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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: oregonfj on July 13, 2014, 09:48:13 am

Title: Building a 4x4 crew cab?
Post by: oregonfj on July 13, 2014, 09:48:13 am

Hi there, I'm new to this forum, have a couple 79-83 3/4 ton 4x4's but would like a crew cab. I've seen a few crew cab dually two wheel drives on craigslist pretty cheap. Is it reasonably feasible to swap my standard long bed and rear diff. plus front diff to the crew cab frame or does this require a lot of modification? I've built a few trucks of this era but dint know much about the duallys....

Thanks,

Curt

Title: Re: Building a 4x4 crew cab?
Post by: Irish_Alley on July 13, 2014, 07:12:17 pm

crew cab might be 1 ton so its different springs in the rear are different widths than 3/4 ton. the front shouldn't be too hard

Title: Re: Building a 4x4 crew cab?
Post by: bake74 on July 13, 2014, 07:13:31 pm

     Welcome to the site first off.  Are you looking to make a 2wd crew cab or 4wd ?  Do you want it long bed still or short bed ?
     The easiest if you were to start with a crew like this one.  http://sacramento.craigslist.org/search/cto?s=200&query=gmc&srchType=T  (need to scroll down on this page)

(http://images.craigslist.org/00Z0Z_b8UX0NQsvXc_300x300.jpg)

and swap out the running gear to make it 4wd if you wanted.

     It is doable to do the way you described, just more labor intensive, and if you have to buy a crew anyway, it is better to start with a single rear axle.  This is just 1 of the one's I have seen in the Sac craigslist.  There are more around here that I have seen that have been on for awhile.
     From your screen name I assumed you were in Oregon, which is not that much of a drive to start with the base you wanted first.  The swapping of 4x4 over to a 2wd is not that hard if you have both trucks sitting there.
     Just my opinion.

Title: Re: Building a 4x4 crew cab?
Post by: pholliday1 on July 13, 2014, 09:40:49 pm

Got a couple fleet side crew 4x4 they are a rare find. But they are out there.

Title: Re: Building a 4x4 crew cab?
Post by: oregonfj on July 13, 2014, 09:44:34 pm

Thanks! Thats a good looking deal there. Still in the planning stages but would want a 4x4 for sure. I have a good full floater rear end in my tired 79-81 4x4 combo I would like to use. Also a straight 83 long bed 3/4 ton 4x4 for parts. A CCSB would be my ideal but I dont have a short bed yet. I just want a good 4x4 hauler/ tower with 4 doors and kinda partial to the +81 front sheet metal.

Glad I found this site :)

Title: Re: Building a 4x4 crew cab?
Post by: bladerunner on July 14, 2014, 09:30:10 am

I see them for sale every once and a while. 2 for sale near me right now actually.
http://maine.craigslist.org/cto/4565183053.html
http://maine.craigslist.org/cto/4552067737.html