W350 Crew Cab - The ultimate first gen - Pics and history

[Shadrach]

I remember a 1992 crew cab converted like yours but a SRW 4X4 with the CTD for sale years ago but he wanted almost $18000. I thought that was too much then. I don't now.

Gtoli I have a friend who is putting a 1953? Ford cabover body on an 03 Dodge chassis. I'll have to ask him for pics as it would be cool to watch it develop.

Quote

Customer: Can you please change my oil?
Robert: No problemmo! Will call you when it is ready!

4 weeks later... .

Robert: Hello Jimbo? Your truck is ready!
Jimbo: What they heck took so long?
Robert: Well, I decided you needed to change the suspension, turbo, clutch, and I also added 15 gauges... . Oh, also your bill no longer applies at the $50. You now owe me $10,000... .

Robert That's funny I was thinking more along the lines of the customer agreeing to the conversion " before " you did a it and paying you $10,000 cash for $10,000 work. That way you could support you habits. Shadrach

 

[DVolk]

On that center hump for the transmission . Has any one ever used a 70s one that is removeible on a 80s/90s cab ? I thought this option might be easier than the , " Oh crap

i miss measured syndrone " !!!!!!!!!! Or does any one have a template to use for a cut out ?

 

[gtoli]

Gtoli I have a friend who is putting a 1953? Ford cabover body on an 03 Dodge chassis. I'll have to ask him for pics as it would be cool to watch it develop.

I would like to see pics of that. although it's a different beast, it might help me decode on mine

 

[HHhuntitall]

On that center hump for the transmission . Has any one ever used a 70s one that is removeible on a 80s/90s cab ? I thought this option might be easier than the , " Oh crap

i miss measured syndrone " !!!!!!!!!! Or does any one have a template to use for a cut out ?

It's called a MIG welder and a grinder!!:-laf The humps are very similar, I'm sure it could be done. But even then, as hard as they are to find, the syndrome would still be there..... and with dynomat and carpet down, what a PITA to remove!! Besides, they make a lot of different sized rubber shifter boots!!

 

[RSchwarzli]

Yup. Thats all I did. Rough measure, gzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.



I did measure twice though!

 

[AH64ID]

Great looking build!

 

[RSchwarzli]

I remember a 1992 crew cab converted like yours but a SRW 4X4 with the CTD for sale years ago but he wanted almost $18000. I thought that was too much then. I don't now.

Yes. That was Mark Mcgivern (username McGivern if memory serves) from AZ. I remember. I looked at the truck when I was down there on holidays. Was a nice truck. He did sell it to a gentlemen who had just come out of the Army.

Robert That's funny I was thinking more along the lines of the customer agreeing to the conversion " before " you did a it and paying you $10,000 cash for $10,000 work. That way you could support you habits. Shadrach

Lol. Yeah, it is a Habit in a way isn't it!

I like the plan. So in a few months when I get my rolling business card out.....

 

[DVolk]

Thats what i did on my 92 i pruned to it fit then back patched , my burb the center un bolted so i kind of held it up and marked with a sharpy , i used a bronco 2 boot on that one

 

[RSchwarzli]

OK. History lesson time.



I have had a few ask about the factory availability of a Cummins in a 4 door. Class in session... . Subject: Dodge Crew Cabs and Diesels 101



Dodge intorducted factory crew cabs in 1963 in the D series body line. This body style ran up until 1973 when the style was changed. From 1973-1980, the crew cabs were continued as mostly work trucks available in the 200/300 body size. Many of these trucks were seen at race tracks as team transporters. There was a one year only (1978) diesel option, but it was not a Cummins. The motor was a Mitsubishi 6DR5, 4. 0L, 105 HP at 3500 RPM motor.



The body style we call first gens was introduced as another redesign in 1981. This body ran till 1993 and was referred to as the 250/350 series.



For the crew cabs, they ran from 1981-1985 with 1985 model being the last that was available until the 2003 trucks. Crew cabs were available as 250 and 350' with 4wd offered in short bed models only. If you wanted a long bed, you lost the 4x4 option.



Vehicle options were also few and far between. Motors consisted of 360's or 440's. Most of these trucks that were ordered were for constuction, or US Army vehicle. This is part of the reason very few still exist.



As most on this site is aware, the 1989 model year trucks were the first Cummins Rams, just shy a few years from having factory crew cab Cummins trucks.



There are many conversions running around. Most consist of just swapping a crew cab body onto a long bed club cab frame, or just dropping a motor/trans into a crew cab body. There were a few that were professionally converted by a few shops accross the country.



Mine was originally converted by a shop in Alberta Canada. From my research over the years, I have found there to be about 20 or so converted by this shop. They went through the extent of swapping in the diesel crossmembers, entire driveline, doors, dash, seats, suspension, rad core, almost everything minus frame and cab. For anyone looking at their original frame, you should be able to see the original vehicle VIN number stamped into the passenger frame rail (bottom side) about half way back. My frame was a donar from a 1980 360 CI truck.



Hope that helps!



Robert

 

[JLEONARD]

Hey teach, not bad!! (we're not gonna get quizzed on this are we?)



I nominate this to go into the FAQ section

 

[RSchwarzli]

Hey teach, not bad!! (we're not gonna get quizzed on this are we?)



I nominate this to go into the FAQ section

Yes, there will be a test and you of all people better pass!:-laf

 

[RSchwarzli]

Well, I am back at the project again! With all of my recent issues with the 1990s AC evap, I thought I had better replace the core while it was accessible.



So out it came from under the dash...



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New cores...





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Then I started putting the front windows back in...



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Only the best!





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All doors were sound deadner filled. Now there is 2 layers in there!



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One side done!



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[RSchwarzli]

Headlight almost went back in. Remember this shot??



/webdata/photopost/data/500/medium/DSC_1149.JPG#ad






Guess what I am forgetting about. Yup. Headlight bucket! Grrrrr.





This is where it sits.



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So much for fresh paint. It has to go... .



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1. 5 hours of grinding later it fits!



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[tugboatphil]

Bob

I know I brought this up to you several years ago, but just wanted to know if you'd changed your mind. Would you PLEASE adopt me?!

 

[RSchwarzli]

Sure Phil. I would love to.



I could use some more elbow grease to finally get this 5 year resto finished!



Do you really want to be related to me though? Really think about this answer! LOL

 

['strokeThis_'07]

Apparently crewcabs were made in Mexico up until atleast 1990. A few had Cummins in them, one of which (a black dually) got shipped to Canada and bought brand new by a factory employee there.



I don't know if he's on here, but he is on Cummins Forum.







Nice build by the way. I'm on the prowl for a crew myself

 

[DVolk]

If they were built or sold in Mexico i wonder if there is a surplus of parts in Mexico for sale then ? any one go down there that knows any body , i dont and i dont speak the lingo either .

 

[RSchwarzli]

Apparently crewcabs were made in Mexico up until atleast 1990. A few had Cummins in them, one of which (a black dually) got shipped to Canada and bought brand new by a factory employee there.

I don't know if he's on here, but he is on Cummins Forum.



Nice build by the way. I'm on the prowl for a crew myself

Very interesting. I have never heard this before. Do you have a link to this truck you speak about?is it legit or??? I would love to get some more info as I was under the thought that most new Mexican trucks were not able to be licensed under North American NMV laws.

There was alot of things that happended down in Mexico like 2nd gen Ramchargers that we never saw up here so that is always a possibility. Your info I'd something I would live to get more info and proof on.

Thanks! That's great!

 

[tugboatphil]

My 90 was made in Canada. My 93 was made in Mexico. Toyotas, Nissan, Honda, BMW are made in the US.

When I hear people telling me to "buy American" I get cross eyed.

 

[DVolk]

I need to back up a minute and ask a question on the gen engine installed in this truck what are you useing for a throttel cable /linkage on it ? any pics or part numbers , thanks Donovan