2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission One of a kind? Factory 96 full crewcab!

[SRath]

Here for your viewing pleasure and discussion is what the seller claims is a Dodge-factory-built full 4 door (not extended cab; not quad cab) crew cab 96 Cummins diesel. It is certainly interesting. Maybe someone here will end up owning it. . ?



Dodge : Ram 3500 - eBay (item 300516691548 end time Jan-28-11 19:15:00 PST)

 

[CTaylor]

That is wild. I have seen very few others as in maybe 1 like that but I know for sure it was done as a conversion. It is hard to explain the factory sticker on the rear door though of this one

 

[MLee]

Back in 96-97-98 There was and still is a company here in North Salt Lake, Utah that did and still does the extended cab, to crew cab and 8' bed addions. I seen a number of these waiting to be transported out of a car carriers yard when I worked out there.

On that tag there is no wheel base measurement.

 

[Hammer]

Here Look familiar?.....



Its NOT a factory built ride,its a Bayer Conversion just like this former TDR members ride from along time ago... ... ... . Andy

 

[budnate]

neat truck, I hope the new owner cleans it back up.

 

[mwilson]

Here Look familiar?.....



Its NOT a factory built ride,its a Bayer Conversion just like this former TDR members ride from along time ago... ... ... . Andy

That makes a lot more sense and explains some of the little oddities in the rear interior of the cab.



Mike

 

[KKlingbeil]

That is sweet!!! That is my only complaint of the 2nd Gens is not being able to get a full 4 door cab. Anyone have a guestimation on the cost of a conversion like this? Would be SO NICE!

 

[SRath]

Aside from a look at the frame to see if it was stretched, I would want to see the same matching plastic interior parts all the way to the rear as the factory made for the front. No conversion company could, or would, do that very easily.



If you are into early muscle cars, especially from GM, you learn after a long time to never say never, and that there are no "absolutes". For example, there were NEVER any 2nd generation Camaro convertibles built by the factory. Except ONE. Turns out the factory boys did indeed build a one-only as a gift for their boss and it has been the subject of many articles and lost bets.

 

[Simplysmn]

That's a aftermarket done truck but look's nice thou

 

[SRath]

I think Andy should forward that seller the photo and info he posted here. The guy is obviously very convinced it rolled out of St. Louis like that. And some poor (actually wealthy) schmuck might pay an outrageous amount for what is not a super-collectible one-of-a-kind factory truck.



The interesting point is that it does retain the factory GVW rating sticker. IMO, there is no way a truck that has been stretched like that could legally claim to be as strong frame-wise or body-wise as an unmodified one. I would think the conversion company is exposing themselves to a serious potential lawsuit, even if the frame is as strong as before. Did the company do certified testing to prove it?

 

[AWeiman]

take a close look at the vehicle history report,



Report Summary



Class: Pickup - Full Sized

Engine: 5. 9L I6 MPI

Country of Assembly: United States

Vehicle Age: 15 year(s)

Calculated Owners: 2

VIN: 1B7MF36C6TS559919

Year: 1996

Make: Dodge

Model: Ram 3500 LT / Laramie SLT / ST

Style/Body: Regular Cab 2D

 

[MLee]

I think Andy should forward that seller the photo and info he posted here. The guy is obviously very convinced it rolled out of St. Louis like that. And some poor (actually wealthy) schmuck might pay an outrageous amount for what is not a super-collectible one-of-a-kind factory truck.



The interesting point is that it does retain the factory GVW rating sticker. IMO, there is no way a truck that has been stretched like that could legally claim to be as strong frame-wise or body-wise as an unmodified one. I would think the conversion company is exposing themselves to a serious potential lawsuit, even if the frame is as strong as before. Did the company do certified testing to prove it?

I understand they are still in business and there is one in Lehi utah also. They say they are certified to be as strong or stronger than if from the factory. Robert Patton had his mega cab stretched with a 8' bed.

The cost was around 4-6 grand. Don't know all the particulars.

 

[SRath]

I've stretched much larger farm truck frames before and it can be done extremely strong. But I sure wouldn't leave or put any GVW claim on it since I have no idea how it might get abused. I've seen poorly done ones broken in half. A couple years back the local newspaper had a photo of a "salvage title vehicle", a unibody car, that had literally broken in half just driving down the road. Seems the "rebulder" had just spotwelded two body halves together and left it at that.

 

[GAmes]

A CA emissions 12 valve hooked to an automatic transmission. What was that? 160HP? The seller is a moron, but I'll bet he gets the 10 grand. P. T. Barnum was a smart guy.

 

[surfbeetle]

I'd love to have one, but not for that much. It's almost the cost of a newer truck. It's got to be a bayer truck. The rear door jamb probably was the front door jamb before the stretch. If the original owner bought it new off of the lot as he says, then the dealer must have had the conversion done and sold it as new. All we need now are photos of the frame to compare to a bayer conversion. BTW when I called years ago, they wanted $15k to stretch my truck.

 

[MMeier]

You had Bayer, and when I drove around the country doing stuff for Dodge back then, I remember an out fit out of Cleburne ... IIRC, Tx. that did these. There were also several 6 door trucks done back then.

 

[HHhuntitall]

I thought they were called Cleburne Custom Conversions... ... After 98 they quit doing Light duty trucks and went to work only on Freightliner and Petes:{..... I've got a nice one of those..... Usually only drive it during the summer... .

 

[HHhuntitall]

They used Dakota/durango rear door panels, locks, windows, latches... . the doors themselves were heavy laid fiberglass with a steel square tubing frame... . seem fairly well made. There's 4 inches more room behind the front seat than the Ford Crews, and about 2 inches more than the Mega Cabs. I'm pretty tall and can sit slouching in the back seat. I really like the heck out of it.

 

[MMeier]

Sweet ! Any more of the Pete ?

 

[HHhuntitall]

Sweet ! Any more of the Pete ?

Yeah!! Lots!! I'll try to put some up when I get a chance. That's my old '85 359. It's got a 24' Mabar grain bed on it. My 379 looks a little nicer for over the road truck. It'd be a toss up between my 359 or my W900 as to my favorite.