Just how dumb is this clearly dumb idea? W-body 1-tonner conversion.

I don't have a garage, a welder or any bodywork skills at all

Spend your money fixing those problems first, then start doing crazy E36 M3. Once you have space and a welder and tools, then go nuts.

Step 1 go to a Ram dealer and seek inspiration from a Promaster cutaway or cab and chassis.

Step 2 build a structure kind of like a roll bar out of lumber inside the existing structure.

Step 3 whack the body behind the seats/doors

Step 4 refer back to Step 1 and weld frame rails to those on the front of the tub

Step 5 fab up a live rear axle out of a length of tubing, air bag it for cool factor

Step 6 add an X between the frame rails, add some structure above the rails for strength 

Step 7 finish the body work RV? Flat deck? Tow truck? The world’s your oyster

Yeah I guess I’ve put some thought in this over the years.

In reply to AClockworkGarage :

Is it a kit or will you building it from scratch?

AClockworkGarage said:

03Panther said:

BTW, most call the a "ute"

Nope. the Ute is more like an El Camino or Ranchero with a full integrated body. The flat beds are called 1-tonners.

Nope, still a Ute, to most folks. 

I think most folks call a flat bed, well, a flat bed 

One ton used to refer to being able to put 2000 lbs in the back... ‘course now a days 1/2 ton trucks will do about that. 

You are correct that most factory utes have the integrated body, but homemade ones are usually just cut up cars. 

I assume the new 1 tonner term is a hipster thing, or something like that?

In reply to 03Panther :

No. Not a hipster thing. It's literally what Holden calls their cab and chassis monaro since they started making it in the 70's.

I am in the go for it camp. You have $250 in it so you don't stand to loose a lot. It is a huge project and you are either going to; 1- fail and junk the car 2- learn a ton and or 3- find a friend that knows some more than you and maybe have a great time and learn a ton too. 
80% chance if failure 20% chance of everlasting glory. I like those odds

drock25too said:

A local guy builds these things. Front wheel drive with basically a trailer flat bed. 

All of a sudden I want to build my c50 into one of these instead of a ramp truck.

In reply to iansane :

I have thought about doing it to my Express 2500. Just build the whole frame and throw the van body on it. Been half heartedly looking for a Toronado or Riviera. 

AClockworkGarage said:

In reply to 03Panther :

No. Not a hipster thing. It's literally what Holden calls their cab and chassis monaro since they started making it in the 70's.

Ah, now I got it! Thanks. Did not know the RWD Ute Holden had an additional name. I'll assume cause they beefed up their regular Ute to carry 2000 Lbs.

Be real hard to get the W chassis up to that, but will make for a cool litte rig..

As someone that has a Rampage and drooled over the multitude of cheap Utes in Australia......Utes need to be a thing in America

iansane said:

drock25too said:

A local guy builds these things. Front wheel drive with basically a trailer flat bed. 

All of a sudden I want to build my c50 into one of these instead of a ramp truck.

Those things make me cringe, there's a couple in my town but all they do is sit in the yard with grass growing around them. Probably a good indication of how reliable they are.

So much stress on the transfer case (chain driven no less), a differential being driven on the coast side of the gear and put through service it was never intended for.

Tiny brakes and probably a 6.5 diesel in them too.

What could possibly go wrong?

As for the O.P. That's a hell of a project to learn skills on, good luck to you.

ShawnG said:

iansane said:

drock25too said:

 local guy builds these things. Front wheel drive with basically a trailer flat bed. 

All of a sudden I want to build my c50 into one of these instead of a ramp truck.

Those things make me cringe, there's a couple in my town but all they do is sit in the yard with grass growing around them. Probably a good indication of how reliable they are.

So much stress on the transfer case (chain driven no less), a differential being driven on the coast side of the gear and put through service it was never intended for.

Tiny brakes and probably a 6.5 diesel in them too.

What could possibly go wrong?

As for the O.P. That's a hell of a project to learn skills on, good luck to you.

That makes sense but there are always ways to beef up the drivetrain. No budget and you'd use a gear drive transfer case or even an atlas box and a beefy reverse cut front diff. I was talking about this with a friend of mine yesterday. Braking wise. If the front end is new enough, or equipped with big enough brakes I wonder if you could run two brake axles in the rear plumbed together. Each side or pair of calipers is leg.

I'd run the stock 350 in my c50 before a 6.2/6.5 but ideally an LS or something modern.

I wonder if a flipped diff and a beefy vdrive is an option?

FWIW, I built an e30 pickup similar to the one pictured earlier. It's ridiculously simple to start cutting. Much harder to "finish it". And I think a true flatbed or 1tonner like you say you want might be even harder since there probably isn't a real frame to cut back to like you can with a truck. At that point I think you're closer to building your own rear frame section from scratch and mounting the pontiac suspension to it. Which, as much as I hate to say this, may be too much for someone without a garge/welder/fab tools.

In reply to iansane :

If they're being built to sell at a profit, he's not doing any of that.

A truck and trailer are cheaper, more useful and more reliable.

In reply to ShawnG :

Oh no argument there. I meant for a personal build there seem like ways to solve those issues.

Because we're derailing this thread, I've been thinking while working.

Those trucks are probably running a Toronado / Eldorado front clip. The originals would have a solid axle with locking hubs and would never sit that low. If that's the case then my original assumptions would have been wrong.

Antihero (Forum Supporter) said:

.Utes need to be a thing in America

Henry Ford wouldn't go for it, called them Kangaroo Chasers.

I don't know if it was a kit or scratch built but I've seen a few Utes made from Volvo wagons.

914Driver said:

Antihero (Forum Supporter) said:

.Utes need to be a thing in America

Henry Ford wouldn't go for it, called them Kangaroo Chasers.

Kangaroos are tasty though, so I'm ok with it

drock25too said:

A local guy builds these things. Front wheel drive with basically a trailer flat bed. 

I sincerely hope that that black square body isn't about to become this clown's next victim.

The Overland ELF bus was built this way.  It used a Ford conventional E Van with a transfer case perpetually stuck in 4wd.  No rear driveshaft was used and the front axle was all the drive available.   They were used because of the ability to get a low floor without being a fully custom bus chassis.  

They ran them for 20 years at our local MTD.  Apparently they worked fine but where hard on front ball joints.  

FWD is fine for this kind of application. 

I think a big reason not to is how do you get the title un-salvaged if you do this?  Or is the title clean on the W-body?