For those who might not have caught it this is the link for the idea that came about for the trucks. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=609640 I decided I would make a seperate thread for the build just to make it easier. So this week/weekend I got the van ch***is pulled out and into the driveway and then with some help and got the cab sitting just quickly onto the frame, the cab sits really nice and by the looks of it the wheels are not going to stick out as I feared (doing the research payed off). Now I do have to make a few cut in the fire wall to get the cab to move forward so that the front tire will look centered in the fender, as can see by the picture with the fender just resting on the tire. I will try to keep up the pictures and work as I continue and if weather will let me(rain rain rain) Thanks for taking a look.
So the weather finally cleared up a bit so I got to work on the trucks on my lunch break today(trouble with working in driveway). I have the metal and some other stuff ready to go for this weekend so I am going to try and get some work done on the trucks. I got the back cut off the front cab and as can see from the pictures I kept the curved part attached to the back so that when I go to put it back on the other cab will try and get it to look back to factoryish. Next will be stripping the cab off the blue truck and doing the same thing. Will keep posted as work goes.
Looks like a good start. Make sure it stays aligned and square - this might be a good time to put in some temporary cross-bracing.
Looks good, there is a build thread on here where a guy did a crew cab conversion on an old Dodge cab with a ***mins Diesel engine. Had some good information that might help give you some ideas.
So this weekend was finally nice to work outside. I got the cab off the "blue" truck and cut and pushed together with the other cab. No welding on them started yet just got pic to see what started to look like. Next started on doing the cab support and frame. So what am going to do see by pictures is weld the nut on the plate then plate to bottom of the tubing, that way I can re use the original body bolts. Saving money this way too. Now the frame does look a bit high in the picture because I wanted to make sure cleared the gas tank and trying to keep the cab floors flat and mostly original. Once the frame work is done (only tacking at moment) going to set cab back on and see if the cab looks to high like a 4x4 and go from there. Might have to go into cutting the floors out to get it to look right on the frame.
Thanks AAFD after searching I did find the thread, to bad not any updates for awhile would be nice to see finished product. <!-- / message -->
So I was little busy this weekend so only got today to work on the trucks. I got rest of frame tacked together and under the cab cut, had to cut few supports off because interfering with the new frame setup. So got all that done put cab back on the frame and as I feared the cab sat way to high as can tell by picture. So off comes the cab and off I go with the cut off wheels again and drop the whole frame support down as low as I possibly can without interfering with major components on the van frame. So after while of cutting reconfiguring and more tacking put cab back on the frame and throw fender on just sitting there, sucess now it looks better still little high but if get around to lowering the truck down should sit right. Even still get to keep the inside floor of the cab where it is and flat for both cabs so thats also bonus. After cleaning up tools decided to put other cab on just for fun, actually getting somewhere now.
Thanks guys, I definitly keep posted as I progress. I know not totally HAMB freindly but body still counts right.
Cool build! I will keep an eye peeled on this one. I got a weakness for crewcabs... Where you located? -Shiny
Nice Project. Keep the pic flowing, thinking the same for my 52 COE, just bought a pick-up for the start of the build ........ next winter
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