99' CCSB build Family Cruiser!

[YBNORML]

I am trying to decide what route to take with my 99' CCSB. I previously had a 98' ECSB as a daily driver. I sold when my wife and I decided to have our 3rd kid. I use the crew for work, hauling my other trucks as well as various construction duties.

I have made a few concrete decisions so far : 3/5 - 4/6 drop. 20" wheels.

The hardest choice is whether or not to leave it as a stock dropped 3/4 ton or convert it to 1/2 ton and drop it. I know I like the 1/2 ton look. I have not been able to find any pics of 8-lug crewcabs dropped. I am not typically a huge fan of the 8-lug wheels but i have found a few that I think I could live with.

Here's a pic of my crew as well as the 98' I sold.

[YBNORML]

I have collected a bunch of parts towards the conversion :

4/6 drop kit
20" Akuza wheels
complete 1/2 ton parts truck

From what I have been able to gather, the 3/4 to 1/2 conversion is pretty simple. Swap the front running gear for the 1/2 ton units, upper control arm swap not required. Install lowering parts as required. Install 1/2 ton rear end with flip kit, modify the 3/4 driveshaft rear u-joint to fit the 1/2 ton rear.

If I choose to stay 3/4 ton. I would have to sell the wheels, parts truck, and drop spindles and buy the proper spindles. I got a smoking deal on the parts truck and wheels, so selling them would probably get me brand new wheels for the 8-lug.

Here's some pics of what I have so far as well as the only 8-lugs that i've found that I like :

[YBNORML]

Here's a few conversion trucks I really like. Like I said above, I have been unable to find any dropped 8-lug photo's. I am sure they are out there. If you have any, please post them.

[82ccshorty]

So here's the pros and cons of what I've gathered when trying to decide on mine.
Pros to half ton: better wheel selection. Easier to get parts for. Will most likely ride better.
Con to half ton: less load capacity. Harder to find load rated tires.
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[dragginmetal]

8-lug crewcabs dropped

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by 82ccshorty

So here's the pros and cons of what I've gathered when trying to decide on mine.
Pros to half ton: better wheel selection. Easier to get parts for. Will most likely ride better.
Con to half ton: less load capacity. Harder to find load rated tires.
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Pretty much what I was thinking.

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

8-lug crewcabs dropped

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Thanks, nice pics. Apparently the color on my truck is fairly common
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[lolife99]

8-lug wheels with the correct backspacing, will probably have you looking at custom order billet wheels.
I vote 1/2-ton conversion!
I think member 5150 has done the swap also.

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by lolife99

8-lug wheels with the correct backspacing, will probably have you looking at custom order billet wheels.
I vote 1/2-ton conversion!
I think member 5150 has done the swap also.

Any idea what backspacing or offset I should be looking for?
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[82ccshorty]

You best bet would be to go with billet specialties they make the wheel to any offset you want. I know that my 82 1 Ton had a +20 offset on a set of Boyd's
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[82ccshorty]

That's in 17x8s
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[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by 82ccshorty

You best bet would be to go with billet specialties they make the wheel to any offset you want. I know that my 82 1 Ton had a +20 offset on a set of Boyd's
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I would love to, however this is supposed to be a budget build. I already have too many major projects. I just want a year round "cool" truck to drive. I only have about a grand for wheels
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[82ccshorty]

I looked at there octane 8s they were like 2500$. The only other thing I know how to do is call a wheel place cause alot of the time they can tell you what with fit your application. I know they did for a Tahoe we put wheels on and when I called the other day about some for a ss454 truck
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[YBNORML]

Well, after alot of searching I have decided that there are no 8-lug wheels in my price range/or that I like. Any upgrade I do to this truck must be done as cheap as possible. And, being as I already own almost everything to do the 1/2 ton swap, 1/2 ton it is

[YBNORML]

First up is a mild interior upgrade.

My wife has a 99' 4-door Tahoe. It has a leather interior that is in excellent shape. The truck has just under 300,000 km's, that plus the fuel mileage means its time for it to go. We picked up a nice little Ford Escape for her to bomb around in town, and we'll use the CrewCab for any full family trips. I found a set of rear cloth seats that are the same pattern as the front bench from the crew. I spent the last weekend doing a little switch around

[YBNORML]

The swap was relatively straight forward. There was dimples in the the floor pans where the nuts were welded under the pan. Made it pretty simple. There were a few that were missing the nuts, luckily I was able to get a bolt with large washers instead.

The only real issue was the fact that the Tahoe seats were powered. I did not want to remove the power harnesses from the Tahoe. Luckily my parts truck had manual buckets in it. The larger leather buckets had the seat tracks offset, there are two sets of mounting holes on the frames obviously for a manual setup. I do plan on installing the power back in it eventually.

At this time the front will be leather and the rear will be the stock cloth, hopefully I will find a rear seat to match. Or I might try and modify the Tahoe rear to fit the truck.

[YBNORML]

Which brings me to today. I started on the conversion!! I didn't have much time but I did manage to get the box off (thanks to LFK and his awesome cab/box lift) and dig out the 4/6 drop kit I bought last year off of Kijiji for only $600, brand new in the boxes. Here's a few pics of today's progress.

I also took a few pics of the wheelwell height for future comparison. The 35-1/2" is the front and the 37 is the rear

[YBNORML]

Got a little more work done last night and this morning. Rearend is out and the notch is in, bolted and welded. A buddy of mine was nice enough to drop by and weld it up for me. Now its time to start pulling some more parts from the parts truck.

[YBNORML]

Does anyone know what my factory rear is? What do you think it is worth?

[Slammed66]

Oh sure , the kick ass blazer and awesome 68 weren't enough, you had to build a bad ass daily too??? Looking good man.

Hope all is well with the family and new addition!
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[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by Slammed66

Oh sure , the kick ass blazer and awesome 68 weren't enough, you had to build a bad ass daily too??? Looking good man.

Hope all is well with the family and new addition!
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Haha! I have this thing called project A.D.D. Maybe you've heard of it? It seems to be quite common among the members of this board
All kidding aside, I really miss having a lowered daily. And this thing will hold the whole family so it's the best of both worlds. At least that's how I justify it to myself.

The family is good, the youngest is finally settling into a sleeping pattern. How is your little one doing? She must be coming up on a year already?
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[YBNORML]

She's getting closer I still have a few things to button up on the front. Tie rods, brake hose routing and such. But I had to put her on the ground and see how she looks. I haven't put the box on yet, but you get the idea. I like it

[YBNORML]

A little update, I drove her today Not far, just out onto the driveway to put the box back on. I still need to bleed the brakes, get a wheel alignment, new tires and get the rear seats mounted. The suspension also needs a little tweaking, she doesnt sit level from side to side, but i'll get it sorted out.

[lolife99]

Looks great!!!
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[YBNORML]

Thanks! I can't wait to start driving her again.

[likaroc13]

looks cool! nice job