Author Topic: '90 V3500 crewcab - shorten sheetmetal to regular cab - 4-door to 2-door  (Read 1660 times)

Offline Mungo

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Hi,
I have owned my '90 V3500 crewcab for 15 years, it has seen our family grow up and the 3+3 seats were ideal.  Now that the boys are off and doing their own thing, I would prefer a regular cab square body truck.
Now this is an unusual truck to have in England, UK and a 73-87 long bed regular cab 4x4 would be not impossible to find but not much choice in condition as good as my V3500.
Has anyone here ever cut the crewcab down to make a make a regular cab?  I'm talking about the sheetmetal, removing the rear doors and cutting a section out of the roof and floor.
This may be unheard of in North America as it may be easier to find a rust free donor cab but maybe not as cabs don't come up on ebaa too often.  The modified cab would be a little unique with the ribs in the roof.
My truck is will cared for so I see many benefits to doing a 4-door to 2-door conversion on what I have but I would like to hear about the pitfalls.
There is a spot-weld seam in the floor construction, is there a preferred location of cutting to reduce to regular cab length, maybe at this seam?

Offline Shifty

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Re: '90 V3500 crewcab - shorten sheetmetal to regular cab - 4-door to 2-door
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2020, 09:31:57 AM »
Please, please, please don't do this.... :-\
87 V20 Standard Cab Longbed (current)

87 R30 3+3 Longbed (days of yore)

98 C2500 ext cab longbed

Offline Mungo

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Re: '90 V3500 crewcab - shorten sheetmetal to regular cab - 4-door to 2-door
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2020, 04:53:02 PM »
Hi Shifty,
I know that it sounds drastic.  Where to find a good regular cab long bed with Dana 44/60, NP205, TH400 etc.?

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: '90 V3500 crewcab - shorten sheetmetal to regular cab - 4-door to 2-door
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2020, 05:25:54 PM »
You will regret doing this. The cab structure will not match up and you will regret it. Keep it or sell it to fund a new one. The juice isn't worth the squeeze.
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74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline Mr Diesel

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Re: '90 V3500 crewcab - shorten sheetmetal to regular cab - 4-door to 2-door
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2020, 11:58:55 AM »
I agree with above comments. Would be better to find very rusty truck and full restore instead. You would regret cutting up your nice family truck.
1976 C20 Crewcab, 6.2L/SM465
1982 K30 Crewcab , 427TD/TH400
1983 C30, 6.2L/TH400
1983 K30 Crewcab 454/700R4
1986 K10 350/400. 1989 K30 cab/chassis 454/SM465

Offline Mungo

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Re: '90 V3500 crewcab - shorten sheetmetal to regular cab - 4-door to 2-door
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2020, 04:42:42 PM »
I have been convinced by you all taking the time to comment, that this truly is a bad idea.  Thank you.

Back to more level headed stuff, I have rust in the bottom of the tailgate outer panel, does anyone know of a supplier of a lower outer skin, a tailgate rust repair panel?