73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: choptop on January 26, 2008, 01:18:36 am
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does anyone know how many , who made it, or any info on the extended cab conversions to the mid 80's trucks. I just bought an 86 gmc extended cab, and am trying to research it. I love the square bodies, and currently have 6 of them. I bought this extended cab to enjoy while I work on my 76 choptop. Any info would be appreciated, and if I can be of any help, I have learned these trucks inside and out. Just found this site, just wish I'd found it sooner. thanks
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Welcome aboard! Let's see some pix! There's this post from a while back http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=4980.0
and there were a few more on the old ez board too if I remember correctly.
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Everything on EZBoard got imported to here, so they are here now.
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I thought about 1 in Michigan for sale a while ago on E-bay. If I found one in good enough shape with a red/maroon interior that would be the ticket. Long term project someday is to convert my 85 in my avitar to one but stretch the frame to use the 8 ft. bed. Just a dream now...
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having a hard time downloading pix. anyone??? Keeps timing out
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I've only seen one of the extended cab conversions in person, and the owner recently totaled that truck. :(
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Welcome aboard! Let's see some pix!
+1 and Pix of all your toys would be great 8) My Father had a Co-worker when I was little that had an '83 Extended,1Ton Diesel 4x4 with the 8ft bed, that he bought brand new. I remember him saying that it wasn't built by GM, but by one of the Local Specialty Companies that did wrecker and U-haul/Ryder conversions.... Stan(the co-worker) Special Ordered a converted body and chassis from them, then had a local dealer install a painted to match bed that he had bought them...
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I have heard that several companies made the conversions, Overland coach, Choo-Choo, Centurian but can't find any documents. As soon as I get the picture downloading problem figured out, I will post them
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I think I got it. smart wife
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Everything that I have found points to Overland being the only company that made them. I know that Choo-Choo didn't, and Centurian only made them in the newer bodystyles. I also know that all of them were 1983 models (some were registered 84's)
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This one is registered as an 86 and Carfax doesn't show any wrecks (at least reported ones) All underhood decals and door jam decals are present. The person I got it from said his dad bought it in 87, and he got it from him last year, and said it hadn't been touched. I don't know.. He said She said stuff. But if it was an 83 that was converted later to be an 86, alot of attention to detail was taken
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What's the vin # say? The 10th digit would be a G if it's an 86. Very cool though!
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vin number 1GTDC14H5GS504590. thanks for the compliment, I have only seen three of these. one was a 4x4, one a 3/4 ton, and the other also had the top chopped 4 inches. the 4x and the chop top are no longer with use :-\, and the 3/4 ton hasn't been seen for a while. The owner would not sell it at any cost, so I hope it is still ok. It was a perfect truck. Thanks again
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Thats pretty sweet. I think a lifted 4wheel drive version would cool also.
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A couple of questions, Does anyone know when these trucks were built at GM, what did they look like before being shipped to the conversion company, you know what I mean? Like the vans where slightly optioned, partially finished basic vans. Most of the '80's convertible cars where (CCS?) conversions, they left the factory with a regular roof, ect. I have worked on a couple of the early '90's Ford 4dr-extended cab coversions. They had a whole bunch of non-hacked panels, roof, rockers,ect. They weren't like a limo or something, you know where it looked like parts were cut in half, spliced moldings, trim, ect. How are these trucks? Do they have what appears to be original type spotwelds, ect.? I have never seen one or even knew they existed until this one. It looks to be about a foot longer than a 8' bed truck, right? What is this frame shared with? Does the roof have ribs like a Suburban ? Doesn't look like it in the photos. Has anyone had the paint off of one? Is the ex-cab part kinda crude (multiple splices, original back panel w/cab corners covered over sorta? I had thought about building one years ago, starting with a Suburban front of the "cab" to get the floor & long roof & sectioning in truck cab parts from there & using a 6' bed. Neat Find! Good Luck with it, Lorne
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That is a really cool truck. Do you have any pictures of the inside?
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Lemme see if I can answer some of your questions based on this one. The roof cap appears to be fiberglass, one peice, but the side cab extensions are metal. On the interior, the floor is raised right behind the seat ( just like a regular cab) and there is a little jump seat on each side facing eachother.( good enough for my 3 year old, no chance for anyone over 5 ft, 100pounds)
All of the inside is covered with plastic mouldings that cover the walls. If one didn't know better, it looks factory. I will try to put up some interior pix today.
As for the bed and frame, it looks like it was a single cab, long bed that they cut two foot off of the front of the bed and extended the bed, because the back half of the bed past the wheel wells is the same lenth as my other longbeds, but the front is 4 inches shorter than my shortbed. I have not taken a tape to the chassis yet, but could not see any frame modifications other than extra cab mounts. The guy here that had the 4x and the cho top said there where various versions, some 9 inch, some 18, and some 24" extensions, but once again know documentation has been found........yet
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Yep, your right. I just dug up what I have written down on these, they were made from 1983-1986 by Overland and they started as LWB trucks. I have seen one that has a short bed on it though, but I don't have proof that it is one of the originals or if someone found a converted cab an put it on a extended frame... neither did the owner.
It is really nice, love to see more pics. One owner was redoing his and found some rust behind all the panels in the back...
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I do see some signs of rust in the door jam where the side panels were added. Ot is at the seams and not bubbling through the panel. No other signs of rust is showing around the cab and the inner fenderwells are perfect. We don't get alot of rust around here, but I have seen many innerfenders rusted. So being that this one is not, is unusual for me.The rubber fenderwell flaps between the wheelwell and the frame are perfect. The owners manual was in the glovebox and the first owner documented everything. Oil changes every 3,000 miles,tires rotated every 6. Last record was 84000 in 94. Shows 72117 on odo now, but don't have info on what happened between then and now. But it does appear to be well taken care of. It does have an aftermarket seat just installed with new carpetm but that is all I can find. No telltale signs of repaint or anything
Have interiorpixs coming
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interior pix
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more interior
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VERY NICE!!!!!!!!!!!
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thank you, it all began when I was looking for something to drive while I work on my 76 choptop stepside, and now I have another obsession, but I will be using it for what I bought it for.
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Thanks for the reply Topchooper, The fiberglass roof was not what I expected! It looks like a seam going out from the rain gutter & above the side window, does it have the same seam across the back like a regular truck? The interior looks nicer than I expected for the'80's, I was thinking cheesy fabric covered panels with buttons over the screws like the conversion vans of the era. Now after holding my thumb over the ex-cab area in the photo I guess it does look like a standard length frame. Neat! Thanks, Lorne
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it does have the seam across the back if the cab. I will know more about the roof construction soon as I will be repainting it. I will let it be know when I find out for sure
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It should be a metal roof.
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You are right, i looked alittle closer and it is metal, what I thought was fiberglass, was craking paint, but a magnet proved me different
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From what I have seen and heard from owners is they basically cut the back off and moved it back and bridged it back together.
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yeah it looks that way, it is really neat how they shortened the bed. It doesn't look any different than my other trucks when you look at the way the panels ar put together
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Chris, This is why I was asking about the ribs & the condition of the truck when it left GM. It would be easier & better to use a Suburban roof & cut the back off, however if the roof was already on the truck then they would have to cut it all off or as you say, cut & splice, cut & splice. Choptop, Is the cracking paint on the rear portion of the roof? Thanks Guys, I'm glad I joined this site, I never knew these where made, if someone said they had one I'd say B.S. or It's homemade. Talk to you all later, Lorne
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That is a Kool looking Truck you got there, Congrats on the Score 8) 8) Does the roof top dip down and flatten out before the Extension, then kick up again at the rear of the cab(Looks like it does in some pics, and doesn't in others) like you see Limos do???
I like the rear Jumpers, and as low as they sit, I don't know why an Adult couldn't sit there if needed(Frame looks like it should be strong enough, but if not, it should have a label on it somewhere with its weight maximum..).... If you want a stronger Jumper, Ford and Toyota both make ones strong enough to hold a 280lbs Tank like me ;D Also safety wise, and if you plan on running it on the Highways with any kids on the Jumpers, Please concider adding some seat belts! :o
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There is another one on 73-87.com
http://www.73-87.com/readers_rides/fleetside/hilliker.htm
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Dragon, the roof is straight and has all the same curves as the single cab just longer. And i will be ordering new seatbelts for the jumper seats. For now my little one will ride in the middle with her carseat.We are on the same level there. Jimmy38fan, thanks for the link. I will be trying to get intouch with him and compare notes
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A quick google search revealed a bunch of them. Looks like more than one company was doing these conversions but information seems very limited... I'm intrigued now.
(http://members.aol.com/ridinhi2by/images/ext85.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/Billyfish97/80secab1.jpg)
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n213/hanjes01/GMCextCab2.jpg)
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thanks for the pics Vile, I am going to start collecting every pic and info I can find on these. The guy here that has had them said that he knew several companies made them,but all of his were different than these shown. He said his beds were shorter 4 1/2 ft yo 5 1/2 ft ,and so was the extension some as small as 9 inches. He said noneof his had the detailed interioir this on has, A;; the pix you sent are similar to this one. Awesome
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I found this one day driving down the highway. I should go back and get better pictures sometime.
Sorry for the bad camera phone pic.
(http://www.t-mobilepictures.com/photos/photo20/59/14/d15b7bf84149.jpg)
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owned one of these about 8 yrs ago. Did some research on it . Made in Arlington,Texas. 14 produced in 85. Pretty rare! I took mine apart to do a repaint and the inside of the cab was pretty scary looking! The rear of the cab floor was the leftover portion of the bed floor. looked like the inside of a conversion van. Lots of rough cuts and HORIBLE welds! It was a long box shortend in the front
found this in a 2006 post
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Found the blue one on ebay, buy it now for 1500. The brown/tan one is mine.I guess I did good for $2800 and drove it home
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Sweet, can't say that I remember seeing any of those here in California.
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Found the blue one on ebay, buy it now for 1500. The brown/tan one is mine.I guess I did good for $2800 and drove it home
That is the blue one I saw. If it had the red interior I'd had gone for it.
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Totally Friggin Awesome!!!! I never would have beleived it. I guess it proves there's all kinda stuff out there.
It reminds me of how I felt when I saw the little compartments some trucks have in the lower front part of the bed. And when the Fall Guy opened his bed side up in an episode. I think that's were I saw it, it opened like a door in the front of the bed.
I'm ready to cut on my K-10!
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Chop, Can you post photos of the inside? Just curious to see what they did. Is the roof a section job to? Did they add new mounts to support the newly made back or just slide back the old ones? Thanks, Talk to you later, Lorne
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His interior pics are under the Rides forum:
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=7105.0
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I guess I wasn't clear on my request, sorry. I would like to see the inside structure/cutting, ect. of the cab if possible. Thanks, Lorne
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I will have it in the air this weekend for inspection and maintenance. It hs been sitting for a while. I will try to get some good underside pix, but aa far as the inside, that will be a while. The interior is too nice to touch.Everything is paneled over. Even the headliner is the full length and is decked out with trim. Not fancy, just looks like a clean stock interior. The headliner doesn't even have smudges on it. when I get the others, I will post them.
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I just realized that I have neglected this post on my 86, so I figure Id post an update. Recent changes to the truck involved about a 4/4 drop using DJM upper and lower a-arms, and coil springs, with Bell Tech drop shackles and hangers.
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh203/choptop76/DSC00187.jpg)
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh203/choptop76/DSC00188.jpg)
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh203/choptop76/DSC00197.jpg)
Before
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh203/choptop76/86%20Extended%20cab/DSC07166.jpg)
After
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh203/choptop76/DSC00192.jpg)
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh203/choptop76/DSC00195-1.jpg)
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The truck looks great. How does it drive with the 4/4" drop. I love the cowl induction hoods on these trucks. What brand did you use?
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It drives great. It has been and still is the best driving truck ( of any year) that I have ever had. It rides better than my 08.
The hood is a Reflexions steel hood I believe. I bought it at a swap meet for $200
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That really does look great Chop! :)
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Lookin' good, Chopper!
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your truck is looking real good man i like the hood and the lower stance, i was wondering if you had a part number for those control arms you have on the truck? i bought a 3/5 drop kit for my 83 stepper, it has 3 inch lowering srpings for the front and a flip kit for the rear, my other question is will thise control arms work with the springs i already have? any info would be great thanks 8)
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They are made by DJM, I will try to fnd the part numbers. It should work with the springs you have. It drops it about 1 inch from what I could tell, but makes the geometry better for alignment purposes. The guy who did the alignment was really happy to see that I used the arms instead of just spindles an springs because he said it helps maintain the correct setup
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ok thanks for the info and if you could find the part numbers id apprecate it 8)
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Old yeller and I are going to start working on the body of this one and try to get it ready for our Youths car show on June 27th. I have a few questions and I know some of them have been asked but I didnt get a definate answer that I understood, so I am asking them myself, sorry.
1) what body filler and glaze is the most recommended? I dont have to put alot on, just some small areas and I dont want to have to worry about it shrinking.
2) All of these trucks I have seen in person have some type of chemical in the filler of the extended cab area that will cause little areas to show. It looks like someone put fingernail imprints in the wet paint. What primer will block this chemical from coming through? I really dont want to go to bare metal if I can stay away from it.
3) what filler primer is recommended?
4) We havent decided on a color just yet. I was considering black, but the crewcab will be black so we are leaning towards Indigo Blue, Charcoal gray, or a Dark Candy red. Any other ideas?
I appreciate any pointers or ideas you have.
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I've come in kinda late but good timing I guess! I found this this pic and only caught it because it has the 2 piece billet grille I want. Hope it helps, enjoy
http://www.truckforum.org/forums/truck-pictures-garage-5472.htm
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Bob is a member on the forum.