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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: 1977_ChevyMan on December 03, 2007, 11:13:23 PM

Title: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: 1977_ChevyMan on December 03, 2007, 11:13:23 PM
Has anyone ever done a full fiber glass body truck? I know a place where you can buy a full front clip that is fiberglass, and a cab, and a bed that is all fiberglass. I was just cerious if anyone has or would go that way or not.

Hear is the web site: www.usbodys.com (http://www.usbodys.com)
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: nova801428 on December 04, 2007, 03:28:11 AM
Wow, the cab is only $6k.  The link is actually usbody.com
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: Captkaos on December 04, 2007, 11:46:00 AM
I have one of their tilt front ends, excellent quality.  I will be getting another one for my 73 truck with a cowl hood to clear the Hilborn stacks.
Truckin' mag featured a build up of a 1967-72 Shell in July 02.  It was for the World's Fastest Street-Legal Pickup Project.
This is the truck...
(http://images.truckinweb.com/shows/0209tr_racin11_zoom.jpg)
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: BLUE BURBAN on December 04, 2007, 05:01:42 PM
I remember that truck! They put a 6 or 7 speed LENKO transmission in it too.
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: FlatBlack77 on December 04, 2007, 10:16:12 PM
If I ever have enough money to be able to build a truck without worrying about cost, it would be all fiberglass and very sleepy ;)
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: 1977_ChevyMan on December 05, 2007, 01:19:38 AM
See I didn't know if anyone has ever used there products or not. I saw that they had full fiberglass beds and cab so I was interested in it. I also liked the split tilt front end.
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: Captkaos on December 05, 2007, 11:18:24 AM
This is their pre-split frontend going on my truck documented here:  http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=5225.0
(http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/projects/ad_truck/bodymockup1.jpg)
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: nova801428 on December 05, 2007, 09:04:32 PM
Is that your shop?
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: FlatBlack77 on December 05, 2007, 10:09:54 PM
me=jealous
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: 1977_ChevyMan on December 06, 2007, 12:46:33 AM
You wouldn't happen to know what the weight from the metal front end compared to the fiberglass front end would be? I'm trying to loose a lot of weight from the metal body parts and go with fiberglass. Like bumpers and fenders and the bed as well. Light and fast is my goal. Does anyone have any other ways that can lighten up my truck?
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: Captkaos on December 06, 2007, 02:26:22 PM
That is Toolmasters shop where the truck is right now.  Mine is small in comparison at 25x42.
The truck had a 4/6 drop on it before I put it back together, I am going to have to drop it another 2" to get it back right.  I haven't weighed it, but I figure I dropped about 150lbs easy with that frontend..

They stated back when they built this truck it was down to about 1800lbs, which is LIGHT!!, and they were street parts.
http://www.usbody.com/Pages_Info/Installations/Cab-1.htm
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: eventhorizon66 on December 06, 2007, 02:48:34 PM
LS1's shed at least 100 lbs., or for a Gen1: aluminum heads, water pump, intake.  You could lose the heater, AC, power locks/windows (if you got 'em), use a lightweight battery, and welding in Mustang II style front suspension with tubular A-arms and coilovers will definitely shed some weight, though you would probably lose some strength (not a problem if its not a work truck).  Oh and another thing, how far do you really need to go between fill-ups?  A 15 gal fuel cell will save you over 100 lbs vs. a pair of 16 gal. saddle tanks, when full.  Or you could just not fill your tanks up all the way, but this is a good excuse for ditching those lousy saddle tanks.

If it were me, I would switch to the fiberglass front clip, but not the cab or bed.  It's nice to be able to weld in a roll cage (if your plans involve going fast you gotta consider the added likelihood of losing control and crashing).  And you don't really want to lose any more weight over the rear wheels because this is counterproductive to putting power to the ground.  Just my $0.02
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: nova801428 on December 06, 2007, 09:55:34 PM
dang, that is light.  My truck (ford ranger) weighs in at 2,900 lbs w/o a driver.  And I thought that was light!!!
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: JJSZABO on December 07, 2007, 07:19:00 AM
My 2000 Ford Expedition weights in at 6600lbs.  One heck of a heavy beast.
Title: Re: FIBERGLASS BODY
Post by: Captkaos on December 07, 2007, 12:43:33 PM
When all is said and done I am shooting to get mine below 3500lbs, with close to a 50/50 weight distribution.  It was at 3800 before I took it down and had a 454/manual.