New idea for a GM truck contraption

[imiceman44]

SO I ended up with a somewhat rusty 1991 crew cab and decided it was more than I want to deal with as far as fixing the rust, the cab is not too bad but the bed is scrap material and the frame has lost a good 10% of the thickness in the section of the rear axle.
So looking at things the wheels started turning, and I though if I would shorten the bed, but the frame is bad from the front hanger of the rear spring and back.
SO if I cut the frame at that point, and move my axle 56" forward using the front hanger as the rear shckle hanger and put another one in the front.
That would give me a wheelbase of 109" or 113" based on how I flip the 56" spring.
At first I was thinking I use it for my wagoneer which has a 110" wheelbase and I already checked most of the body mounts will lign up and it would be fairly easy, and I would have a real stout frame from a crew cab but stronger because it's shorter.
Then I remembered I already have another frame sitting so another thought came today while looking at the ext cab pickup in a CL ad.
Why not build that same truck with a shortened cab.
Taking some measurements I need to take half the door off and I will be able to fit a 39-40" tire in the back.
All that would be very easy because the frame will not be patched up, just bobbed and the bodywork can make the effort to remove the rust worth it.
What say yee?

 

[CUCV2]

The easy button says box the frame and call it a day.

 

[imiceman44]

Box the frame and call it a day.

Talking about keeping the crew cab long bed?
Too late, and I have plenty other that I can keep, this is my fun project.

 

[blazinzuk]

I think a extended cab would look sweet with the bed shortened. But not the front of the bed, the rear of the bed, bobbed close to the wheel well opening.

IMHO the make or break on these kind of trucks is where that rear wheel goes. Too far forward and it just looks dumb, like many smaller 4 dr pickups

 

[imiceman44]

I think a extended cab would look sweet with the bed shortened. But not the front of the bed, the rear of the bed, bobbed close to the wheel well opening.

IMHO the make or break on these kind of trucks is where that rear wheel goes. Too far forward and it just looks dumb, like many smaller 4 dr pickups

I agree, but if I do a ext cab with the 113" wheelbase There won't be much left for doig so and I thought flat bed, maybe like 4-5'
I want the frame to be cut a couple of inches behind the rear hanger, no overhang makes it look better.
113" is actually the wheelbase of a short bed regular cab isn't it?
or is it 116"?

 

[dremu]

I agree, but if I do a ext cab with the 113" wheelbase There won't be much left for doig so and I thought flat bed, maybe like 4-5'
I want the frame to be cut a couple of inches behind the rear hanger, no overhang makes it look better.
113" is actually the wheelbase of a short bed regular cab isn't it?
or is it 116"?

73-87 single-cab shortbeds are 117.5, to be precise. Long beds 131.5, Blazers 106.5, Suburbans 129.5, and the beloved sixpack 164.5.

Cab-n-chassis can come in some other odd sizes as well.

-- A

 

[imiceman44]

73-87 single-cab shortbeds are 117.5, to be precise. Long beds 131.5, Blazers 106.5, Suburbans 129.5, and the beloved sixpack 164.5.

Cab-n-chassis can come in some other odd sizes as well.

-- A

So as I thought, if I want to do it using the front hanger where it is, I will end up with a really short bed which I don't mind since it basically will be my wheeler.
Short wheel base, perkins engine with 465 205 and D60/ 14bff.
I will be moving my springs under the frame and moving my tanks forward, and adding a Van 45 gallon tank in the back if I decide to keep a foot or 2 behind the spring hangers.
If I cut right behind the hangers then I will be fine with just the 40 gallons.
Moving my springs under the frame will also help me get some more flex from my one ton springs.

 

[COCHEV]

I vote for the waggy I've always liked those. Put the old school small grill on the front while you're at it. I know its a Heep, but the old ones had buick v8s in em, thats gotta count for something right? LOL!

The extra cab idea is cool - which I see is being descussed around here also.

Could also put a Burb body on it...might be too long for your liking, but you'd have a true k30 burb.

 

[imiceman44]

I vote for the waggy I've always liked those. Put the old school small grill on the front while you're at it. I know its a Heep, but the old ones had buick v8s in em, thats gotta count for something right? LOL!

The extra cab idea is cool - which I see is being descussed around here also.

Could also put a Burb body on it...might be too long for your liking, but you'd have a true k30 burb.

I have the waggy, and I have the not so nice crew cab, but I do not have a suburban body anymore.
I do have 2 crew cab frames to play with so I might do both.
Obviously one after the other this time.

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

I like the idea of an extended cab 80s truck, plus how many have you actually ever seen. I say build an extended cab