Author Topic: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion  (Read 6204 times)

Offline winky

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89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« on: March 26, 2018, 10:09:30 PM »
I haven't been on here in a long time but I've been looking for a crew cab for a few years.  I finally found a deal I couldn't pass up and just happen to do a few extra jobs at the house and had the money in my pocket to buy it. Now i am thw proud owner of an 89 3/4 ton CC. So the plans are turn this 2wd CC into a 4wd short bed CC with the 1 tons from my previous mud truck build. I LOVE my mud truck but it was never finished 100% and part of the reason was I couldn't fit my entire family and go riding. So now I have no excuses lol. I pulled the work bed off last night. I have an engine swap to do on a car, replace a trans in another and a pinion seal in a truck then as long as I don't get covered slap up with work at home again she will be pulled in and start prepping for the 4x4 conversion. I did notice the fame on this one is 8" tall, is that standard for the CC? If I recall correctly the 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks were 6" and the one tons were 8" any advice is always welcomed most of the parts will come from my previous build, I hate to tear apart my old truck bit I know it's going to a better cause. And please forgive my typing and spelling I imagine a lot of this will be posted from my phone.

https://imgur.com/gallery/M36a1
Bringing the CC home https://imgur.com/gallery/M36a1
« Last Edit: March 26, 2018, 10:52:23 PM by winky »

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2018, 04:27:53 PM »
welcome back
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Offline zieg85

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    • 73-87 GM squarebody extended cab and conversions up to 91 R/V series
Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2018, 04:46:45 PM »
With the VIN decode it to make sure it is a 2500 C&C.  Also verify the wheel base.  Nice score though
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2018, 05:11:29 PM »
personally a C&C would have a GVWR of over 9600 lbs due to the dual rear wheels. i think the highest 3/4 you can get  is 8400 lbs.

my 91 srw crew long bed is rated around that 9600 lbs. so if you have a 8" frame (1 ton) and dual rear wheels that would put you at the 9600+ prob around 11000 GVWR..... all that being said shouldnt a C&C have drw not single like yours?
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline winky

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2018, 06:19:02 PM »
I'll post up some pictures in a few minutes

Looks like wheel base is roughly 165" (measured by myself with a tape)
« Last Edit: March 27, 2018, 06:25:32 PM by winky »

Offline winky

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2018, 06:49:57 PM »

 
From front bed mount hole to rear


For the people in the rust belt


 8)

Offline big_al273

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2018, 12:29:16 AM »
All 73-91 Crewcabs are on 1 ton chassis even the 3/4 trucks, i have an 87 R20 and an 88 V30 SRW and aside from 2wd vs 4wd the frames are both the same dimensions and have the same 1 ton style rear suspension
91 Chevy R3500 Crewcab future project
89 GMC R3500 Cab & Chassis Tool truck project
88 Chevy V30 Crewcab Ex-firetruck
87 Chevy R20 Crewcab future project
84 GMC K1500 winter beater

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2018, 02:01:13 AM »
Really? I passed up a 3/4 cre cab frame because I thought it was weaker.

So the only difference in the 1 ton vs 3/4 is the springs?
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline big_al273

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2018, 02:16:51 PM »
Really? I passed up a 3/4 cre cab frame because I thought it was weaker.

So the only difference in the 1 ton vs 3/4 is the springs?
nope my 87 R20 has 1 ton style rear suspension with the springs tight to the frame and the shocks on the inner rails, same frame dimensions as my 88 V30's frame as well, my research has led me to believe that all 73-91 Crewcabs are built on the same chassis with 1 ton rails and rear suspension and all the crewcabs i've seen including Winky's new acquisition support that. According to my research GM chose to build all Crews on 1 ton chassis due to the length and strength requirements, as for why the 3/4 crews got 1 ton rear suspension i can only speculate that is was just to simplify production
91 Chevy R3500 Crewcab future project
89 GMC R3500 Cab & Chassis Tool truck project
88 Chevy V30 Crewcab Ex-firetruck
87 Chevy R20 Crewcab future project
84 GMC K1500 winter beater

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2018, 04:12:34 PM »
so what makes them 3/4 ton over the 1 ton? not unless its the brakes
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline winky

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2018, 10:51:12 PM »
So differentials are all 14 bolt ff?  I guess engine and tranny options also differed between the two? I know mine has a 350 engine. Haven't even looked at trans

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2018, 03:17:43 PM »
pretty sure the trans will be a th400, my 91 had a 350 4l80e/205 if it wasnt a 91 it would of had the th400/205.

im sure they paired a C&C rear and know they made a dually rear also
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline winky

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #12 on: March 30, 2018, 10:24:05 PM »
hmmm... well Ive been looking into the 4x4 swap looks like everything is different on frames haha... no biggie i guess. it'll just push me to actually learn all the suspension and steering geometry Ive been looking to learn. tomorrow i plan on pulling the engine in that crown vic and doing a quick fix on two other vehicles then i can get back to my truck hopefully before the transmission job and other engine job get here.

On the plus size my work conditions have improved just a tad bit :D
Old


New


The kiddo has gotten a little bigger as well.

Offline big_al273

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #13 on: March 31, 2018, 07:25:02 PM »
so what makes them 3/4 ton over the 1 ton? not unless its the brakes
Between my 3/4 and 1 ton crewcabs aside from the 4x4 vs 2wd only difference is the front disk brakes, the master cylinder and booster.
as far as the different rear axle widths i'm pretty sure there are 4 different widths between the Corp 14 FF and the Dana 70, there is a SRW pickup Corp 14 FF, a Suburban Corp 14 FF, the Cab&Chassis Corp 14 FF and the DRW pickup Dana 70
91 Chevy R3500 Crewcab future project
89 GMC R3500 Cab & Chassis Tool truck project
88 Chevy V30 Crewcab Ex-firetruck
87 Chevy R20 Crewcab future project
84 GMC K1500 winter beater

Offline winky

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Re: 89 crew cab 4wd conversion and swb bed conversion
« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2018, 10:44:00 PM »
Anyone know where i can get the frame specs on a 1 ton 2wd and 4wd? google search just pulled up 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton. main thing im interested in is the difference in frame height in the cross member area.... i don't have any one ton 4x4 stuff laying around to reference. From what Ive researched the worst part of this build will be making the cross member since there is such a big difference between the two.