This thread is for the general discussion of the Item Squarebody Mega Cab. Please add to the discussion here.
Please pardon the brain dump here.
Always had a soft spot for the extended crew cab western haulers of the 80’s, and was looking for one back in the mid/late 2000’s, but on east coast if there were any, they were likely casualty of rust, and I never ended up finding one.
Fast forward to today. Modern truck proportions have really changed since the 80’s. Cabs are more spacious and can be had with all the creature comforts you find in high end suv’s. Of course the price of one of these brand new is crazy. Add in the growing popularity of pickup trucks, and these newer crew cabs are everywhere.
My situation: I have a 3yr old and a wife who has said she will never drive a crew cab (she wants an suv, and grew up driving suburbans, so she can handle the long wheelbase overall length). She also said the k5 i bought was silly and didnt understand it. Once I got the soft top on it and took our son out in it, they were both hooked. Now my wife loves the blazer. The goal of this build is to change her mind about what a crew cab can be, while making a modernized squarebody crew cab that can carry my family comfortably; a crew cab she will want to take on road trips because it has everything. While I’m at it, i do want it to have modern power, and maybe not 700+ hp like the ford raptor or ram trx, but enough to have fun
The squarebody crew cab, while awesome as is, has a small back seat, which sucks for a car seat and adult leg room for extended periods of time. Back in the day, they served their purpose, but unfortunately it wont serve mine. If I want to convince my family this will be our go-to road trip vehicle, it needs more space.
The suburbans have the rear seat about 3-4” further back than the crew cabs, and as such, have more space in the back seat. My plan is to create extra space in a pickup format, so naturally this seems like a great starting point.
The suburban also has some other advantages I plan to take advantage of. First, the lack of saddle tanks, means the floor is flat, and the seats can fold flat forward, allowing for decent amount of weatherproof flat surface area for carrying tool box, luggage, etc. that you dont bave with a standard crew cab. This flat floor will also give me more flexibility for installing modern seats, without having to work around the humps. I will plan to use a 40 gal suburban tanks between the rear frame rails, so will have large capacity with a simpler fuel system vs 2 saddle tanks and the extras that go along with having 2 tanks.
Anyways, as is stands currently my vision is:
-K30 crew cab frame
-Suburban body, cut down to add additional space behind the factory seats, with pickup truck back panel. (Suburban roof line is higher than CC starting at 2nd row, I’ll talk about the couple options I’ve been working through to address this shortly)
-short bed (will see how proportions look, as to whether bed is modified or left stock; stock would be ideal so I can leverage aftermarket accessories without having to modify stuff); gas doors removed for clean look
-40 gal suburban tank, rear tail light filler made by LS Fabrication, will make it much easier since the factory gas doors will be far away from suburban tank. Dont want to add door into bed behind wheel.
-modern interior from a recent denali/high country (heated/ventilated seats, center console with rear heat/ac), TBD on the dash, thinking it may just be factory square, with aftermarket gauges. Door panels will be an update of the factory square panels.
-dont have front clip yet, so have flexibility on that, not sure yet if will be round eye or quad headlight setup.
-tundra (1st choice) or titan (2nd choice) roll down rear window (may be a pipe dream, we will see)
Powertrain/drivetrain:
-LT1/10L80 (still working through how challenging this will be vs other swaps, but this would be the target)
-need to work through tcase options, will try to stay pass drop if I can, but may not be possible, need to see whats out there. Even thought about a divorce 205 with cable shifter
-60 front with big brake setup
-AAM 10.5/11.5 rear
Suspension/tires:
-4-5” lift
-KISS answer would be ORD leaves front and rear, but will give Stephen a call to see what he thinks best approach is for this build’s goals
-35’s on 17” steel wheels with dogdish hubcaps (i know 18’s are out there, and may end up that route if cant make 17’s work)
I’m currently in parts gathering mode for the body, thats the #1 priority to get the cab ironed out and then figure out what I need to do to frame/bed to get it looking the way I want it. I wont be making any cuts until have all the body parts needed to get it weather tight. Hoping to be at that stage this fall before winter.
Since this is just the first post I’ll pause there for now on the ‘justifications’ for this build lol. Certainly this build will be expensive, but I love squares and I would rather have a badass unique truck that nobody else has vs buying a newer crew cab everyone does. Hopefully the build costs less than buying a new one…we’ll see
Edit:
Placeholder for items for ideas to incorporate into the build. Not necessarily items to be used, but list for me to remember where i found things. A place to jot them down:
Valved exhaust (similar to mild to wild in c6 vettes)
US wheel 17” wheels for hubcaps
www.uswheel.com
Universal bed extender
Truxedo roll up tonneau cover
Amp power retractable steps (this kit is square specific but expensive)
farfromstockstore.com
Soundman ipad mount
soundman.co
Remote start, locks, windows
shop.autoloc.com
LT swap harness mod and other LT swap items
One piece rear window kit
www.onepieceproducts.com
Please pardon the brain dump here.
Always had a soft spot for the extended crew cab western haulers of the 80’s, and was looking for one back in the mid/late 2000’s, but on east coast if there were any, they were likely casualty of rust, and I never ended up finding one.
Fast forward to today. Modern truck proportions have really changed since the 80’s. Cabs are more spacious and can be had with all the creature comforts you find in high end suv’s. Of course the price of one of these brand new is crazy. Add in the growing popularity of pickup trucks, and these newer crew cabs are everywhere.
My situation: I have a 3yr old and a wife who has said she will never drive a crew cab (she wants an suv, and grew up driving suburbans, so she can handle the long wheelbase overall length). She also said the k5 i bought was silly and didnt understand it. Once I got the soft top on it and took our son out in it, they were both hooked. Now my wife loves the blazer. The goal of this build is to change her mind about what a crew cab can be, while making a modernized squarebody crew cab that can carry my family comfortably; a crew cab she will want to take on road trips because it has everything. While I’m at it, i do want it to have modern power, and maybe not 700+ hp like the ford raptor or ram trx, but enough to have fun
The squarebody crew cab, while awesome as is, has a small back seat, which sucks for a car seat and adult leg room for extended periods of time. Back in the day, they served their purpose, but unfortunately it wont serve mine. If I want to convince my family this will be our go-to road trip vehicle, it needs more space.
The suburbans have the rear seat about 3-4” further back than the crew cabs, and as such, have more space in the back seat. My plan is to create extra space in a pickup format, so naturally this seems like a great starting point.
The suburban also has some other advantages I plan to take advantage of. First, the lack of saddle tanks, means the floor is flat, and the seats can fold flat forward, allowing for decent amount of weatherproof flat surface area for carrying tool box, luggage, etc. that you dont bave with a standard crew cab. This flat floor will also give me more flexibility for installing modern seats, without having to work around the humps. I will plan to use a 40 gal suburban tanks between the rear frame rails, so will have large capacity with a simpler fuel system vs 2 saddle tanks and the extras that go along with having 2 tanks.
Anyways, as is stands currently my vision is:
-K30 crew cab frame
-Suburban body, cut down to add additional space behind the factory seats, with pickup truck back panel. (Suburban roof line is higher than CC starting at 2nd row, I’ll talk about the couple options I’ve been working through to address this shortly)
-short bed (will see how proportions look, as to whether bed is modified or left stock; stock would be ideal so I can leverage aftermarket accessories without having to modify stuff); gas doors removed for clean look
-40 gal suburban tank, rear tail light filler made by LS Fabrication, will make it much easier since the factory gas doors will be far away from suburban tank. Dont want to add door into bed behind wheel.
-modern interior from a recent denali/high country (heated/ventilated seats, center console with rear heat/ac), TBD on the dash, thinking it may just be factory square, with aftermarket gauges. Door panels will be an update of the factory square panels.
-dont have front clip yet, so have flexibility on that, not sure yet if will be round eye or quad headlight setup.
-tundra (1st choice) or titan (2nd choice) roll down rear window (may be a pipe dream, we will see)
Powertrain/drivetrain:
-LT1/10L80 (still working through how challenging this will be vs other swaps, but this would be the target)
-need to work through tcase options, will try to stay pass drop if I can, but may not be possible, need to see whats out there. Even thought about a divorce 205 with cable shifter
-60 front with big brake setup
-AAM 10.5/11.5 rear
Suspension/tires:
-4-5” lift
-KISS answer would be ORD leaves front and rear, but will give Stephen a call to see what he thinks best approach is for this build’s goals
-35’s on 17” steel wheels with dogdish hubcaps (i know 18’s are out there, and may end up that route if cant make 17’s work)
I’m currently in parts gathering mode for the body, thats the #1 priority to get the cab ironed out and then figure out what I need to do to frame/bed to get it looking the way I want it. I wont be making any cuts until have all the body parts needed to get it weather tight. Hoping to be at that stage this fall before winter.
Since this is just the first post I’ll pause there for now on the ‘justifications’ for this build lol. Certainly this build will be expensive, but I love squares and I would rather have a badass unique truck that nobody else has vs buying a newer crew cab everyone does. Hopefully the build costs less than buying a new one…we’ll see
Edit:
Placeholder for items for ideas to incorporate into the build. Not necessarily items to be used, but list for me to remember where i found things. A place to jot them down:
Valved exhaust (similar to mild to wild in c6 vettes)
US wheel 17” wheels for hubcaps
U.S. Wheel - OE (Series 659)
U.S. Wheel’s beginnings go back to the early 60’s with the family owned metal stamping facility. In the 80’s we branched off with a small back alley shop and began manufacturing completed steel wheels. Now that we’re entering the 21st century we have steadily and consistently grown to become one...
Universal bed extender
Truxedo roll up tonneau cover
Amp power retractable steps (this kit is square specific but expensive)
Sqaure Body Chevy 73-87 Amp Research Power Folding Step KitCrew Cab
Easily add a power step kit to your Sqaure Body Chevy 73-87. Amp Research Power Folding Step Kit, 2 or 4 wheel drive, regular cab or crew cab. Super sturdy final product. You will like how they feel for a firm step. 4 lower pinch seam bolts and material to spread the load with necessary upper...
Soundman ipad mount
All Products | Soundman Enterprises, Inc.
The official All Products collection for Soundman Enterprises, Inc.. Shop products like: 4.6C - 6.5 inch coaxial speaker set, 4.6K3 CX - 3-way passive crossover network, and more.
soundman.co
Remote start, locks, windows
Autoloc Remote Car Power Window Control Kit w/ & 8 Channel Keyless Ent
AutoLoc's exclusive PWRE85 will allow you to remotely control any two power windows with ease. This kit works on any domestic, import, and after-market power window system.Each kit comes with two long-range remotes that allow you to control your windows both up and down. This AutoLoc remote...
shop.autoloc.com
LT swap harness mod and other LT swap items
Home
SWAPTIME IS ACCEPTING HARNESS REWORK SERVICE FOR THE FOLLWING DRIVTRAINS GM GEN V LV1, LV3, L83,L86,LT1, LT4 LTG- Lots of love for these power houses. LFX-These V6's have some power! LGX-These have...
www.swaptimeusa.com
One piece rear window kit
1973 - 1991 GM Truck Rear Suburban/Dually 1pc Door Glass Kit
One Piece Products Eliminates Old outdated Vent Glass to a solid glass conversion. One Piece door glass conversion kits and Flush Fit Windshield Conversions. Global shipping available!
www.onepieceproducts.com
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