converting a 1st gen club cab to a crew cab shorty

[Firstgenfanantic]

Has anyone used their 1st gen club cab chassis/running gear and swapped on a crew cab & shortbox? I have seen pics of it done once or twice. I am really wanting to do the same thing and would like to talk with someone who has first hand knowledge of the conversion. I specifically would like to get numerical dimensions on where the cab floor needs to be notched for the frame rail humps. Thanks!

 

[Simplysmn]

If your interested I have a crewcab shorty frame Complete ?

 

[Firstgenfanantic]

If your interested I have a crewcab shorty frame Complete ?

Thanks for the offer. I am actually interested in putting the crew cab and shortbox onto my 93' W250 chassis. I wonder where the rear cab mounts will have to be placed for the crew cab?

 

[Simplysmn]

Well that's why I offered the frame is a 4x4 frame I had sold the running gear and body off of it great shape but I am going long bed and don't need the shorty frame

 

[Shadrach]

The frames are completely different between a club and crew - where it turns up under the cab. You would have to do mods to the mounting. I checked it out with my 84 crew and 92 club. Shadrach

 

[Firstgenfanantic]

Yup! :-laf I am aware of the "hump" in the frame on the club cab. I have heard of several people cutting the crew cab floor (where the rear seat is) to make it work. I have also heard that a large body lift clears the frame. I am curious if any on here has done it?

 

[Flexiheep]

Yup! :-laf I am aware of the "hump" in the frame on the club cab. I have heard of several people cutting the crew cab floor (where the rear seat is) to make it work. I have also heard that a large body lift clears the frame. I am curious if any on here has done it?

I dealt with the hump on my club to crew conversion by lengthening under the cab 34" (std cab to crew difference) and then shortened the frame after the hump under the bed 18" (std cab to club difference). I would slot the cab floor before I would run a body-lift on the crew, there are only 4 mounts holding the cab to the frame. Much of a body lift and your talking serious leverage and forces on the body mounts.

 

[Firstgenfanantic]

I would slot the cab floor before I would run a body-lift on the crew, there are only 4 mounts holding the cab to the frame. Much of a body lift and your talking serious leverage and forces on the body mounts.

Yes, I absolutely agree! I have never been a fan of body lifts. The truck is already high enough for me. I think notching the rear floor is not a bad job. I have a good wirefeed welder and the floor doesn't require flawless body work.



I was able to find someone on Cardomain.com that did the exact conversion I'm wanting to do. Here is an example pic... ... .....

 

[Simplysmn]

You got your work cut out for ya sound's like a fun Project man

 

[DVolk]

How do you deal with the slave clutch master cylender on a order truck cab , im not wanting to cut and weld the cab . Would a gen 2 one work in its place ? Or is there a aftermarket one ?

 

[Firstgenfanantic]

Does anyone know what the weight of the crew cab itself? (minus doors and all of the interior items) I was wondering if 3-4 people could lift the cab or is it just too heavy?

 

[Simplysmn]

It's pretty darn heavy we used a backhoe made it simple now we had door's on mine so that might make a difference but I dono

 

[Flexiheep]

Does anyone know what the weight of the crew cab itself? (minus doors and all of the interior items) I was wondering if 3-4 people could lift the cab or is it just too heavy?

I placed my bare cab and bed on my truck with 3 other guys, no doors or any glass installed. Was actually pretty easy... ... ... . I don't think it was much more than 400 lb.

 

[Firstgenfanantic]

Ok folks, I now have a crew cab and short box standing by for my conversion. I do have a few questions... ... ... ...



Is the front 2 body/cab mounts the same location for both the club cab & crew cab?



Does anyone make replacement crew cab body/cab mounts?



How high does the rear floor "channeling" have to be in order to clear the club cab frame hump?



I'm sure I will have more questions as I go along. Thanks to those who respond back.

 

[Flexiheep]

Ok folks, I now have a crew cab and short box standing by for my conversion. I do have a few questions... ... ... ...



Is the front 2 body/cab mounts the same location for both the club cab & crew cab?



mine were.



Does anyone make replacement crew cab body/cab mounts?



I will have to look, I thought I found a place, but mine were ok enough to not spend the $$$$



How high does the rear floor "channeling" have to be in order to clear the club cab frame hump?



Sorry, no idea, I would just cut channels over the rails, and lower the body till your happy. Or measure how much the club floor raises up and compare to the crew in that area.



I'm sure I will have more questions as I go along. Thanks to those who respond back.

Post some pictures if you can.

 

[Firstgenfanantic]

I was able to get the crew cab placed onto my 19ft car trailer. This was accomplished by using a tractor w/bucket. The plan worked perfectly, now I have all the parts/pieces I need for the conversion. Right now I am just trying to research and get the above questions answered... .....



Flexiheep: Unfortunately, I broke the family camera last week (dropped it by accident #@$%!) Hopefully I can get some pics up soon.





I have a couple of older pics included to show what my crew donor cab looks like. (This was before I pulled it)

 

[pwerwagn]

What year is that cab? Looks like the cab/fenders are late 70's, and the hood/bed are perhaps 80's?



Ive been wanting to do a conversion like this myself. I just cant decide whether to use the 80-93 doors/fender/bed style with a 93 grill, or the 72-79 stuff with a 74-6 grill.

 

[Simplysmn]

If you have a complete crewcab truck why not just convert it to 4x n drop your motor into it ?makes it Fun and Easy .