Pats 68 4x4 dually

[pat english]

I waited to post this thread because I got stalled out on the project a bit and it has sat for a while.
I know some have already seen most of these pics but I wanted start an official thread.
This truck started out as a 1968 chevy 2wd longbed.I traded the frame for a 4wd frame.Got a step side bed,69 gmc front clip and some 4x4 stuff.Also a dually rear end from a motorhome.
Here’s the start of the 4x4 dually build.


As we were rolling the chassis out the cops stopped by.They pretty much locked up the brakes.I thought I was in trouble at first,but he just stopped to say cool truck and talk about his power wagon.

I got some neighbors to help me move the cab from the side of the house to the driveway.This was about 2 weeks ago.

The cab just barely fit in the garage.

I put the front sheetmetal on and duct taped the visor on to see if ill like it.

So this is where im at with it now.Im working on finishing up the suspension and steering stuff.The front springs are 52” and the rear are 63”.I need to finish up the front,get some bushings and relocate the rear spring hangers.Im doing the shackle flip on the rear.

[pat english]

I got a little work done this weekend.Doesn't seem like much,but those damn rivets are a pain to remove.

[DWilbur]

I might have some hope getting my truck in the garage with the cab mounted. how much lift do you have in front. I will have to watch your build cool dually.

[pat english]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

I might have some hope getting my truck in the garage with the cab mounted. how much lift do you have in front. I will have to watch your build cool dually.

I might need to let the air out the tires or take the wheels off to get it out though.I'm doing a shackle flip on the rear this week so that will level the frame out a bit.
Thanks.Its going slow as hell,but going...I think its about 10 inches in the front.The springs are 6 inch lift springs+1 inch zero rate plus my 3 inch riser block thingymabop between the front spring hangers with the longer shackles.I didn't have any stock shackles so im not sure how much longer mine are.

[DWilbur]

I have 6" spring lift and 1" body lift. so I might make it. except for the bracket for the garage door opener I may have to remove it.

[pat english]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

I have 6" spring lift and 1" body lift. so I might make it. except for the bracket for the garage door opener I may have to remove it.

Yeah you'll make it for sure if we have the same size garage door.

[rgunlock]

Looks like you're off to a good start Pat. I'll be watching your progress.

[swamp rat]

Nice build!

[pat english]

Thanks guys!Im hoping to get the rear crossmember/shackle flip done this week.And i got a big block 454 comin in.Its used.Came out of a motorhome with less then 50,000 miles on it. I drove the motorhome too so i know its a good runner.

[pat english]

Still working on the tail gate,but i got the bed on today.Its 6 inches wider now.I still need the mounts and to put all the bolts in.Things are just hangin loose..

[cooperhw]

That bed is gonna look great on there Pat. Kinda cool to be building a one of one truck huh?
Looking good.

[cooperhw]

Funny how close our cabs look. your cab and the cab I got the roof and cab back off of anyhow.

[pat english]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

That bed is gonna look great on there Pat. Kinda cool to be building a one of one truck huh?
Looking good.

Thanks bud.Yeah man,I had the idea in my mind for a while but when i saw you do it i was like "its on".Thanks again.

[pat english]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

Funny how close our cabs look. your cab and the cab I got the roof and cab back off of anyhow.

That is funny.Twins.I'll probably work on the bed for the next few weeks.I don't think im guna do wheel tubz on the rear.I want the bed to look all original with the bed wood.I think i can get away with it with all the lift im adding plus i might do a body lift when its out of the garage,so i think i will be OK on the tire clearance .

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by pat english

That is funny.Twins.I'll probably work on the bed for the next few weeks.I don't think im guna do wheel tubz on the rear.I want the bed to look all original with the bed wood.I think i can get away with it with all the lift im adding plus i might do a body lift when its out of the garage,so i think i will be OK on the tire clearance .

yeah cool. I needed to make sure i had plenty of clearance in case Homer ever got slammed.

[pat english]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

yeah cool. I needed to make sure i had plenty of clearance in case Homer ever got slammed.

Good thinking.funny,even though im doing 4x4 and a big lift i sometimes search cl for running and driving 2wd chassis and think about doing 2wd and slamming it...

[argonaut]

Pat, I like the way the widened bed looks on there!

I was just thinking you could use the front panel, cross sills, inner wheel tubs and tailgate from a fleetside bed and just mount the stepside side panels and fender. Is that what you did? It seems like it could be cheap to find a banged up long fleet bed and then scab all the parts off of it.

Either way, your tuck is looking good!

[pat english]

Originally Posted by argonaut

Pat, I like the way the widened bed looks on there!

I was just thinking you could use the front panel, cross sills, inner wheel tubs and tailgate from a fleetside bed and just mount the stepside side panels and fender. Is that what you did? It seems like it could be cheap to find a banged up long fleet bed and then scab all the parts off of it.

Either way, your tuck is looking good!

Thanks Jason!HEy thats a good idea.I hadn't thought about using fleetside parts.I really wanted to get the bed together last weekend and i didn't have any cash for extra parts or metal.So i had to use what i had laying around.Notice the huge slice out of my welding table.I got really lucky on this one..I was eyeballing my table thinking it looks darn close to my bed headboard so i got the calipers out and turned out it was the same exact size.As for the cross bars,i ended out sacrificing one of them to make the other 3 six inches longer.I will need to score another cross beam but at least i have the box together so i can finish up the tailgate.





Ill probably reedoo this someday but maybe not.Its strong as heck and wont be seen with the tailgate and bumper on.

[pat english]

This is where im at on the tailgate.

[cooperhw]

Looking good Pat.

[pat english]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

Looking good Pat.

Thanks bro!

[pat english]

Year later update...I actually started parting the truck out last year.I sold the t case and the cab and rear fenders.That was it.I figured that would happen and id end out building it again(trying to anyways).The parts sat at my neext door nieghbors for almost a year.She said she wanted to build somthing,but it never happened and told me to get my truck stuff outa her place.That was a few weeks ago.I had the blue cab laying around so i put that on.Then i got the 67 cab last week so i switched it out again.3 different cabs on this truck in a year.ill be sticking with this small window cab.It has no rust at all.Thats a first for me.
I have a 350/400 in it now,no t case yet.Im doing a sheet metal job for a guy soon and ill be getting a bunch of 4x4 stuff.(shackle flips for the rear,crossover steering and an np203/205 doubler with controler)So it could be running very soon with alot of shifters...
Here it is again,for now.