Converting a tow truck to pickup anyone?

[gmachinz]

Well, I'm thinking of taking on a 1978 C30 dually tow truck and convert it to a regular cab pickup. Its a Silverado packaged truck with 454/TH400, dual tanks, power locks/windows, tach package, tilit wheel, buckets/console, etc. so I'd like to do it. Anybody done this? Is there any issues with simply stripping all the tow gear off down to the frame to bolt a dually box on?

[KQQL IT]

The cab n chassis rear ends are typically narrower than a dually axle, and the top of the frame rails might be different too.
I can't say for sure on that.

[gmachinz]

I can get a dually rear end no problem....the rear leaf springs have an added bracket kit with 8 extra leafs per side installed above the 1-ton rated leaf sets....I assume those will need to come off-which should be easy enough since they bolt through the frame. It appears to me at least that its a 1-ton frame like any other than has had the tow hardware bolted (not machine riveted) in place.

[95 S_Trucker]

Check the wheelbase too. Cab and chassis trucks didn't have the same wheelbase as pickups.

[special-K]

Your chassis will be 4 or so inches longer than a pickup. In the truck body world they go by cab to axles measurement. That's back of cab to center of rear axle. Bodies built for pickups are 56" CA while bodies built for the short cab & chassis are 60" CA.

[gmachinz]

Hmmm....4" difference huh? Man....there has to be a way....

[TrailerTrash]

what kind of tow truck is it? pto powered or is it one of those with an electric/hydrolic winch that powers the lift and all?

ive seen a few C30s around here for sale cheap but they were all jerry rigged tow truck conversions where everything is welded together and horribly done. makes me think if they dont care about how its put together then just think how little they care about how the truck is treated. plus they wanted an arm and a leg.

[andrewmp6]

You could run a flat bed,The hard way will be frame work and a rear end swap.

[80SPORT]

what wrecker deck is on it now...do you have a picture?

Some of the decks were built for the 56 inch cab axle trucks.

[gmachinz]

Originally Posted by 80SPORT

what wrecker deck is on it now...do you have a picture?

Some of the decks were built for the 56 inch cab axle trucks.

I'll get some pics.....it looks like it was a tow truck since it was new. I don't believe its a PTO driven hydraulic unit....it all appears to be electric-its actually in really good condition but way outdated....nobody has a use for the tire bar extension and rubber bumper straps. Its been sitting for about 20 years that I'm aware of. Its 2-tone silver/black with firethorn red interior. They want $2500 for it but they're thinking of stripping all of the tow gear off the frame for me....at which case I said I'd go $1500-1800 for it. The only rust problem is in both front floor braces but even that isn't too bad. Doors, fenders, rockers and cab corners are all solid as are the floors. The firewall-floor seam is clean and its been stored inside a metal building on a concrete floor so its dry underneath too. All of the exterior trim is very nice also-no dings or dents in ANY of it!

[eke82]

frame are same width bracket that leaf springs attach to are narrower

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by gmachinz

Hmmm....4" difference huh? Man....there has to be a way....

Back half it with a 4 link and it won't matter anyhow

[Joesjunk]

Sounds like a cool truck, waiting to see this one.

[flashed]

Im interested to see this one .

[gmachinz]

Ok...here's a few pics. I measured the distance from the back of the cab out to about centerline of the rear end and it looks to be in between 56" and 60"-if I had to guess I'd say it measures more like 57.5-58". What do you guys think? The lighting isn't the greatest but aside from the worn interior, the body is in great shape! Its been sitting right where its at for the last 14 years on a concrete pad. There's an older pickup/tow truck next to it too that's just as nice also.

[gmachinz]

More pics....

[gmachinz]

Couple more...this truck had a recently overhauled TH400 put in it prior to sitting. It originally came from a police auction and it was parked in this spot in 2001 and that's where she's at now. It ran/drove when it was parked....interior needs help but its all there....fairly loaded for a tow truck. I have a set of mid 70's buckets/console, a nice Dashpad, etc. which I've just had sitting for just the right project....but the frame length bothers me....I can get a super nice dually box for $500 and once they locate the title for this truck, I'm hoping to get into it for 1800-2000 if possible-I don't think thats unreasonable.....what do you guys think?

[Pine Bark Auto]

Does the rear axle seem unusually wide under that tow bed? I was not aware that the "Camper Special" option or 2 tone paint and trim were available for cab and chassis trucks.

[gmachinz]

The truck had been repainted I think at some point....the LH fender does not have emblem holes drilled and the Silverado 30 emblem was held on with 3M type adhesive trim tape. The passenger side still has its Silverado 30 emblem on it-not if its tape securing it or nuts on the studs.....but they are/were both metal and OEM. The underneath is super clean and dry! The floors look great! Each front cab corner/floor brace has a rusty hole about the size of golf ball and those are easy fixes.....no rust anywhere else.

[gmachinz]

The interior is 2-tone black and white....ostrich? parchment? Not sure what that year white interior was called. The upper trim in the truck is all white along with the headliner and sunvisors. I was thinking of adding white buckets and console and leave the rest all black. It'd be awesome if I could find white seatbelts!

[CrewCab59]

When the wrecker beds are installed they cut off the frame horns off after the spring shackle hanger. You'll have a cab chassis narrow rear axle and because you don't have a tunnel box you have the shorter cab to axle.

You'll have some work to do if your wanting to use a dually bed , frame mounts, horns and frame section. The other option is buy another rolling dually chassis and keep the rest what you don't use with the wrecker bed.

That's a nice looking truck , price that's not bad if the rest is good. You can resale the wrecker bed for some bucks.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by 80SPORT

what wrecker deck is on it now...do you have a picture?

Some of the decks were built for the 56 inch cab axle trucks.

All dual rear cab & chassis were 60" CA. So, unless it's a bed for a SRW cab & chassis or dually pickup...

Looks like it was a pickup by the width of the axle. Is there over 48" between the wheels? Can & chassis came with 14-bolts while dual rear pickups came with Dana70s. Which rear does it have?

[gmachinz]

Originally Posted by special-K

All dual rear cab & chassis were 60" CA. So, unless it's a bed for a SRW cab & chassis or dually pickup...

Looks like it was a pickup by the width of the axle. Is there over 48" between the wheels? Can & chassis came with 14-bolts while dual rear pickups came with Dana70s. Which rear does it have?

Lol....I didn't even look under it at the rear end....kinda hard to see anyway since it has all the wheel chok/lock toe bar hardware still attached to it. I'll take a look and post back what I find. Apparently, they are trying to find the title for it.

[80SPORT]

Front end is a 79....It is likely the cab has been changed....VERY few tow trucks had power windows etc...if the vin is on the dash it is a 79 cab...check the vin on the frame to see if it matches..and check the rego if they find it.It is illegal to move vins around ...even though
it was often done.If you still want to proceed you can usually apply for a state issued vin and title unit as a rebuilt.Looks to be a Holmes 220 or 440 ...70s vintage...they were the most popular wrecker built.