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Hypothetical crewcab build... Which way would you go?

Old or new base

  • Go old

    Votes: 3 30.0%

  • Start modern

    Votes: 3 30.0%

  • Throw money in trash can now and save time/sanity and knuckles

    Votes: 4 40.0%
  • Total voters
    10
shady

shady

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I've pondered this question before a few times. But if you wanted an end result of a squarebody, 1 ton, crew cab, short bed, 3"-5" lift, with all modern drivetrain. That will be a DD family rig that does occasional overlanding. Would you,

A. Find a squarebody CC hopefully in all good condition and swap in all the motor, tranny, computer, disc brakes, etc... Then shorten the frame and all that goes with it.. (I know that's exactly what a few have done, and a bunch have w/o the short bed part lol.)

Or

B. Find a rough 96-09'ish (because vortec) crewcab short bed 2500 or 3500 with a good drive train. Then just swap bodies and do an SAS someday...

In this scenario Both options you would be eventually someday doing links and coilovers designed for ride more than articulation. Keep that in mind when thinking about it.

Sounds like the same amount of overall work to me. But the starting vehicle will be about the same price. So It seems cheaper and kind of easier to buy a nice fixable cab/ box separately and find a Ford d60. Than to buy the newer motor,tranny, disc Conversion, etc. (A 96-99 I'd even consider leaving the body alone myself :D)

Plus you could do the front links and coils at the time of the SAS....

Personally I think I'm getting old because ive kind of gotten to like traction control too:rolleyes:

Stability control can bite me though :flipoff11:lol


Which way would you go.....?:thinking:
 
Find a 96-99 and leave the body, do a Furt HP front axle.

Doing the body swap sucks
 
When I was looking for a truck recently I found a nice one in that body that was what I wanted but a little too tall. 10k but sweet.... Then I let my uncle talk me into going newer for some reason :doah:. Lol. Oh well. I like mine now.

I figured a body swap would be easier.... Few mount changes and some sheet metal...:dunno: never done it though :haha:

Contemplating replacing the burb. And a ccsb square has been a dream of mine for long before I liked burbs lol... But for now it's all in a dream build, idea gathering stage. Gonna spruce up the burb, see if someone from CL will give me too much for it, and go from there. If not, I keep it. If so I start actively looking for it's replacement. But for now I just want to see what others would do to build one
 
I would say it really would end up on what I found when looking.

But if you really want a square CCSB then go that way.

Cause for the time and money investment you want a truck that you keep forever and one you always turn around to look at when you park it
 
I really loved that maroon one I had, but it was a cobbled chit bag. And all half decrepid 1/2 ton stuff to boot.

Our tenative plan (since I flat SUCK at saving $$) is to keep the Silverado till payoff and sell it outright, add that to some cash from a 401k loan at that time, Then use the money as a down payment for a house outside of town. I have until then to find a starter truck and get it modern running gear and reliable. That was sort of why I bought newish and low miles.... Resale value in 5 years. Plus I get to drive a reliable truck till then. And hopefully have a reliable truck thats what I want ready to take it's place.

Initially my wife wouldn't hear of me selling the burb. But she's onboard finally. Lol

Shortening a square, body work, SAS,... All that is secondary to it having a rebuilt modern drivetrain by then.

In all actuality for what it'll be afterwards I really don't even need it to have 1 tons or even a SAS. 35"-37" tires max. But 10b's won't do, Sooo.... Lol

Biggest hurdle around here is finding a crewcab square 4x4 to start with. That's why I thought of the body swap. In the first place.

Anyone ever tried putting an old cab on a newer frame:dunno:
 
That body is close enough to a square to be ok. I like them. Not sure when it changed, but I know the 02 I looked at was a different looking body. Not into them as much
 
Yep, that body is still better either way I cut it lol... Nice truck
 
New truck is gonna be less noise. Not much you can do about wind noise in a square. But I do like the older trucks.

I actually think the older truck would be WAY more expensive to do.

Newer truck is rebuild what's there solid axle it and run around with good HVAC much quieter due to design, probably won't have to replace ALL the weather stripping etc.

Older truck is more work, more expensive, but IMHO much cooler
 
I know that from the 17k I had in my son's truck:doah:

Finding a CCSB in the 96-99 era is getting hard kinda.... I'll have to do some searching. Probably does me no good till I actually sell my burb though. Nobody will give me chit for trade on it. Dealer wise anyway. And it'd have to be the right guy to trade it to privately on one..
 
Squares are getting retardedly exspensive. I wanted another one but couldn't find one without giving up first born. Plus many don't have stupid cup holders!! And parts are getting tougher to find and surprise more expensive. I looked for awhile for a CCSB, and got lucky looking on c-list one day. If it wasn't for a tired ass motor would be great truck. Power everything, quiet, lots of room, and cup holders!!! All it needs (besides the 8.1) is to do the SAS on it. Finding a square crew that is decent ain't gonna be cheap, then building to what you want is even more. They prices are going, prolly find a CCSB cheaper than a square.....
 
Remember the 96-98 crewcabs were longbeds. Crewcab shortbed in the gm400 platform were only available in the 99 and 2000 model years. Only the 2000s had the 6.5td as an option, not that you said anything about a diesel but I threw that in there.

While I love the square body trucks, the 90s I think are a better choice for what you want.
 
I would find a Dmax and SAS it and be done. Ice cold air, good heat, and easily be able to pull toys or put a slide in.
 
H20 Toie said:
I vote go old and put in new parts
Not that it makes sense but that's what I am doing
It took awhile to find the right one but they are out there

View attachment 234308
Click to expand...

If your truck is the same as mine (1991 V3500) then you got lucky and found one that is the best mix of modern technology and old a square body there ever was. My 1991 V3500 came with TBI and an over-drive transmission the rare 4L80E/NP205 combonation. I am assuming by the front grill of your V series crew cab that it is a 1991 like mine.
 
Last edited:
1-ton said:
If your truck is the same as mine (1991 V3500) then you got lucky and found one that is the best mix of modern technology and old a square body there ever was. My 1991 V3500 came with TBI and an over-drive transmission the rare 4L80E/NP205 combonation. I am assuming by the front grill of your V series crew cab that it is a 1991 like mine.
Click to expand...

Its a 89 so no overdrive
 
Im not sure about the 96-98 thing.... I believe I have seen some though. I think the black one I almost bought was a 98 actually. I'm pretty positive it wasn't newer than that. If anything older. At the time I was searching I thought 98-99 was the big body switch.. I dunno though.

I found a great truck to start with already. 90 cc in nice shape with new 35"s. But it's $8k and 400 mi away. And I haven't sold mine yet. So I guess I quit looking and start waxing the burb up for CL
 
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