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New Tow Rig - 83 Chevy Megacab

T

t0mills

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Picked this up from a buddys back yard for scrap value... :eek1:

Motor has a knock, and it needs a bit of bodywork/paint. Has a vinyl top that needs to be REMOVED. :rolleyes:

454
SM465

Dana Rear - Looks like an 80... See pics below.

Built by Executive Coaches in Springfield, MO in 1983. It's a 4 door, but has rear facing buckets in the back, and a front facing bench. Up front is another bench. Has a powered divider that can separate the rear area from the front.


Here are some pics. Keep in mind that the driver side rear only has 1 wheel on it, and the tire is flat. That's causing the bed to look like it's not lined up... The tires on this thing had long been gone, so it's sititng on some junk rollers.

SU1HMDA0NDgtMjAxMDEyMDgtMDkwNy5qcGc.jpg


SU1HMDA0NDktMjAxMDEyMDgtMDkwOC5qcGc.jpg


SU1HMDA0NTAtMjAxMDEyMDgtMDkwOC5qcGc.jpg


SU1HMDA0NTEtMjAxMDEyMDgtMDkwOS5qcGc.jpg


SU1HMDA0NTItMjAxMDEyMDgtMDkwOS5qcGc.jpg


SU1HMDA0NTMtMjAxMDEyMDgtMDkxMC5qcGc.jpg







The dodge sitting next to it has a Dana 80 rear:

SU1HMDA0NTctMjAxMDEyMDgtMDkxNy5qcGc.jpg




Looking at them side by side, they look the exact same... I know that Dana 70s are close in comparison to a 14b FF, and this thing is way bigger than a 14b rear.
I need to pull the cover off and check it out.


SU1HMDA0NTgtMjAxMDEyMDgtMDkxOC5qcGc.jpg


SU1HMDA0NTktMjAxMDEyMDgtMDkxOS5qcGc.jpg






I'd love to do another Chevy Cummins swap, and this just may be the truck that I do it to. If I had it my way, I would convert it to 4wd, do a 4" lift, and run 37" hummer tires on it.



:D
 
is that a built in atari? :D

what are you going to use it for? it would be a great shaggin wagon.
 
That is coool. I'm not a big fan of conversion stuff, but to fix it up and use it as a tow rig that you could live in. Re-do the interior and make it niiice.
 
God, I thought the (two-piece) driveshaft on my six-pack was stupid long ... that's a BEAST.

It's also an absolute diamond in the rough, and I would kill for such a truck, even though I couldn't get it onto my property (turn radius is what, like eight hundred feet? :haha: ) and it would be useless in town ... but yeah, wheelbase is king for towing, right? :eek:

(Actually I loathe the maroon interiors, and the sunroof would get welded over... but still, dayum!)



-- A
 
1BEATK5 said:
is that a built in atari? :D

what are you going to use it for? it would be a great shaggin wagon.
Click to expand...


Could be an atari! Haha, I haven't gone through it yet, but I do know that it has a sweet sony TV built into the console... :thumb:

I really just bought it to keep it from going to the scrap yard. $250 was a good deal for it I think. I have another 12v cummins sitting in the shop, that I'm dying to put into another chevy. I think this one might make a pretty sweet project!
 
OK I think I am done with this, I thought I was coming up with a rare idea but just as I started thinking about doing the project I started seing tons of them, although my idea is a bit diferent from this one since I was thinking 3+3+3 but still the same look.
Oh well.
I would definitely clean it up and put a cummins in it, but about the 4x4... I don't think this wheelbase will be any good anywhere.
Turning radius is huge but the breakover angle is as well.
For the street I would keep it stock height and just use it for long towing trips.:waytogo:
 
Yeah, all the comments about the turning radius are, indeed, correct. It's a beast to say the least.

In all honesty, I'll probably end up dropping the 12v in it, having my buddy to the bodywork/paint, and cleaning up the interior nicely. It's not in bad shape at all. Just dirty, and needs cleaned up.

And hey, don't diss the red interior! Lol, it matches my 77 K5...right down to the sunroof!

Main reason I was pondering 4wd, is because this truck would be useless on even wet grass... And i'm pretty sure at the stock ride height, that it *MAY* get high centered on a speed bump.

Don't even ask me how we got this on, and off, of my deck over goose neck trailer! I will say that it did involve the use of my backhoe.
 
A bed in the back half of the cab would be awesome for long trips and camping.
 
t0mills said:
Don't even ask me how we got this on, and off, of my deck over goose neck trailer! I will say that it did involve the use of my backhoe.
Click to expand...

No pix, didn't happen.

But, umm, You Might Be A Redneck If ... you buy a truck, and use your backhoe to move it.

I'm just sayin' :D

-- A
 
Obviously I am the only voice of reason here. That thing will be useless as a 4 wd anything. Put the 12v in it and oh I don't know about a 4/6 drop, then it will still be useful.

Nice score
 
Sweet score!!! :thumb:
I'd say clean the interior out, ditch the vinyl top, put a full back window in (but make a privacy blocker to keep behind the rear seat and put into place when ya sleep in it). Find one of those folding bed rear seats from a conversion van in matching red if ya can, and ditch the center console and buckets in the back in favor of the folding bed seat. Keep the power privacy divider though, it'd be great for sleeping time! Do a 4x4 conversion and 4-6" lift (not for wheeling but just for the clearance, half the railroad crossings around here would high center that rig, LOL!) Cummins conversion, some 19+" medium duty tires and wheels (should give ya 37" tires but with a road worthy tread), etc. Ultimate tow beast!!! That'd be sweet! Might get some flack for this but, I would HAVE to go with stacks on it! Nothing ridiculously sized but, they would just seem right to me! :pimp:
 
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