conversion... crewcab / cab n chassis info needed

[pepecat]

I've been searching for a way to make a crewcab conversion here in CALIFORNIA, in lieu of the smog laws. . IE any gas crewcab newer than 1975 needs a smog check every two years.



Diesels are exempt all years.



SO, I've been searching for pre 1975 crewcabs but they're few and far between and REALLY in need of a frame off ground up resto... and since I'm looking to make the truck family friendly and good enough to rival a 3rd gen, I need the best start I can get...



SO my question is...



Does anyone have a chassis cab dodge diesel like these :



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and do you know what the wheelbase is ?? will it fit a crew cab and long or short pickup bed on it like this ?



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[surfbeetle]

I can't answer your questions about the pre 75 gasser cab, but wish to offer another thought. Since the Diesel is exempt from smog here in our lovely state, you may think about using a already registered diesel frame and lengthening it to the size you need. Then get the body from any year that fits. The frame VIN is what is used on the registration. If you lengthen the frame to the same length as one of the gas crew cabs, you may be able to use the ebrake cables, assorted wires and lines, etc from that style. Just a thougth...

 

[pepecat]

thanks for the recommendation... I know for a fact that I have the small Gasser frame found under some of the standard cabs... ALL crew cabs and diesel club cabs AND 350 SWR/DRW trucks have the beefier frame. Mine would not be up to par when lengthening is involved. So you're right I would have to look for another diesel reg'd frame. I'm looking for the stoutest setup possible. This is why I'm so interested in the Chassis Cab Long wheelbase trucks like the ones pictured above. They are diesel reg'd already so the frames are set. I didn't realize they took the VIN off the frame, I thought it was just the one on the dash...

 

[surfbeetle]

The dmv calls it "vehicle construction" if you take parts and go in and get it registered. They will want receipts for everything, but ultimately its the frame vin they use. If you took a registered vehicle and got into your name and then did the conversion, I suppose that they would never know.



I have not done this with a dodge, but I did have a vw bug that had the vin mismatched on the registration. DMV made me take it to the CHP and get it inspected. The vin that the highway patrol used was the one on the frame. He then issued a vin plate on the body to replace the body vin so that the body vin would match the frame vin.



In my situation, the previous owner had taken the body and put it on a different frame but never changed the registration vin. I had to take care of that. Hope this helps.

 

[Simplysmn]

I could teach you really easy how to do a swap and not have to worry about Smog ever again did that on my crewcab and will be doing it again soon when I start my build on my newest project . Reg your cewcab in needles Ca. yes I know it is kinda far from you but all you need is a address out there Reason being it's Smog Exempt out there due to being to close to Ariz Border . also if you buy a crewcab and then swap a diesel into it the vin stay's the same so no worries about paper work

on the Early truck's Ie 80's there is no frame number I have searched 3 frames and found None .