Fryer1979 '66 C-10 Build

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Are you thinking about putting the 66 cab on the 77 frame??
That would be cool, I know a guy that has a 63 cab and bed on a 78 4X4 frame.
I know there is a 3" differance in wheel base.
Doesn't the cab need to be channeled to make that work?
Oh, the wheels are spinning so fast in my head it hurts.... OUCH!

Yeah, most likely I will be using just the cab from the 65 on the 77 frame and running gear. The 77 is a short-step and this 65 is a long fleet, so I may just match up the cab to the existing bed. I'll see how it looks, and if I don't like it then I can just keep my eyes open for a good shortbed. As far as I know the only change really needed is the cab mounts themselves. I have seen a few people talk about clearance on a rear crossmember, but I also have grinders and a welder.....I'll make it work.

[66-PMD-GMC]

The guy I know sectioned in the frame horns from a 63-66 into the 78 frame so he could use a stock front bumper and a custom made push bumper thingiemajob,
moved the fleet box forward an inch and a half and the cab back an inch and a half,
used repositioned frame mounts to raise the cab for some reason and used blocks under the bed for sort of a body lift I am guessing.
He has 18X44 mudders and the truck looks pretty dog gone cool and I'm not a big 4X4 fan.
He also used a divorced Tcase for some odd reason but again, I don't know 4X4's

[fryer1979]

If I do go through with this build as a 4x4, an inch or so really won't make much of a difference to me. I never plan to win any shows with her (unless they have some kind of "rough and ready" award). I'm looking for enough lift to comfortably clear a set of 35" mud terrains, maybe even 37s if I can. Body and interior will be covered in spray-on bedliner. Full cage will be added to the interior and tied to the chassis, and the chassis will be boxed and braced. I'll build full custom bumpers from plate steel and include winch mounts for the front and rear. A modified body lift kit for a square-body 4x4 should be quite adequate to solve the cab fitment issues (in conjunction with my grinder and welder). She won't be very "pretty" to most, but for me she will be beautiful. Plus I will finally feel safe driving in the San Fransisco traffic when I go visit my brother-in-law. Seriously though, I've just always wanted to build a rough and ready kind of off road truck out of a classic Chevy. And around here, there is way more off-road recreation than there is on-road, hell if you're a partier like my wife and I get to be sometimes, there are a lot of people that live in places that require 4 wheel drive just to get in to. 4 wheel drive is just a part of life here, and absolutely necessary when we are getting pounded with snow in the fall, winter, and early spring. I've had a 4x4 of some kind ever since I started driving almost 20 years ago, and I've been wanting to build one like this for just about that long. I still love my 2 wheel drive cruiser and my hot rod Camaro, but those have to be parked a few months out of the year and I'd really like to spend that time in another classic Chevy.

If I do go this route with Junkyard Dog, I will document with photo and story as much as I possibly can right here. My wife is on board for the project, and I really want to so I don't see why I won't. It just might take a little time, cash flow....ya know?

[66-PMD-GMC]

Good luck in whatever you do to it.
It's your truck to build however you want.
That is the fantastic part about hotrodding...

[fryer1979]

Thanks man.
And you are exactly right, that is one of the best things about building cars and trucks.