The Mantis

[6 Door King]

Bought a 1967 C-10 a couple months ago for 1400 dollars and a shotgun to boot. Brought it home, drained the gas tank, repainted it and fired it off. Replaced most of the little stuff so far, and added a set of 94-96 Impala SS wheels. Has a stock 350 with Holley 1850 and Edelbrock Performer RPM manifold. Added a trans cooler for the TH350, and against my better judgement a chrome dress up kit for the engine.

The current plan for my new rig is to stretch it to a crew cab, and add a tilting flatbed to it. I have a dual axle car trailer that will be sacrificed as well as a 69 long bed frame, along with a 78 longbed frame. While this will be a build thread, it will also be a "what should I do" thread with opinions truely valued, and previous experiences prefered.

Really need opinions on how to best accomplish my frame work, and whether to box or plate the frame, or run all new tube or channel? I have access to almost any type of tube or c-channel as I used to work in a fab shop.
I plan to run a 14 bolt rear with a tag axle from my car trailer to supplement the weight capacity. My thinking is since my car trailer has a realitively light tongue weight when loaded properly, the load transfered to the front axle should be negligable. Already have the big disks in front, and want to keep the 5 lug front (again, the rears will carry the load). Anyone want to chime in on whether it would be better to have the drive axle (14 bolt dually) in the center axle position or at the rear axle position? I have heard horror stories of guys getting one axle off the ground and going nowhere due to drive wheels not contacting the pavement. I do not plan to offroad it, but I also want to ensure I always have drivewheel traction.

I think I have a solid plan to stretch the cab, and body work is my specialty, so this area SHOULD be the most comfortable part. I will try to take alot of pictures as I go.
Here's what I got to work with so far (please ignore all the junk in the bed), and the trailer I mentioned is under the truck...

[67chevy1series]

anymore pics? love the truck cant wait for progress

[Airborne70GMC]

AWESOME idea! Sounds like you have a real plan. I wish you the best with your build. I will keep an eye out for new pics and updates, can hardly wait!
God bless AB70GMC

[63chevyll]

Man, sounds like a lot of work. Heres my thoughts

But if your going for a CC. Why not start with a suburban and shorten the body and extend the frame as needed for your bed decision.

If your using it for towing use the dually 14b, but run dually rims and 8 lug on all 4.

If you go dually I think an 8 foot bed would look best.

And whats this talk about the axle tag?
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[67chevy1series]

when i posted there was only the top photo lol

[6 Door King]

The idea for the "tag axle" is sort of like a semi with extra road wheels, or non powered wheels. It would just roll, and support weight. I plan to have two rear axles to act like the car trailer, and support most of the weight on what used to be the car trailer. The steer axle will only have a little more weight added to it since the bulk of the load will be on the rear axles. I have seen a few rigs made from newer model pickups that were originally four wheel drive. They simply weld the car trailer frame directly to the bobbed rear of the pickup in place of the bed. Always liked the idea, and I finally have most of the stuff to make my own only with the rear axle being powered instead of just rolling.

I will eventually find some wheels (maybe KMC Rockstars) that come in different patterns and mount them all up. I really can not stand the look of the dually type front wheels, just don't like the hub sticking out past the fender. So with five lug fronts, I can keep things tucked in like they should be. Planning on running electric brakes on the trailer axle in the rear, which should help things when I need to whoa the truck with a load on it.

Really need help deciding how to join the multiple frames or whether I should build a whole new rear frame. Thinking right now on using 2x6x3/16 wall steel tube and step it up about ten inches over the axles. Going to box in the section of the stock frame below the cab with 3/16 plate, and extending it into the tube section like a gusset plate.

Also need to figure out how to get the driveshaft situated. I have several drive shafts of various sizes and different joint types. I know I will need a multipiece shaft, and carrier bearings. But I just don't know how long each section can be, or how to ensure proper angles over such a long distance. I have seen that u-joints do not like being installed at 0 degrees operating angle, with 4 degrees as a minimum. So, how do I make a long run without having the driveshaft end up too flat?

[63chevyll]

Ok, your going a whole different route than I was thinking.

I think we would like to see a rendering of what your plan is. Sounds crazy on my headx but I'm sure you have a better thought in yours
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[VA72C10]

Sounds like a cool build! Hoping to see it at some point since I'm just up the road in the Richmond area...

[heeroyue2002]

looking forward to this

[6 Door King]

Just found a 3/4 ton 1967 GMC longbed for parts. It has a 250 I-6, granny four speed and Dana 60 Rear. Sold the 60 to a friend in order to finance the buy... Finally have my cab and doors, and a frame with leaf spring rear. Halfway home! Talked to the owner of the shop I worked at, and his thoughts were to use the tubing for the rear frame, but I think I going to box in the two truck frames and reinforce it with a box frame inside the rails with ties to the truck frames. This idea will probably change a few more times as the fab process begins. Right now, I have a GMC to lay seige to, and get down to a bare frame. As for a rendering, I wish I had one! Best I can do around here is a paint file with nice thick black lines for frame rails. I will see if I can slap something together as a teaser.

[6 Door King]

Here's what I came up with. Thank you to the owner of the crewcab I cut up for this picture, it has been a lot of inspiration so far.

[6 Door King]

The home turf book keeper just handed down the verdict that when this rig is done, it is going on the market. So, with that in mind which setup would you guys most like to see since I will not be keeping this one?
Choices
A. Crew Cab Shortbed Fleetside SRW
B. Crew Cab Longbed Fleetside SRW
C. Crew Cab Shortbed with 88-98 Stepside
D. Crew Cab Shortbed Fleetside DRW
E. Crew Cab Longbed Fleetside DRW
F. Crew Cab Flatbed (6x14)
G. Crew Cab Tilt Deck Car Hauler (Dual Rear Axle) Like pic above.

Let me know what you guys think because it turns out I am not building this for me. Got to recoop the funds in it this point plus a good bit. I hope to use the fact that custom trucks are never finished to ensure I get to keep it for quite a while.

[67chevy1series]

crew cab with a meduim bed not a short bed fleet and not a long bed fleet maybe like a 7.5 foot bed thats a footlonger then a short bed

[6 Door King]

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

crew cab with a meduim bed not a short bed fleet and not a long bed fleet maybe like a 7.5 foot bed thats a footlonger then a short bed

So this is the "X" choice? This magical 7-7.5 bed, would it be single or dual rear wheel?
Going to try and keep a running talley on votes, so the more the merrier! Also still looking for input on how to best assemble the stretched frame. I have already read the frame sectioning threads and absorbed them as much as possible. Anyone have evidence of failures with a boxed frame? Not looking for "friend of a friend said his uncle's mom's truck cracked!" I need first hand testimony and preferably photos of failures. Thanks guys for the input so far.

[67chevy1series]

Originally Posted by 6 Door King

So this is the "X" choice? This magical 7-7.5 bed, would it be single or dual rear wheel?
Going to try and keep a running talley on votes, so the more the merrier! Also still looking for input on how to best assemble the stretched frame. I have already read the frame sectioning threads and absorbed them as much as possible. Anyone have evidence of failures with a boxed frame? Not looking for "friend of a friend said his uncle's mom's truck cracked!" I need first hand testimony and preferably photos of failures. Thanks guys for the input so far.

it would be a single and i have ideas about how the cab should be but i want to keep those to myself in hope nobody makes it , and then i will be thew first to make my ideas.

[6 Door King]

If you want to keep your design to yourself, I completely understand. Friend of mine just lost out on thousands of potential dollars after not patenting one of his ideas. I plan to brace the rockers with 2x3 tubing in order to stiffen the cab area and probably suicide the rear doors. I have also kicked round the idea of removing the B-Pillar and latching the front doors to the rear doors and the rear doors latching to the upper and lower jambs with newer 99-06 style rear door latches. That way, I would have a wide open cab. The wife even suggested putting in a partition like a limo, (two screaming under two year olds...)

[VWBeamer]

If you want to sell it, make it a single cab SWB. The market for an aftermarket crew cab will be thin IMHO.

[67chevy1series]

Originally Posted by 6 Door King

If you want to keep your design to yourself, I completely understand. Friend of mine just lost out on thousands of potential dollars after not patenting one of his ideas. I plan to brace the rockers with 2x3 tubing in order to stiffen the cab area and probably suicide the rear doors. I have also kicked round the idea of removing the B-Pillar and latching the front doors to the rear doors and the rear doors latching to the upper and lower jambs with newer 99-06 style rear door latches. That way, I would have a wide open cab. The wife even suggested putting in a partition like a limo, (two screaming under two year olds...)

go ahead and make it a crew cab so f vwbeamer is right you wont have to get rid of it because no one will buy it

[6 Door King]

Thanks for the heads up guys, I always thought rare and unique stuff was worth more. Man, almost made a huge mistake modifying my truck!

[VWBeamer]

No, I think it's a cool idea.

People usually don't make money on highly modified trucks unless they a last name like Foose, Boyd or grant.

Not trying to be an a-hole or rain on your parade, just being honest, a nice SWB fleet with an updated drive train is going to be you best bet to make money.

If really want me to be honest, put it like it is on Ebay.

[6 Door King]

I really don't want to sell it, but since I have to, I want to build what you guys want to see built. That's all I was going for with the optional designs. Not really trying to make a killing on it, and it will obviously be a longer term project so by the time it's "done" our money issue may have blown over. I keep on eye on the values and prices of vehicles, and have bought and sold 10-12 cars or trucks per year for the last 8 years. Given what I have in the parts trucks and the initial shortbed I figure I can clear 5-6 thousand which is enough to apease the wife and leave me some to start over. Mostly I like the challange of building the trucks, and working with my hands. Making a huge profit is not the plan. Building an awesome, one of a kind rig is more the point.

[67chevy1series]

wel if your going swb then why not throw some trim on it as well 67-8 trim looks really smooth and class on our trucks

[Junkpyl]

There's a market for a custom crew cab and were conversing on it right now. I assure you someone on this board would buy it as long as the work is quality and the price is fair. I have always wanted one but currently have no funds for such an endeavor.
I vote for crew cab with mid sized or long bed as well. Trucks look funny to me when the bed is shorter than the cab. My vote would also be make it a dually but you already nixed that so 3/4 ton with a nice beefy set of 20" rollers and lowered a little.
Just my 2 cents if you were building it for me

[6 Door King]

The DRW possibilites are still in play, and I have not ruled any of the options. I'm sure there is someone out there that will appreciate the effort involved in the process of creating the crew cab. And like you said as long as it's reasonable as far price I think I'll be able to unload it. Again, my plan is to keep it, it's the wife's idea to let it go.

[VA72C10]

After re-reading your post....if you're going through money issues...I'd recommend selling all the nice pieces you have now. Even if you do the work yourself you'll have at least 3-5K more into the truck to complete it between misc items needed and body work/paint supplies. All the litle things really add up...

If you are still planning to build this to sell....I'd say crew cab with either a short bed, long bed, or mid sized bed. CCSB are very popular in the square body world and most on here prefer swb so I'd stick with that for maximum profit. Probably just a single rear wheel.

Make sure to take a bunch of pictures of all your work and make sure to overdo the frame work if anything. That would be the first thing a lot of people will check out on a build like this....

And I agree....I don't think you'll have any problem unloading the truck as long as you can keep the price around 8-10K depending on how nice it turns out and how nice the sheetmetal you use on it is....Any higher and it's going to have to have really special parts on it and a great paint job and you will be limiting your market at that price...

And I'd be one of the people looking at the truck when it's finished....I have been thinking of building a crew cab for myself at some point