my 85 extended cab project

[85extcab]

I bought this truck my my oldest daughter to be her first truck I have been slowley collecting rust free parts and pieces. I finnaly got all the body pannels all together and mocked up with some 38's which are a little bigger than I wanted but they look pretty good. I have it torn back down to a bare frame and will begin the repaint the frame and rebuild the axles and do a disc brake conversion. It now has a 14ff and 10 bolt front I realize the 10 bolt is not perfect but it will have work. The truck has a alum headed small block with 10.5 to 1 compression and a pretty good cam. The truck was in a mag back in 98 and they claimed 425hp with a tpi setup. I am also running 700r4 and 4:10 gears. Hopefully the pics will work. http://

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[85extcab]

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[ccarley]

Sick!

Looks like a cool project. The 38's sure don't look that bad.

Clay

 

[crawdaddy]

Sweet truck. Looks like a real good start. Subscribed

 

[gone huntin]

You're off to a great start, but I can tell you from experience that 700r4 won't be happy at all with the 4.10's and 38's. I tried running 35's with my 4.10's and it kept going in and out of overdrive constantly. I went back to 33's and it's happy now.

 

[85extcab]

You're off to a great start, but I can tell you from experience that 700r4 won't be happy at all with the 4.10's and 38's. I tried running 35's with my 4.10's and it kept going in and out of overdrive constantly. I went back to 33's and it's happy now.

I have been battling myself over the tire size it's my daughters first truck for when she turns 16 and I have been throwing arround the idea of taking off the body lift(2 inches) and running some 35's my brother is trying to convince me that 33's are the way to go. I just think the 35 will ride better than any 38

 

[throttleissues]

Helluva first truck for your daughter. I'd think the gearing and front 10b would be a lot happier with 35s. BTW, I like the paint job. Very "80's patchwork quilt".

 

[85extcab]

^^^^^Yea I am hoping the trend will catch on. It's torn apart now the frame is first on the list and then body work and paint. I was thrilled when she said she wanted it white because I am not a great bodyman but white I can do

 

[crawdaddy]

38's can be a lot to handle on the highway for a first time driver. For the gearing 33's would be best. But 35's would look good.

 

[tymbom]

I remember that truck from the magazine article. Didn't it have a later model dashboard in it?

 

[str8axle55]

I like it, ditch the body lift, and start out with the 33`s. Lots of truck for a new driver, she`ll be happy.

 

[85extcab]

I am pretty sure that the body lift is going but because of the way the extended cab floor is built I need to keep about a 1 inch bodylift so I am just wondering how a 6" suspension and 1" bodylift will look with 33's.


And yes the truck did have a 96 chevy dash done very crude and falling apart so I removed it and rewelded a factory dash back in.

 

[shady]

Not real good. Try to trade the 6" lift for a 4" I'm sure some one wants to upgrade. Try craigslist and here. Or buy a front sring 4" kit and do the shackle flip out back $400-500 total. then sell the 6" or start your own project

 

[82355]

Hahahaha. I was thinking of that exact magazine article when I read the thread title. As I was waiting for the page to load, I was thinking to myself, "I wonder if he is going to just build one like that guy in the offroad mag from years ago?"

Martin

 

[82355]

You don't have a link to that article do you? Or pictures of it?

Martin

 

[85extcab]

You don't have a link to that article do you? Or pictures of it?

Martin

Yes I have the magazine I will have too see if our scanner works if it does I will post the pics. I bought the truck off craigslist and when I saw it I was brought back to day dreaming about building a truck just like it. But as soon as my daughter saw it on the trailer her dream began and mine ended. I am hoping she will get more and more into building trucks and hot rods as she get older

 

[jt512]

38's can be a lot to handle on the highway for a first time driver. For the gearing 33's would be best. But 35's would look good.

Agree , I ran 35's with a 700 but with 4.56's and to me it felt perfect, 4.10's would be best with 33's.

Love the truck should be awesome

 

[sweetk30]

mymike built a crew cab on a shortbed frame. he did a body lift in parts and mounts positioned in others to fit it.

but he still had to channel the floor for the frame rails to clear.

if you just need frame rail clearence thats easy. look nere the end of his build were he lined the inside of the cab. you can see the 2 small runner channels for the frame to clear. just to give you some ideas.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175774&highlight=crewcab

good luck with the build and sweet truck .

but like others have said thats a lot of truck and motor for a first time driver. i would let her practive on a beeter first.

and the 6" lift with 33"-35" would be better than 38" . and get you a radial tire for better ride. but if just 33" i would swap to a set of 4" lift springs and a shackle flip for smooth ride in the rear.