BOX SWAP

[Huntdh]

I have a 1975 3/4 T Sierra Classic Crew Cab with 454 cid, AT, and AC. I like the truck and it is mechanically quite sound. I use it to pull a camper and bumper pull horse trailer or alternately, a 32 ft gooseneck horse trailer. Unfortunately, there has been quite the crack down weight restrictions and towing/trailering capacity. My 3/4 unfortunately doesn't match the legal standards. I am looking at various options but there are two that I particularly like, I just don't know if they are possible so I was wondering if someone had some answers for me.

I was thinking that maybe I could just buy some of those dually wheel add ons, and then mount a dually wheel bed from a 1 ton dually crew crab. Does anyone know if a 1 ton dually box will fit properly on a 3/4 frame, and if the fender flares are adequate to cover the dually wheel extensions?

Secondly, the other option would be to swap in the box and rear axle from a 1 ton dually but again, I don't know if this is possible or easy. Does the suspension line up and if so, on what years?

Someone told me that it wouldn't be an easy match because the frame on a 1 ton is narrower than on a 3/4 ton which means that if I add the dually wheel extensions to the 3/4 ton, the truck will wind up being wider than a 1 ton dually from the factory.

Any advice??? Maybe I should just sell it and buy a 1 ton dually, but they are hard to come by and cost a fortune. I just test drove one tonight, an '88 1 ton crew cab dually with 454 and AC but it was a piece of crap and they still wanted $7400.00 for it. Besides, I would prefer having a 1970's model, I think they were actually more reliable. Any suggestions?    

[VileZambonie]

Why not just slap a duallie rear end in it, and put the fender extensions on the bed?

~Captain's Log~

[Huntdh]

That is certainly one of the options that I would consider but no one can tell me for sure if that would work. I have been told that the one ton trucks have frame rails that are closer together than on a 3/4 ton truck. If this is true, if I were to swap in a dually rear end it the tire might not actually clear the frame. Again, if it is true that the 1 ton frame is narrower than the 3/4 ton, if I put the fender flares on they would actually stick out much further than the tires. Now, if only I could find out from someone if the one ton frame really is narrower, it could really help me make an informed choice. I am hoping that if I go buy a Chiltons manual or something it will have an answer for me.  

[79mc]

I have a friend that ran 1 ton duals on the rear of his 3/4 ton chev 2wd. He had a flatrack on it. There were no clearance problems concerning the frame that I know of.


DougV>

[Blazin]

As far as I know the dualy rear is the same width as the single rear wheel axle. the bed should be the same as well. The rear out of a one ton cab and chasis is narower than the single rear wheel and dualy rears. I'm pretty sure!!

[fLOOP]

You can change the rearend to dually rear ,or dual wheels should fit. depending if you have a 14 bolt or a dana 70. however you can use the same box ,you have to cut the edge of the wheelwells.As far as measurements,the back spring brackets(from the frame) are36 1/4 Inches