Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Im in for the rest of this one .

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

This truck is built for a different purpose, but it does have a Duramax. I thought it might give you some ideas on what to do to make it fit.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=Duramax

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

thanks for the link. I've read through that one. He is using a scott's hotrods coil over front crossmember. now that the motor is out i will take more measurements with using a dry sump pan at about 4" tall. Lots of $$$$$ for one of those.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

If ya need any help with the wiring i have done a few nasty conversions in the past..i could possibly help..im in gresham

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

72DuraBurb's burb is decently low with no hood mods, and a compound turbo'd Dmax. I bet you can get it in there without a high dollar dry sump oil pan. Here's a link to his thread. He went back to the factory front suspension after the first year he had it together too.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...hlight=duramax

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

He did a great job. I've been through his build many times. It looks like the factory pan for the d-max. Im not giving up yet guys. Just have to do some more measuring now that the old motor is out. The dry sump would be the last resort.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Im in.

If ever the chance presented itself I'd be there in a minute to check out this project live.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Well today i was able to do a little more measuring. I used my 66 gmc hood and believe it or not there is bit more room. the 61 hood drops down in the middle and has a brace on the bottom right in the middle. The 66 hood kicks up like a cowl would and has the bracing off to the sides. Measuring the d-max from bottom of stock oil pan to top of the motor it comes in at 38". Now if i ditch the stock pan at 9" and run a ppe pan it will reduce that by 5" coming in at 33". So measuring not touching the bottom of the hood to the bottom of the frame i came up with 32 1/2". Also With the hood in place from the bottom of the frame arches to the new front crossmember it can't be more than 6" tall to the top where the new oil pan would sit. So now i think were dealing with about 3" short. 1" for the motor and about 2" for new crossmember thickness. Yah its that close.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Can always move the hood braces if it helps the cause.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

i have been wanting to build and early to mid 60's crew for so long, i will be tagging along!

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Very nice to have the amenities to build up something like this...

It would have been cool to re-use the early hood rather than hack it up and find a tasteful way to make a subtle cowl shape with another "pontoon" shape down the center.. I really like the earlier hood/grill designs..

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

This is the coolest! I will be a lurker!

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

:agree:

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I was able to pull some plastic pieces off the top of the motor. Also got boost tubes and air box out of the way for now. The engine harness was a little tricky to get out in one piece. CHIZZLER

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Man you guys have some big &@!!$ to tackle jobs like these. I am nervous about the minor job I have to do with my truck, no way I could do one like this, even though I would love a crew cab

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Nice work getting the harness out Chizzler.

Going to be so cool....and you have a really good looking shop too!

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Got a bunch of metal from top banana tuesday. Both front cab mounts are separated from the backside of the rockers making the cab drop on both corners. Trying to get it to where we can brace the inside and start cutting rockers and floor out. The last picture is the cab raised up of the frame as before it was resting on it. Don't have another cab to measure the gap.Chizzler

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I'd like to check this thing out sometime, maybe lend a hand if needed.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

That sounds good. Send a pm with some info.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

wow! lots of repair panels! almost 2 of everything!

I have a question about yours, in this pic where I put the arrow:
does the door pillar just end right there? is the gap between it and the rocker finished? this part is completely gone on mine on both sides
just wondering if that is how the coach builders left this piece.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Hope this helps. it just ends.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

perfect, that does help, as mine just ends as of now... I am still amazed at how low tech some parts of these crews are.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Yup. I think mine might just be in a little bit better condition than yours but not by much. Im excited to start fixing the metal. I will need to make sure im up on my tetanus shot. keep up the good work jon.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

time and patience but either way, your making some progress =0)

keep up the good work ....

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Can anyone help me with the difference from a 61 frame to a 63 and newer. I've read that the back cab mounts line up but mixed comments about the front. The new floor pans are for a 61 so does that mean i will need to cut the perches off the old frame or just open the holes up. I don't have a new frame yet. My old frame is a 3/4 ton. Thanks

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

here are some pics: a 60-62 frame, and a 63-66 frame*, and then a 61 cab sitting over a 63 frame with the bolt showing where the 61 mount hole comes through compared to the 63.

** in the last pic you can see a 65 cab on a 65 frame and the hole in the foreground on the brace is where it is still punched out for the 60-62 frame

what frame are you going to use?


* pic is a 68 frame, visually the same as a 63-66 except for the front bumper mounts

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Thanks. I have not purchased a new frame but looking at a 63-66. The new front floor cab support i got has a second hole inward. I would assume that is where the cab will now bolt. It looks like it lands right on top of the front to back c-channel floor support.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Your last pic details it exactly. Thank you.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Mounting a '60-'62 cab onto a '63-'66 frame is as simple as drilling a new hole for the front cab mount bolt farther inward. The cab mount on the cab is already contoured to fit.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Well today i found a donor truck for the crew cab. Overall sheet metal is in great shape. 1961 4wd on a newer frame. Big block with a turbo 400. Bed and front sheet metal are very usable. Drivers door is awesome. Also got a second passenger door. Grill is in amazing condition. Tear down went pretty good. Chizzler

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

are you going to use that 4wd frame and keep it as a 4wd long fleet?

the frame stretch for that would be 30 inches-that is how much the cab is stretched-

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I think the frame is from a 73 on. Im going 2wd so still looking for a frame. Hey jon i found this chalk number on the firewall over the olive drab paint. Does yours have anything like this? Also i think we have the exact same truck from the same builder.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

yeah I am pretty sure they are from the same batch , mine has #178 in that spot, and then: "341 green" on the upper cowl.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

cool build, I have been tossing around a similar idea seeing as I have a c20 and a beat up duramax. If for some reason you decide to go with putting the old body on the new frame check out this build http://www.2brotherscustomtrucks.com...ild_week1.html.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Made some progress. Had to let go of one of my future projects to fund this one. Floor pieces are held in place like a jenga game right now. Touch it and it will fall apart.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Awesome thread. Not sure how you guys pull things like this off. Looks like you have it handled though.
Will be following this one.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Subscribed! :c2:

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Is that an original willys that you sold? Trucks are lookin pretty sharp. Should be a cool ride when it's done

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I wish. 36 ford 5 window coupe.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

wow! lots of work! but its coming along.
something I noticed on mine: the rear of the front door gets super close to the rear door hinge when you open it. at one point I had the rear door gap opened up too far ( with a porta power) and it pushed the hinge far enough forward that the front door wouldn't open... it was quite a process to get the pillar in the right spot so that the inner rear of the rear door wouldn't hit the jamb when closing, and the rear of the front door would clear the hinges, and still maintain a decent gap between the 2 doors....
lmk if you need measurements of any of this stuff.