Another Crewcab build

[66Z71]

Or 2-1/2 trucks
It comes down to either selling my '62 SWB, or turning it into something usefull. I have enough toys and projects, this has to be practical. Currently I have an Suburban with a 454 that we use for towing, and hauling the kids to school. The pickup that hauls garbage on the weekends, and two cars for the the wife and me to drive to work.


The plan is to build a crew cab 4x4 that will pull the car trailer, take the kids to school, take the family up the mountains in the winter, and be a semi-daily driver. I picked up a '77 3/4 ton long bed 4x4 for the frame and running gear. I have my '62 short wide 1/2 ton that will give up its cab & bed. And I picked up a '66 cab, I'm getting tired of hitting my knees getting in and out of the truck.


The two biggest challanges I think are going to be joining the cabs together to get a pleasing B pillar, and not getting drawn into making this more than a practical work truck (I already saw a build with an Impala dash that I really liked). The whole 4x4, and frame swap will be lots of work, but its all pretty straight forward. I've been looking at crew cab conversions for years, and still haven't seen the perfect one. The best I've seen has suicide rear doors.


But as my daughter says, it would be a pain whenever they wanted to get in or out, and I've heard of creaking noises in newer pickups with those doors because of the huge opening they have. So I would prefer seperate doors, but with a nice narrow B pillar. I think the solution is going to be to straighten it, so both the front and rear door are vertical. I'll post more pics later of where I'm at.

[royo]

hello welcome to the board there was a member here doing this but ill have to find the thread i love them crewcabs

[66Z71]

I've found several threads on ones that were started over the years, just not many that were finished. Keeping it simple enough to finish before I get distracted by the next project will be my big problem.

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the board

The most recent crewcab build (aside from Dino's which is a CC already) is Prerunnerrob's. I think he has the right idea, but I haven't seen any progress for a while. Sounds like you're using the '66 cab up front? Please keep us updated on your progress......with pics of course

I'm kinda liking that unfinished one in the weeds......wonder why they quit......looks like they were almost there.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I'm kinda liking that unfinished one in the weeds......wonder why they quit......looks like they were almost there.

that one was on craigslist.....A member from texas bought it......haven't seen him on here for awhile though...

[ChiefRocka]

All of a sudden, everyone is either building, wants to buy, or had bought a CC...

Last I heard, PreRunner is in the process of buying/moving into a new house...that probably why he hasn't been on here.

But anyway, welcome aboard and looking forward to your build.

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by 66Z71

Keeping it simple enough to finish before I get distracted by the next project will be my big problem.

That's my biggest problem...

Love the plan. Straight B-Pillar looks good. When can I stop by to check it out?

BTW I have a BBW inner panel and glass for converting my 64 (just need to buy the rubber). So if you want to see it done I'll probably get to it one weekend this spring/summer.

[TimE]

The straightened B pillar looks pretty good but I personally don't care for the matching rear wheel opening...

Now breakout the sawzall and get to it!

[jonzcustomshop]

If you can source a suburban or panel roof it might make your job easier.
the problem that rob was running in to was that the front of the cab is narrower than the back by a few inches, so when you mate the 2 together where the front and rear posts were in the center there is a disparity in roof width.
A suburban roof should fix that, because it increases gradually front to back...

[66Z71]

In fact, I have a suburban roof on order, the guy should be dropping it off next weekend.
Just picked up $100 worth of patch panels last night... I'm gonna lock myself in the garage tonight, and not come out until monday morning.

[65sublime]

A couple thoughts.... Your earlier comment about straightening the "B" pillar may get you into trouble. With the "A" pillar tipped forward, you will have a window that is wider at the top than at the bottom. Kinda tough to roll down the window.
???What about the idea of a suicide rear doors, similar to truck in the field,with a narrow bent "B" pillar so either door could be opened independently? My vote would be to leave the windows with tipped forward look.

[66Z71]

I'm gettin rid of the knee knocker. It's gonna become a '66. The original plan was to use the '62 as a donor for the back half of the cab since it has the big back window. After stripping it down last night though I don't think I can bring myself to cutting it up, it's too solid. I'm afraid I have to save it for a future build, and find another BBW cab for the donor. Just found a couple of threads and it looks like if I can make a crewcab it will be a cakewalk to convert the small window to a big window.

How does this look?

[chevytrucknut]

Welcome to the group. That '62 looks like it has lots of nice work done to it. Shame to cut it up.

[66Gilbert]

Hello from Arizona,

Welcome to the boards, Crew Cabs are so awesome!! Who wouldn't want to to have a 1966 BBW Crew Cab. To bad they didn't make more of them in these years so we wouldn't have to try and make them. I guess that is what makes them so sought after by all of us. I like the photo shop pic of the baby blue truck. Did you do it or have some one do it for you? I woud like to see this in a larger picture and with the rear wheel openings left in there original form. Can you do this?

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by 66Z71

I'm gettin rid of the knee knocker. It's gonna become a '66. The original plan was to use the '62 as a donor for the back half of the cab since it has the big back window. After stripping it down last night though I don't think I can bring myself to cutting it up, it's too solid. I'm afraid I have to save it for a future build, and find another BBW cab for the donor. Just found a couple of threads and it looks like if I can make a crewcab it will be a cakewalk to convert the small window to a big window.

How does this look?

I like the straighetened B pillar idea. I think it's the most practical way to do it.

[CUSTOM DELUXE]

I agree with porter, that does look pretty sweet with the straightened B pillars.

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

I like the straighetened B pillar idea. I think it's the most practical way to do it.

[jonzcustomshop]

...and please take lots of pics, I have a feeling there are probably goingto be a few home built crews showing up....
here is a photo chop that I did a while back that almost has a straight pillar- it matches the slant of a 60-63 w/s post::

[Captainfab]

With all these crewcabs popping up and with the issues PreRunner Rob was having I've been thinking. Wouldn't it be easier to build a crewcab starting with a Suburban or Panel? Not just the roof but the whole body. Just cut it to length, fit up a pickup rear cab panel, and go from there. What do you guys think?

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

With all these crewcabs popping up and with the issues PreRunner Rob was having I've been thinking. Wouldn't it be easier to build a crewcab starting with a Suburban or Panel? Not just the roof but the whole body. Just cut it to length, fit up a pickup rear cab panel, and go from there. What do you guys think?

Awesome work66Z71.....good luck on all the obstacles.



Hey Captainfab, my thought was to use a burb and make an Avalanche. Im sure jonz is gonna fire up the harddrive with all his pics any second now!!!

[Dinos63]

hey if i can help with some pics from mine let me know, looks.... like a ton of work nice start

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by protrash64

Awesome work66Z71.....good luck on all the obstacles.



Hey Captainfab, my thought was to use a burb and make an Avalanche. Im sure jonz is gonna fire up the harddrive with all his pics any second now!!!

Yeah that might be cool.......sooo many rigs to build and too little time



.....too little $$ too.

[66Z71]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Wouldn't it be easier to build a crewcab starting with a Suburban or Panel? Not just the roof but the whole body. Just cut it to length, fit up a pickup rear cab panel, and go from there. What do you guys think?

That was what I wanted to do, but finding one isn't easy. I found a roof though, and decided what the heck, the floor will be covered with carpet. I just gotta get this done, so I can get back to the real projects.

[LILRED66]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

With all these crewcabs popping up and with the issues PreRunner Rob was having I've been thinking. Wouldn't it be easier to build a crewcab starting with a Suburban or Panel? Not just the roof but the whole body. Just cut it to length, fit up a pickup rear cab panel, and go from there. What do you guys think?

He is a crew cab I saw last weekend at the Sunflower Swap Meet at the Kansas Colesium in Wichita, KS. It appears to be a Suburban front half with a Suburban or Panel rear half converted into a bed.

It is not mine and I don't own it or know who does.

The black one is currently on eBay.

[66Gilbert]

66Z71,

The door looks like it is coming out pretty well. Can't wait to see this when it is finished. Keep up the good work!! Here is a photoshop pic from member XXL from over in the photoshop forum. I am trying to get him to photoshop it with the long bed from the original photo. This is what you would call an early version of a MEGA CAB before Dodge ever thought of it.

[66Gilbert]

Originally Posted by 66Gilbert

66Z71,

The door looks like it is coming out pretty well. Can't wait to see this when it is finished. Keep up the good work!! Here is a photoshop pic from member XXL from over in the photoshop forum. I am trying to get him to photoshop it with the long bed from the original photo. This is what you would call an early version of a MEGA CAB before Dodge ever thought of it.

Ask and you shall receive. LONGHAIR has photoshoped the request for the long bed version of this truck. I will call it 1966 MEGA BIG K10