well finally started to see some progress on my short 1ton 4dr truck. we cut the frame tonight and its pretty much ready to weld back together. whats the wheelbase for a shortbed 4dr truck in 87, or did they even make one? my wheelbase will be 137". this will be my tow rig, and i didn't want to make the bed so short my 4wheeler wouldnt' load up in the bed also.
picture links:
http://yota1man.tripod.com/cutframe
http://yota1man.tripod.com/shorty
http://yota1man.tripod.com/allcut
http://yota1man.tripod.com/fullpic
http://yota1man.tripod.com/together
http://yota1man.tripod.com/weldit

Haven't figured out how to mount the side tanks yet. may have to find a suburban 40gallon for a diesel to slap in the back. once i get it all welded back together I can put in my 1ton axles and drivetrain.

http://yota1man.tripod.com/cutframe
http://yota1man.tripod.com/shorty
http://yota1man.tripod.com/allcut
http://yota1man.tripod.com/fullpic
http://yota1man.tripod.com/together
http://yota1man.tripod.com/weldit
newbies :flipoff2: , you can :beer: me later

oh ya, looks good, make sure to post back up when you get the bed on it

I think you should of z cut it instead of just cutting it straight. Make sure you weld a plate on the back or soemthing too.

Keep the pics coming.

HEY!!!! That truck looks familiar!! You ain't gonna give a man credit for getting that 'piece' for ya :flipoff2: :laughing: :laughing: ..... HAHAHA.... I'm just playing, Mike. Great to see you're making progress - looks awesome! Keep the photos coming, and all the details of everything. Looking forward to it..... :smokin:

What is your wheelbase going to be? Looks about suburban range (like my 91).

I would go suburban tank too. Going to be easier (and safer) then saddle tanks.

Shane

Yeah, no they didn't make a 4door short bed back in the day.

As for wheelbase? If you're not going to run a stock Chevy short bed box, then you can make it whatever. If not, I'd measure from the back of the cab to the center of the hub on a short bed or same vintage and set your wheelbase that way so that the axle lines up as a stock GM one should.
If I had a shortbed to measure I'd get you a measurement, but I don't.
Anyone?

I love this idea, what a fun ass trail/drinking rig..... 6 amigos, 12 burritos and a cooler of beer!!

HEY!!!! That truck looks familiar!! You ain't gonna give a man credit for getting that 'piece' for ya :flipoff2: :laughing: :laughing: ..... HAHAHA.... I'm just playing, Mike. Great to see you're making progress - looks awesome! Keep the photos coming, and all the details of everything. Looking forward to it..... :smokin:
Why yea, Chris gave me the hookup on this ride. i thought about cuting it at an angle but decided to cut it straight, between the front spring hanger, which has the spring hanger holding it on both sides and the crossmember wil be in the middle holding it also. we also cut the bottom of the frame edge so it overlaps both ways about six inches. i was going to just move the spring hangers but decided I didn't like the way it was going to turn out.
my wheelbase will be 137", i'm using the longbed and cutting it short between the cab and wheel. its about 4" longer than my regular longbed wheelbase but if i cut it any shorter i would've had to seriously modify the rear cab mounts, so i will just have to get a longer driveshaft made.
thanks k5chevyblazer for posting the pics where people can see them. I'm too cheap to pay the money to post pics right now. :p
I'm hoping to have the bed cut and sitting on it by the weekend.
suburban wheelbase, 129" longbed, 131.5, 4dr, 165".

Hey, Mike, I saw this in the free section - I had to let ya know 'bout it. Get on that biatch! Good luck..... :p

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3328761&posted=1#post3328761

I recognize that truck, you didn't happen to find a 5/16" socket in there did you :p The frame on it was in good shape as well as the body. Should be sweet when its finished :smokin:

I recognize that truck, you didn't happen to find a 5/16" socket in there did you :p The frame on it was in good shape as well as the body. Should be sweet when its finished :smokin:
haven't seen any socket, what were you working on in it last?
i appreciate that link. i've got a friend out there in cali, if i can get in touch with him maybe he can pickup the engine for me. he's supposed to be coming back this way soon.
just gotta find time to finish welding the frame and gusseting it.

haven't seen any socket, what were you working on in it last?
i appreciate that link. i've got a friend out there in cali, if i can get in touch with him maybe he can pickup the engine for me. he's supposed to be coming back this way soon.
just gotta find time to finish welding the frame and gusseting it.


No problem, Mike - best of luck to ya. Oh, and if ya see Corey's socket, holla!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Heres a couple pics of my buddys crew. It started as a dually and he shortened it and swapped out the axles. It has a 12" superlift in it. It actually rides really decent even with the 12" springs due to the weight and wheelbase. Never mind the tires, he usually runs 36" Cepek F-C's but in these pics it has 35" BFG muds on 12" welds. He doesn't wheel it, it's his tow rig.

#2

I didn't know you could get a one ton with a semi floating rear axle..... : :confused:

that is just bitchin lookin. what did he do, shorten it and put on a shortbed box? i've cut 28 inches out of mine so it will be cut just behind the fuel door towards the tires.

that is just bitchin lookin. what did he do, shorten it and put on a shortbed box?
Yeah, he just shortened the frame to where a standard short box fit it properly, I'm not sure how many inches he removed. He put 1/2 ton axles in it because he had lots of them around and wheels to fit them already. like I said, he just uses it to tow his boat and sand buggy/quads.

it does look good, i want to do that BAD, but the wife doesnt want an old truck, but hell i can buy one for 5k, repaint and redo the interior and still be money ahead

it does look good, i want to do that BAD, but the wife doesnt want an old truck, but hell i can buy one for 5k, repaint and redo the interior and still be money ahead



Do it anyway Ryan.......

Tell her I said it was OK to :D

Do it anyway Ryan.......

Tell her I said it was OK to :D
yyoyo Corey, I actually got the OK to buy this 1988 crewcab SRW, I am thinking i might go look at it next week, just need to have a buddy give me a ride there incase i WANT IT

That Blue and White one? That thing is way nice! Congrats on the old lady givin ya the go ahead. FAWKIN SWEET!

That Blue and White one? That thing is way nice! Congrats on the old lady givin ya the go ahead. FAWKIN SWEET!
ya, thats the one, he is supposed to smog it this week, and hopefully go up there next Sunday, anyone around Sac got a tow dolly i cna borrow, then I can tow the wifes car home with the new rig :cool2:

I am in the process of putting a 4 door cab on a regular cab frame. Your rig looks cool, well done!
How did you take care of the side fuel tanks?

I haven't got to the side tanks yet. probably going to find a suburban rear tank. but i hate to lose my side tanks so i'm going to try to figure out something. how are you making it fit on a regular frame since the frame goes up right behind the regualr cab, body lift or something? slap some pictures up if you can.

I like the suburban tank idea, dont they make a 40 gallon tank for the back. when i do that to mine, i want the front of the rear tire to almost touch the cab.

why not go with a 150" wheelbase and use a stock shortbed? longer towrigs are better anyways.

why not go with a 150" wheelbase and use a stock shortbed? longer towrigs are better anyways.
what are the real advantages to a longer tow rig?

why not go with a 150" wheelbase and use a stock shortbed? longer towrigs are better anyways.


Yea, why are they 'better'?? And the way he's cutting and mounting the bed, it's gonna look trick! Think about how a four door Nissan Frontier looks with the fenders of the bed up behind the back doors - now picture that as a full size crew cab..... :smokin:

Keep the pics coming, Mike....

Yea, why are they 'better'?? And the way he's cutting and mounting the bed, it's gonna look trick! Think about how a four door Nissan Frontier looks with the fenders of the bed up behind the back doors - now picture that as a full size crew cab..... :smokin:

Keep the pics coming, Mike....
i agree, i am buying a 3+3 this weekend, and eventually make it look like the nissan frontier, look sick as hell

i agree, i am buying a 3+3 this weekend, and eventually make it look like the nissan frontier, look sick as hell



Cool, dueling '4 ft. bed' builds.... East coast vs. West coast.... So get cracking, bro - Mike already has a lead on ya.

:beer::beer::beer::beer:

why not go with a 150" wheelbase and use a stock shortbed? longer towrigs are better anyways.
Well that wouldn't look very custom would it? most people would mistake it for being factory. it is cool, but i wanted something that says "damn!" when someone sees it. no mistaking it as being custom work. besides, i got a 2wd 4dr crewcab and its so freakin long it wont turn around in my yard by itself, then you add a trailer and forget it.
K5, you gonna cut your crewcab fenders like your k4.5 is? post some pics when you get started.
I guess i'm going to have to get a driveshaft lengthened for this, i need it 4inches longer. anyone know if i can use a regular 3/4 ton longbed th400 shaft and just cut it down to size?

cutting the frame so the the rear wheels are almost at the cab is esentially a burb frame ... just get a burb frame and don't worry about frame modification.

burbs arent 1 tons though. would be alot harder to swap on a cab, then to cut a bed and frame.

cutting the frame so the the rear wheels are almost at the cab is esentially a burb frame ... just get a burb frame and don't worry about frame modification.


It's essentially a Sub frame, but it's not - there'd be modification required on that, too. And also, it's not a one ton frame.

al longer tow rig is better because the weight of the trailer has less leverage on teh front end of the truck, making it more stable. keep in mind that the trailer weight is going to try to lift the front of the truck, the farther from the rear axle the front of the truck, the more stable it will be.

no, it wouldnt be very custom, but it would make bodyparts availability in the future a breeze, not to mention bodywork would be easier.

makes perfect sense thanks

al longer tow rig is better because the weight of the trailer has less leverage on teh front end of the truck, making it more stable. keep in mind that the trailer weight is going to try to lift the front of the truck, the farther from the rear axle the front of the truck, the more stable it will be.

no, it wouldnt be very custom, but it would make bodyparts availability in the future a breeze, not to mention bodywork would be easier.

longer makes sense if you're pulling with a bumper hitch. i plan on getting a gooseneck trailer to pull with it and the weight is right over the axle, so it shouldn't pose a problem.
bought bolts today to bolt the crossmember back in and stuff, ouch! those grade 8 bolts are gold plated! i spent $42 and still need to get more.

A buddy wants to do this to his one ton too..I have one minus drivetrain and axles for sale too if anyone else is getting the bug!!..Here some pics I found for research!..This one is bad-ass!

true, with a gooseneck, or a fifth wheel it isnt as big of a difference, but there is a difference. have you ever loaded the bed of a truck down with dirt, gravel, or anything else that fills the entire bed. you notice a difference in the way the front end reacts to your steering inputs. with a longer wheelbase, there is more leverage to keep the front of the truck firmly planted. pulling a trailer reacts in the same way.

as for the bolts, check out www.fastenal.com that's where i bought all of the bolts when i completely dismantled my frame and bolted it back together. i spent about $35 for everything, including new bolts for all the leaf springs.

updates??

updates??
we just returned from camping and riding 4wheelers at tellico. i'll be back on it in about half an hour. we hope to cut the bed and sit it on today and post a pic of how it looks.

more pictures. slowly getting there. cut the bed to length and set it on. still have to cut the front off another bed and trim and weld them back together. hey, these things take time.
http://yota1man.tripod.com/leftside
http://yota1man.tripod.com/rightside
starting to look like something.
soon, the evil beast will live!

http://yota1man.tripod.com/leftside
http://yota1man.tripod.com/rightside

:smokin:


Nice, bro.... I'm liking it, Mike. Hurry up and get it done!!!!

lookie whats on ebay, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4505201649&category=6173

dont mean to steal your thread....

you didn't steal it, its still here! thanks for the link. thats a very cool truck. shorter than mine. progress has been slow lately. been having to work on other stuff. will be back on it this weekend.

That has to be on a burb frame or at least the same wheel base as a burb

That has to be on a burb frame or at least the same wheel base as a burb
it is, it says it in the write up

opps ... guess I should have read the whole thing :(

funny though, i really liked the idea, but seeing it that short, i am not sure if i am a fan of it anymore :wtf:

even though i liked the idea, after seeing that one, I am not sure if i like the idea anymore :wtf:

Another partially OT reply but, here is something else that I've been think of along the same lines:
I have a spare cab and was thinking of cutting the back half off and welding it to the rear of my standard cab to create what Chevy never did in those years......an extended cab! I could use the door skins to fill the gaps and use a (dare I say) Ford ext. cab window and frame for the upper portion. I could then use a standard shortbed box and the extended cab portion would fill in the gap between a long bed and a short bed.
Obviously an extra set of body mounts would be needed, but this way you have extra interior room with less weight than a full crew cab.
Any negative issues that you see with this?

Dean

I really like the crew cab short box look ... I finally have all the parts required to my a 2wd 87' TBI 350 into a 6.2L 4wd, hopefully I will be done in a month or so. Then I will have to start in on the short box parts collecting (box, saddle tanks, garage space and beer money)

negative issues? yeah i dont' really care for the ford xcab windows. why don't you use a door glass from a suburban door? just a thought. unless you clown the louver look on them(ford ones). just a thought.

Another partially OT reply but, here is something else that I've been think of along the same lines:
I have a spare cab and was thinking of cutting the back half off and welding it to the rear of my standard cab to create what Chevy never did in those years......an extended cab! I could use the door skins to fill the gaps and use a (dare I say) Ford ext. cab window and frame for the upper portion. I could then use a standard shortbed box and the extended cab portion would fill in the gap between a long bed and a short bed.
Obviously an extra set of body mounts would be needed, but this way you have extra interior room with less weight than a full crew cab.
Any negative issues that you see with this?

Dean


Why not the 88-94 ext cab windows? you would have the ablity to pop them open plus I think they would look the cleanest.....

I'm looking twoard a crew cab to modify to pull my junk to comps. this year. I like that crew cab above. Very nice job...

check this shorty, says its on a burb frame:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4505201649&category=6173

:shaking:

HELLO!!! And welcome to last week! How 'bout checkin' out the prior posts, there, dude.....?

lookie whats on ebay, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4505201649&category=6173

dont mean to steal your thread....

:shaking: :shaking: :shaking: :shaking:

here's another....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4507435487&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

The pic in the auction sucks but there's a link to better ones.

heres two pictures of what it currently looks like.
http://yota1man.tripod.com/k30driver
http://yota1man.tripod.com/k30pass
Yes i'm too cheap to actually become a supporting member!
I was planning on putting in the 6.2 engine with turbo on today, but spent the whole day cleaning out the shop so i could pull the engine out of the other truck, so i'll have to get it done in the evenings after work.
Still not sure how I"m gonna get the downpipe to clear a/c, but i'll get it in with just a heater for now, and worry about converting to a/c next spring. This will be my tow rig, so it needs to be fairly comfortable, at least thats what the wife says. :smokin:

heres two pictures of what it currently looks like.
http://yota1man.tripod.com/k30driver
http://yota1man.tripod.com/k30pass
Yes i'm too cheap to actually become a supporting member!
I was planning on putting in the 6.2 engine with turbo on today, but spent the whole day cleaning out the shop so i could pull the engine out of the other truck, so i'll have to get it done in the evenings after work.
Still not sure how I"m gonna get the downpipe to clear a/c, but i'll get it in with just a heater for now, and worry about converting to a/c next spring. This will be my tow rig, so it needs to be fairly comfortable, at least thats what the wife says. :smokin:

Check your pics, I only see the rear end of a truck. What'd you do for the double cab door forward? :flipoff2:


BTW thanks for an update. Was about a year overdue......

looks good man. i knda miss my k30 crew, but the new X makes up for it in the comfort dept. Havent had a chance to tow with it either.
here are linked pics for you.
http://yota1man.tripod.com/k30driver
http://yota1man.tripod.com/k30pass

Looking really good ... just curious what's the overall box length?

just looked at a pic of a burb and I am figuring your rig is the same wheel base as a burb, or at least pretty close. I'm thinking a CC on a K5 Jimmy frame would look pretty custom :smokin: The only thing that's going to take a whole lot of work is modifying the rear doors and door frame to incorporate the wheel well ... might be easier to shorten a CC frame to be half way between a K5 and a Burb :eek:

Man that is freakin sweet. I am about 1 hour drive from Chattanooga. I would like to check that ride out when its done.

Speaking of crewcab shortwheelbase 4x4 mid 80's Chevy. I saw 1 this weekend up at the Rod Run in Pigeon Forge, Tn. It was a little shorter though. The bed was cut maybe an inch or 2 from the wheel wells. I saw it in traffic and by the time I got my camera I couldn't get back up to it to get a picture. That is the most traffic I have even seen up there for a Rod Run.


Chris

a suburban is 129", and this one is 4" longer than a standard longwheelbase regular cab, i can't remember the exact measurement, but I think its around 138". i'll know soon, I gotta get a driveshaft made as soon as the motor and stuff is sitting in it. I guess i'm just gonna do a 1 piece shaft, the rear part of the two piece would only be 16" between welds unless i relocated the bearing mounts. I think the bed will bend up being about 5.5 feet long. right now the bed is cut just enough to fit back on, so it wasnt taking up space. I kinda got distracted, and put my scout together so i could go wheeling. been working on that for the past 9 months.

There it is!!! I'm kicking myself for selling the truck to you.... I wanted to do something along those lines (but make it a 'crawler), but I didn't have the room here to get it done. Glad to see it ain't collecting dust under a tree somewhere.

Keep 'em coming, Mike. And GET IT FINISHED!!!!:flipoff2:

Man if only you had a duramax to slip in there. The ultimate hauler old school style with kick-butt attitude to back it up on the street.


Chris

I found some wheelbase specs from online brochures (http://brochures.slosh.com):

106.5 Jimmy/Blazer
117.5 Short Box Pickup
129.5 Suburban
131.5 Long Box Pickup
164.5 CrewCab Pickup (corrected)

So a Shortbox Crew Cab would be about 150.5

I found some wheelbase specs from online brochures
164.5 CrewCab Pickup


Fixed it ;)

My shortbox crewcab is ~150" wheelbase. (Was originally shortend by the PO - a logging company) I know its proportionally correct because I've had a shortbox stacked on top of it. :grinpimp:

I shortened my 91 dually 3+3. Chiseled out the rivets on the rear spring mounts and slid everything forward so a standard shortbox would fit. Just cut the excess frame off the rear. Ran with 6" lift springs front & rear. I used a Suburban rear tank +1 short side saddle tank from the donor shortbox. I liked the dana 70HD dually rear and the Alcoa dually rims, so I put 1-3/4" wheel spacers on the rear and ran the dually wheels facing in. They lined up perfect. I suppose Hummer rims would have worked too. The nice thing about the 91's is the 4L80E/NP205 combo in the drivetrain.

I"im not impressed with the duramax yet. if i were going to go with a whole different motor, i'd be running a 12 valve cummins. Theres just something about a torquey six cylinder.
Mine is shorter that a shortbed.
Still working on custom exhaust for the turbo setup. maybe more pics next week.

Ok, so what do y'all think the minimum wheelbase you could get with a crew cab is before having to cut the cab and rear doors? I'm thinking of chopping mine down and making a family trail rig out of it. I don't care about a bed to speak of so about what wheelbase would you say is doable with 38's and no cutting of the cab?

Ok, so what do y'all think the minimum wheelbase you could get with a crew cab is before having to cut the cab and rear doors? I'm thinking of chopping mine down and making a family trail rig out of it. I don't care about a bed to speak of so about what wheelbase would you say is doable with 38's and no cutting of the cab?

Ditto this...and did anything ever get done?

I"m driving mine now. still not painted yet. I think the shortest wheelbase would be 129 inches. basically a suburban length. don't have to cut the door, but the wheelwell for the bed wouldn't have much of a front edge. my wheelbase is 4 inches longer than a standard longbed truck.

I"m driving mine now. still not painted yet. I think the shortest wheelbase would be 129 inches. basically a suburban length. don't have to cut the door, but the wheelwell for the bed wouldn't have much of a front edge. my wheelbase is 4 inches longer than a standard longbed truck.


Where in Chattanooga are you? I think I might have seen your truck around town. If you ever see a gray Z-71 with a Pirate 4x4 sticker and a lot of duck hunting stickers on the back window, come up and say hey, 'cause it's me.

do you look like your avatar? If so I'll have to meet you! J/K. I am around the E.Brainerd area most of the time, but i live out in Apison. I also have a black scout on 33's I drive around too.

Ever get 'er painted?

Here's my crewcab shortbox. I just bought it from a friend who built it. It previously had a 383 stroker running 39's. It now has 350 w/35's.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1493/2217/1600/102_0156.jpg

awesome job, that looks sweet

ANy more progress on this??????

anything you would have done different? Im looking to cut mine but just short enough for 6 foot box.

i cant believe you found cucv doors and fenders that clean!

...nice job so far!

Man I love the crew cabs. Obviously. I am not building a short bed though. Keep the pics coming. Looks like a really cool project.

well this truck is my daily driver and tow rig. no I haven't gotten it painted yet. maybe this winter. its gonna take some time to iron out all the little details before I feel its straight enought to paint. only thing i would do different is buy a complete running one to cut next time. its taken forever to get all the options on it I wanted. but it now has a/c, rear disc, cruise, turbocharged, and I have a 40g suburban tank in the rear that I use for running used cooking oil straight.
it would be nice to have a little longer bed, and be able to use shortbed tanks on it, but its a six foot bed anyhow, so its not too bad. I still have my main tank mounted in the bed for now. I'm going to get a tank mounted inboard of the frame on the driver side soon for a main tank. its been difficult locating something skinnny enough to fit.
next on the list, 4L80E trans, and a paintjob. :smokin:

Just got some H2 rims and tires for the truck. starting to look better. just dont' have much time to put into getting all the bodywork done right now. one day soon.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o137/scoutnut/IMG_0329.jpg

I like the suburban tank idea, dont they make a 40 gallon tank for the back. when i do that to mine, i want the front of the rear tire to almost touch the cab.

The diesel suburban tank is 45 gallons. :D
I was researching this idea for a few years, I was going to do this before my crew cab got stolen. :(
I was going shorter though, I was making it to where he 42" tires would be just behind the cab, with a flat bed.
:grinpimp:

I guess if you really wanted to keep the saddle tanks you could go with a longer wheelbase and bob the rear to keep the overall length the same.I have had 3 Suburbans and 1 2wd Crew.And always wanted to throw the CC on the Sub. frame with a shortened and bobbed bed or a flatbed.Nice work by the way.
I first saw this done in '99 at Easter Jeep Safari.A couple of guys had 2 of them with a full shortbox.

Hey Mike, you need to update your build:D

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o137/scoutnut/done1.jpg
hows this for an update? of course its getting ready to come apart again, dropping a cummins 6bt in it, and installing some lift so the oilpan don't hit the 60! been driving the wheels off it.

Killer!! Looks great!

NO PICS = NO PROOF:smokin:

NO PICS = NO PROOF:smokin:
I'm waitin on you to come help finish the scout so I have a place to do the swap!

I'm waitin on you to come help finish the scout so I have a place to do the swap!


If you lived closer it would be on! Even though you put to many costly ideas in my head, 4 bt swaps/6 bt swaps..........I'm broke enough as it is.

If you lived closer it would be on! Even though you put to many costly ideas in my head, 4 bt swaps/6 bt swaps..........I'm broke enough as it is.

Yea, and you owe me money:flipoff2:

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o137/scoutnut/done1.jpg
hows this for an update? of course its getting ready to come apart again, dropping a cummins 6bt in it, and installing some lift so the oilpan don't hit the 60! been driving the wheels off it.That turned out really nice man.

WOW lookin good ......... subscribed!

WOW lookin good ......... subscribed!



Should have subscribed 5 years ago

whoa i didnt even notice the date, its still a good lookin truck though ....... different, i like it :smokin:

I would update this thread but i'm too lazy!
its got a cummins 6bt/5speed in it now with a 4" lift.

I would update this thread but i'm too lazy!
its got a cummins 6bt/5speed in it now with a 4" lift.


Pics...or it didnt happen:flipoff2:

Oh it happened alright! heres my condensed build thread.

http://www.wheelindixie.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6599

any busted parts yet ? how did the frame chop hold up ?