front off the bed to make it work, the fuel doors are too close to the front of the bed to be a short bed. I have always wanted to take two cabs and join them together back-to-back and make the rear cab hood into a trunk. Four doors, two bench seats (one facing rearward) and a massive trunk! That would be diffrent...