85 3/4 ton excab

[Jims86tpisub]

Those Alcoa`s are pretty sweet, but around here, anyone that drives somthing like that, is labeled as being a member of the teeny weeny club!

[beastie_3]

Those Alcoa`s are pretty sweet, but around here, anyone that drives somthing like that, is labeled as being a member of the teeny weeny club!

Maybe with those street tires, but since it isnt a 2013 Chevy Duramax, it is ok...

[choptop]

I can get the dually rearend, but the front end is almost impossible to find around here. The truck I traded for it had the dually front end, but thats why they wanted the truck.

Not the most desireable option, but an option is using the newer ('92?) ton ton front spacers for bud wheels on your existing front axle. The lock-out sits back in about 3/4" front the wheel face, but it will work & look correct. Lorne

Thanks Lorne, I thought I remembered seeing some spacers that looked likebolted on the the existing hub from the factory but could remember where. I think I have a set of those in the back barn, Time to go for a hunt.
 I am pretty sure Im going the dually route, I cant lower it too much without relocating the blazer tank that they installed, an dnot to excited on the 24s, but wheel see which way it goes. I could probably stand 22.5s

[Old77]

Wow!! I have learned something new about the square body style trucks. Until I just read this thread I had NO idea that an extended cab even existed in the 73-87 trucks! I have only seen the regular cab and crew cab versions. Can someone enlighten me with more information on these extended cab square bodies? Did they come from the factory like that or was it from a conversion company??

[choptop]

They were made by conversion van companies in the 80's and sold thru dealerships. This one make no 4 for me.
Supposedly there were over 2000 made, but I have found about 50 that were actually built in the 80s by Custom Vehicles international (CVI), Stage Coach conversions, ans Overland Coach conversions. I havent found any hard evidence such as brochures, but have gotten alot of info from original owners of the trucks.

[Old77]

Wow...those are nice that you have! Is that grey one a crew cab combine with an ext cab?

The primered on with the little bit window in the ext cab is not the most attractive one because of the small window so between the 3 conversion companies they must have each made them a little differently.

thanks for the info. I guess you learn something new every day!

[78 Chevyrado]

I'll take it!  teenie weenie or not!   

[choptop]

Ok, here are a few more pics that I promised so you can see more of what Im working with



Heres the frame mods they did for the long bed. I dont think its going anywhere, but it cant be lowered much more because the blazer tank sits over the rear axle. They had to install a 3 inch body lift to make the bed and cab match, not sure I like that alot, but it doesnt bother me to much.





I am going to go the dually route, and either 19.5s or 22.5s. Im not a big fan of th 24s

[454ss]

There used to be an ext. cab square body running around Dayton, Ohio. I want to say it was older than 1981, but it's been so long since I've seen it.

I don't know where it ended up, last I heard of the owner, his house was foreclosed on and the dealer he worked for got the axe from Chrysler.

[Old77]

That is really cool!!! I'm still surprised that in my 33 years of obsession in cars and trucks and loving these square bodies that I've never even seen one of these ext cabs in person!! This is just so fascinating to me.

I wonder if a person got a long bed frame if an extended cab would fit on there with a short bed on the back?? IMO, that would be one sweet build to grab one of these extended cabs and create a 1/2 ton with a short bed. Sounds like I need to talk to someone who has FOUR extended cabs into letting one go for a reasonable price!! 

[zieg85]

That is really cool!!! I'm still surprised that in my 33 years of obsession in cars and trucks and loving these square bodies that I've never even seen one of these ext cabs in person!! This is just so fascinating to me.

I wonder if a person got a long bed frame if an extended cab would fit on there with a short bed on the back?? IMO, that would be one sweet build to grab one of these extended cabs and create a 1/2 ton with a short bed. Sounds like I need to talk to someone who has FOUR extended cabs into letting one go for a reasonable price!! 

Good luck in getting Kelly to part with one.  Been on the search but what I have found has been rotted out or past my price range.  I agree a true shortbed would be cool.  I am wanting an 8 foot bed myself but start with a crew cab frame and shorten it accordingly.  They are fascinating for sure, I REALLY like the silver dually windows, now that is as factory as one could look IMO.

[Canadian 4X4]

There is a farmer in my county with a six door suburban!

[rwhit57]

I have watched for these for years also, and have only seen a few for sale. A couple of them I found the rear windows had leaked and rotted out the extension. I spotted a short bed in Okmulgee, Ok a few years back it was white and an old guy was driving it, still had rallye wheels and whitewalls on it. I go through there on my way to the lake and I always watch for it. I can't believe this guy has 4 of them! Too cool. One of these days I may just build one it wouldn't be that hard to do and cabs are plentiful.   

[choptop]

These trucks are built on a longbed frame, so in order to put a shortbed on it, youd still have to cut 4-5 inches off the front of the bed to make it fit, and then of course the rear frame rails. Youd have to either cut a crewcab frame down, or stretch the longbed frame. I will start doing a better job of posting the ones I find here, but there are a few guys that do an awesome job of helping me do that here, and it is appreciated.

[Captkaos]

You are buying them all aren't you.  I love the concept for this one!