Help? Is this possible?

[StepinNJ]

Is it possible to put a factory pickup bed on the rig below? It is a 73 Chevy Cheyenne with a 454 automatic and dual wheels. Or is the frame different?
I have a chance to buy it from the original owners, a FA squad. Only 11000 miles.

[Kalashnikov46]

I wouldnt think it would be different. Just take a peek underneath, I'm sure if they wanna sell it, they would let ya.

[Big Port Jimmy 6]

Its a cab and chassis. The rear suspension is narrower than a dually. A regular fleet bed may fit with wider tubs? Jay

[old Rusty C10]

it looks like the bed even a long bed would be not long enough to cover that between the cab and the rear wheels

[James McClure]

Alot of these trucks actually had beds on them when they were new before they went to have the utility bodies installed. The installers routienly did this and then sold the brand new boxes for a ton of money. The box might raise the price from the factory a grand or so but the installers would sell them for 2 grand and make extra cash. One of the dealers I used to work for would buy them to fix wrecks that came in on trade or use them in the body shop for customer work. I would imagine aa factory box would bolt right up. Jim

[Stitch]

yeah, I would also guess that it had a long box on it at one time...you will either need to extend the inner tubs on the bed or put a regular rear end under it in order for the tires to clear the bed...but the bed should bolt up just fine...

[TexasJeff]

I agree with James, I worked for Rawson-Koenig (major truck body manufacturer here in Houston) and worked closely with many of these installers. We routinely made new mounting kits for these utility beds to fit many different trucks, it was a great place to work, designing the utilty bed with AutoCAD and then seeing them installed on the trucks was really cool.

[StepinNJ]

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

yeah, I would also guess that it had a long box on it at one time...you will either need to extend the inner tubs on the bed or put a regular rear end under it in order for the tires to clear the bed...but the bed should bolt up just fine...

Thanks, I would hate to miss the opportunity for this truck. It is well maintained and seems like a good project. They are stripping out all the equipment but I believe it has an upgraded electrical system. Now just to find a bed.

[rfmaster]

Looking at the photos it appears that driver side gas filler port is in the same location as in standard fleet side long bed. Take a look under and see if it has a pair of 20G saddle tanks. If it does it is almost certain that frame is stock. Otherwise it is a fine find and worthy of further work and restoration (or resto/mod).

//RF

[redneckchevy]

I just sold a 1985 chevy 3500 that had that taking off and had a long bed put on and all that was need was to exstend the wheel tubs for the dual wheels.

[80SPORT]

The dually pickups are 131 wheelbase and came with the wide trak dana axle;The cab chassis were 135 and 159 wheelbase;It appears what you have there is a 135 wb/60 inch cab-axle truck;you could take the serial number to your dealer to check or look on the spid sticker.
The 135 wb trucks have a 4 inch space between the cab and the box if you put a pickup box on them;to do a nice job you need to section the frame 4 inches and use a factory dually box and axle .

[knightowl73]

hell if you gotta hack the frame, then make it a shortbed and yeah just modify the insde of the wheel tubs and maybe some rear fender flares if you can to get the dually look back somewhat. would be different, i thnk it would look pretty well.....if you lower it just a bit.

[StepinNJ]

So I finally got a chance to look at this up close.Turns out its a 1976 Scottsdale K 30 but two wheel drive. Wheel base is 135 inches. The odometer is just turning 9400 miles, not 11000 as previously stated. It has an LF8 454, GT4 3:73 rear, J55 heavy duty power brakes, F85 heavy front stabilizer, G60 main and aux re(?), NL2 aux gas tank, 7L8 130 amp alt, M40 Turbo trans, R05 dual wheels, ZW9 standard body, Z53 gauges, X001 Blue Vinyl, V22 chrome grill, ZV7 freedom delete(?), Z62 Scottsdale equipped, dual exhaust without cats, and lots of other added stuff to make it a rescue rig. 16.5 inch rims and tires also. The model is CC31003. Any help would be appreciated. Need to make an offer soon so I want to have as much info as possible. Still wondering if a stock bed will fit.

[Jonboy]

Wow, that's clean. If it was me, I would find a SWb frame and bed, and swap the cab and engine over. But that's just me.

[RandyP]

I bet it was a cab and chassis when new, which gives it a different frame than a truck sold with a bed on it new. They used to use just one tons for ambulance packages and such, so they needed the extra length and wheelbase but still tried to keep it normal width.

[tucsonjwt]

I had a 73 longbed 3/4 ton Chevy and replaced the bed with one from a 76 1/2 ton longbed out of a junkyard. I had to drill some new holes in the frame of the 73 to make it match the bolt pattern on the 76 box - so all boxes/frames are not identical. I would look for a nice used flatbed from an used equipment yard, or just buy an old flatbed, whole truck, and sell the extra parts. A flatbed solves all of your axle/wheel well compatibility issues and they are very adaptable for a wide variety of accessories. Or, you could have a frame built and add a wood deck/side boards/tool boxes, etc. on your own. It would also make a nice dump bed conversion if you are into that.

[StepinNJ]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

Wow, that's clean. If it was me, I would find a SWb frame and bed, and swap the cab and engine over. But that's just me.

I already have a swb 79 GMC stepper with a 4.1 six. That may work too. Just would be a shame to junk the rest. Any chance a newer bed would be longer, say from the late 90's?

[RandyP]

Guys fabricate long beds in to short beds all the time, reverse the process and create yourself a custom 10' bed. Heck if that truck were close to me and I had the chance to buy it, that's exactly what I'd do. A custom 10' bed (roughly) with deeper wheelhouses, makes me drool just thinking of it actually. It'd be custom, and it'd be yours.

[StepinNJ]

Well I did it. I made an offer and they accepted. Should have it next week. Still don't know what to do with it but I have some time. I have to take off some of the equipment, take out the radio, remove the squad name, and such. They are leaving the generator and the air compressor for me. Also the antennas and the siren and overhead light bar. All other equipment is being reappropriated onto other rigs. Needs a little work, valve cover gaskets leaking, and a good cleaning all around. First thing I think I will add is a set of stainless steel simulators to cover the white rims.

[rare86]

Nice, very nice. The way I tell cab and chassis, or regular truck the quickest is standing at the rear, if the outside dual is inline with the front tire, its a cab and chassis. On a regular pickup, the inside dual lines up closer to the front tire.

[71swb4x4]

Nice truck!!

[78GMC SIERRA CLASSIC]

Even if it didn't fit I would still purchase it and put a custom flatbed on it

[79gmcc15]

man that thing is awesome! It would be so cool to take off the boxes, make a custom bed but keep the theme the same! keep the radio, everything! Maybe a different door emblem. but that would be so cool! Heck, I might even ride it as is!