Tell me what to do with it!

'78 Chevy 1 ton crew cab dually. Drivetrain and chassis are in great shape, cab is slowly returning to earth. It has a dumping pickup bed, which I need.
I have a solid bed and four solid doors for it, but the cab is getting weak. I've thought about using the parts and repairing the cab, using the parts and replacing the cab, finding an old pickup body ('55 is my favorite), mount it on the chassis and make a very long bed, or a two piece bed where one part is stationary and the other dumps, or??? Of course the latter ideas require finding the right parts for the right money, which is not easy in this area of the country. What would you do with it?

If the chassis/cab to drivetrain were backwards, I would suggest a project like they are doing on "Trucks"- where they are putting a '70's Ford supercab onto a pretty modern Dodge frame/drivetrain.

Crew cab duallie- that's a long wheelbase? can you find a old body that will fit it? Does the picture of the truck trailering the Bud Moore Mustang give you ideas? (other thread)

If you like everything else about it, find an old cab and put it on. I did that to a 1952 Dodge; put it on an '87 3/4 ton frame. Technically it's an '87 with heat, 12 volts and power steering; legally it's still a 1952 and has to meet all the safety and emission requirements of that year.

Things may be different in Ohio.

Dan

And I mean this one.

Time to go find a COE cab.

Does anyone know what the track width of a '55 Chevy pickup is? Any other ideas?

Take a trip down south and find a cleaner cab in the JY. Watch the gov. auction sites too. Not as cool, but way easier.

bravenrace wrote: Does anyone know what the track width of a '55 Chevy pickup is? Any other ideas?

In general, 1950s or earlier trucks are going to have a narrower track width than 1960s or newer trucks, so putting an older body on a newer frame will either require some surgery to widen the body or fenders, or else the truck is going to look funny with the wheels sticking out too far.

bravenrace wrote: What would you do with it?

Locost from Hell?

In reply to slantvaliant:

Moar detale paleez.

stuart in mn wrote:

bravenrace wrote: Does anyone know what the track width of a '55 Chevy pickup is? Any other ideas?

In general, 1950s or earlier trucks are going to have a narrower track width than 1960s or newer trucks, so putting an older body on a newer frame will either require some surgery to widen the body or fenders, or else the truck is going to look funny with the wheels sticking out too far.

flares!

It doesn't answer your question and a bad thing to do to a duallie, but a friend in high school put a 4WD Chevy underneath a 1947 Pontiac. The body was low enough that the tires set nicely in the well. Cool as hell but don't get in his way.

In reply to 914Driver:

Two things come to mind:

1. That is IDENTICAL to my Dad's first car.

2. Whatever I do, I still need a bed with dumping action (I can adapt the current system).

Mid eighties chevys were something like 5 1/2" wider than the 55-58 pick ups. Seems like stock the wheels were pretty far in the wheel wells. Seems like the biggest issues would be around the radiator core mounts and fabrication of body mounts (just guessing things aren't going to line up.

If you have good doors and the mechanicals are solid... and you already have a good box... I would just find a solid cab and bolt it back together.

Drive it.

bravenrace wrote: In reply to 914Driver: Whatever I do, I still need a bed with dumping action (I can adapt the current system).

I looked last night but couldn't find the car I wanted. I believe it's in the HotLink thread.

A guy put a four door 1930s Ford tudor (flat rear panel) on a very long frame, added a box behind that. The thing is maroon and finished off quite nicely. You have a hood, then four doors, and behind that a tip box.

Dan

In reply to 914Driver:

The hot link thread? That'll take me all weekend!!!
That could be cool though. Thanks for the suggestion.

What about something like this? Seems like it would be wider than a pickup of the same era. Anyone know of a junkyard specializing in stuff like this??

You've seen my truck. The 54 Ford. Its on a 87 Suburban 1/2 ton chassis. The width is pretty much dead on. It looks pretty simple how they mounted everything. A dump bed makes it even easier.

A couple nit picks I have with it.

I wish they (the builders) would have centered the front wheels when mounting the cab but since I was not there during the decision making process so I am not sure for the reasoning. Same thing with not leaving the whole flat bed. Or just sectioning the flat bed rather than patching in a regular 8 ft. bed.

A torch is pretty cool for cutting but it doesnt take much time to clean up the welds.

Greg Voth: Your neighbor with his extended cab S-10 must feel pretty jealous

In reply to Greg Voth:

Is there room between the engine and the firewall? If not, that is likely why the cab is mounted that way.

I doubt it. Hes got an 69 El Camino with a 350 4-speed and a 70 Chevelle with a 454 4 Speed. Hes not to interested in my crap.

oldtin wrote: Time to go find a COE cab.

The CEO cab is the tits, and I'm sorry, but the late model bed is hideous and ruins the whole thing.

I would suggest finding a cool vintage cab, and then find a J-85 or J-46 jet engine to mount on the back, to show off with at crash-o-ramas, demo derbies, and such. Just fire it up, pop the after burner a few times, and melt a junk car or two to thrill the drunken rednecks in the grandstands. And yes, I need to be on stronger meds.

Look what I found. And only about 1/2 hour from me.

Mucho Vintage Iron