AD truck guys, need advice

I want to build a hauler truck similar to this...



My donor is a later model cab/ ch***is dually...



What I want to do is pull the cab and clip off this truck and put an AD cab and clip onto it's ch***is. I thought the earlier AD trucks used different front clips with larger wheel wells for 1 ton and larger trucks. Is this true ?

If so, is the same cab used for all AD truck sizes with just different clips ?
Are the wheel wells for 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks too small for the dually wheels and tires in the front?

Once I get the earlier model sheetmetal for this project, building mounts and doing the rest of the work is right up my alley.

Thanks in advance,
Kevin Ayers

 

smarter folks than me here ,but i think,think, the fenders are the same,just bigger wheel openings. guys?seen some 1 tons done like that,pretty cool. cabs are the same. good luck

 

47 - 55 cabs are the came up to 2ton, just different clips. i believe the 2 ton front clips i believe are alittle wider which is good for the doner tract width. now the square body frame has a kickup under under the cab, which means either you will have to raise part of the older cabs floor or maybe use the doner floor in the older cab, which mite help you as far having not to make cab mounts, either way you go its a doable project, and keep us posted when you start the build

 

1/2-, 3/4- and 1-ton AD/ND trucks use the same cab and clip. Larger trucks, except the COE and much larger GMC's, use the same cab but larger hood, fenders and grill.

The correct answer is no because of the exceptions noted above, but most the AD trucks you'll actually see use the same cab.

No. Both Chevy and GMC built dual wheel versions of the 1-ton using the same sheet metal found on a 1/2-ton truck.

Pictures please!

You are going to find the front track width on your donor is quite a bit more than what fits under the fenders on the AD/ND trucks.

 

On a build like this I'd think about widening the front fenders 1 1/2 - 2 inches to match the front track. and go GMC

 

This makes my swap so much easier if I can use any 1/2 or 3/4 ton donor for cab and clip. Call me crazy, but I want a 3 window cab for this truck rather than the 5 window style.

I don't sweat the width too much. I have seen the later suspensions under the earlier rucks and do realize that they put the track width out even with the edges of the fenders. As tall as this truck will sit though, I don't think I will deal with any interference issues.

 

Get a 1 1/2 ton or larger clip. It is 3 inches wider with a little larger wheel opening.

 

nice thing about using the sheetmetal off the 1.5 ton and up AD trucks is its CHEAP! not really in the large demand except to certain groups that restore them. those things are laying around usually with damaged rear differentials in them as this was why most of them stopped getting used. check out the cl***ifieds on www.stovebolt.com and you will probably find some there.

 

I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for a bigger truck donor if I can find one to make it easier. I appreciate everyone's input on this matter.

 

I used that exact same truck for my donor and this is what I have so far. This is a gmc 250 which is the 1-ton truck, the fenders are right over the outer edge of the wheels.

http://rides.webshots.com/slideshow/567461654mqrReu