Those who have converted to 4x4 input needed.

[GMC406]

I ran accross a 58-59 GMC. If I could get a title figured out as it is out of state I think I could do it for sure. It is a decent body needing cab corners and that is suposedly it. It is just setting loosly on a 65 4x4 chassis with good front and rear ends. No eng trans tcase. What Im wanting to know is how dificult is it to finish putting it on this chasis i.e getting body mounted and powertrain and steering, brakes working properly? I also have a 83 4x4 I could strip down to the chasis and use if it would work better or easier. I think a truck like this would look killer on a lift with big tires. Pics are on my other post here. I can pick it up for $500, and its a big back window. If a chasis swap to 4x4 would be something I could do I think it would be worth it. Just needing to know from those who know what I would be in for. Thanks ahead of time. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=378606 pics are post 17

[mr48chev]

I don't see a lot of problems but you will have to build all new mounts for the cab and bed from the core support back. And in the process get the bed in it's proper and correct relationship to the cab.

Make sure that the title matches the cab. No correct title and you just had a nice long ride that weekend.

If he does have the correct title for the cab, get him to give you a separate bill of sale for the chassis. I'd even suggest doing up your own form and taking it along for him to sign.

It's pretty easy go go to your ms word or works and do up a bill of sale form. I'd do one for the cab too even though he has the title.

Basically
Bill of sale Date__________________________

Sold to_____________________________________________

Description_________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________

Serial or vin number_____________________________________________________

Selling price__________________________________

Signed________________________________________ Date_____________________

Address of seller______________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

If you get separate bills of sale for the body and chassis, you can then transfer the title of the cab into your name and register it. Then when you get the truck up and running you eventually take it into the state inspector to have it inspected "because you did a frame swap and you want it all legal". If you used the whole chassis of the 4x you have instead of the chassis now under it an have a title to that chassis it would be even easier to take the truck and both titles down to the dmv and do the "look what I did" thing.

Here in this state they want to know about three things. Mainly that you actually can prove that you own each major part legally (title, receipt, bill of sale). That the vehicle is actually safe to drive on the roads and not scabbed together. And thirdly that it is legal to drive on the roads.
For the price, it looks like a good deal, now can you do the work that needs to be done to make a truck out of it?

[GMC406]

He has no title is the thing. I know with my 61 I was told by the DMV that all I needed was a signed bill of sale and to have the VIN inspected to not be stolen and vin not modified, then I would be issued a title, but I don't know if that changes when buying out of state. As for the work I have never done something like this but it is not something that would be going together imediatly. I would be able to take my time....years if needed to take it step by step and do it correctly.

[Gene Sharp]

you could either find a set of factory mounts off an old frame
or have something similar fabed up
I would suggest attaching with 1/2 inch grade eight bolts and polly bushings
A flaming river sure fit intermediate steering shaft and column makes thlngs
work well and gives you turn signals etc
you might at some point wish to upgrade to later axels or at least disk brakes and power booster and power steering
the bed is pretty much the same so should just bolt in place


Gene Sharp

[GMC406]

Would it be easier to lift and modify a 65 chasis or a 83 chasis? I am thinking if it happens a 454 would be in order. trans t-case, would rely on info on this board to decide that. If I look it over in person and decide to do it(if i can get a title for it) then I don't think I can let the offer slip by. If I go with the 83 chasis I could sell the 65 chasis and recoup a lil cash. Kinda wish it were a shortbox but everything else I own is a long box so I guess it would fit in. If mounting a body on another frame just takes time, patince, trial and error and a lil bit of knowledge I am sure I can do that part no prob, I can weld fine. Its the little but very important things like brakes, linkages of every sort and everyones favorite wiring, that worries me. Alot of things to make work together.

[renegade6]

Is the 65 chassis similar to the original in that it has straight frame rails? I believe the newer ones have a dip where the cab goes, which makes mounting your cab a bit more difficult.

[NuBomb]

I am planning on doing the same thing you are talking about. I have a 66 big window cab that I want to put on a 4x4 chasis. From talking to others, it sounds like a 73-92 suburban frame would be the best bet. I think I want to put my 65 on a shortened 3/4 ton suburban frame. I'm looking for a suburban with a solid running gear and a bad body. By going this route, I should have everything I need except for mounts. Since I don't have a 66 frame I guess I'll have to fab up some body mounts. I'm just in the planning stages, but I do have a 66 lwb truck without the frame.

[GMC406]

Im not sure on that one renegade, but something to look at for sure. The thing I was thinking sounded good about using the 83 chasis is for the power steering setup and colum. Wiring harness, maybe even gages somehow(not sure how it would look) And just for the fact of it being a lil more modern as far as finding parts to lift, ect. A burban is a thought to NuBomb, there are a couple of those around to be had. I could maybe even get a good 4x4 chasis from a 98. My boss had one rolled and it ran and drove fine still, so he used it to pack the race track on race night he is no longer doing that so now it just sits. I think it would be a little too modern tho and more work than it is worth, computer, wiring wise. Apriciate all the input so far.

[Gene Sharp]

If I had access to all the parts etc you do I would use the 66 frame
because it is level in the area under the cab while the later model frame has a dip there
I would keep the axels from the later frame and put them under it to have disk brakes
along with the power steering
If money is a factor you can even use the wiring from the later model truck
steering box :
there is a mount for sale on the 66 board I believe to make it mount up
If you go with a 454 you may have to set thhe firewall back or move the motor mounts for that reason I perfer a small block

Gene Sharp

[GMC406]

Thanks for the info Gene. Is the dip in the later model frame the only thing to give trouble? Would it be such a thing as just making spacers to make it set right or do the troubles run deeper than that? I was just thinking ease of bolting in crossmembers for 4x4 such as I would like to use the 83 style running gear with aluminum t case and all. Or is putting a modern trans and t-case on a 65 frame no big deal? A bolt on to adapt the PS would make that not an issue. Just tossing ideas around in my head. I think I am gonna make this happen so just thinking outloud. As for the 454, I love my small blocks to and have nothing with a big block. Figured it would be nice to be diferent but if it is the hasle you mentioned then a smallblock will have to do. Moving a firewall back is definitly more than I want to do and I would hate to mess with weight distribution to much by moving eng forward. Thanks for the tips.

[Gene Sharp]

actually I have two trucks with the later model frames
one of which we added a piece of 2x6 channel in to fill in the frame dip to allowthe use of origional cab mounts for the 56
on the other one which I did not do myself it simply has taller mounts the White truck in the picture above is on an 80 model 4x4 frame it has an aftermarket 2 1/2 inch lift
this photo shows the piece we added into my frame on the 56 it is an 80 model short bed frame

Gene Sharp

[renegade6]

You're not going to have to worry about needing much of a lift These trucks are pretty tall as they are, especially when you make it a 4x4. Mine is converted from 2x4 to 4x4, take a look at my thread and you might get some ideas on how to do the steering.

[GMC406]

Thanks for the pic Gene. If I do go with the 80s frame I think that would be manageable for sure. Your build looks good renegade and yours and other threads on here will be a life saver whenever I get this truck and start on it. Im new to the 47-59 section, seems to be alot of Kansans in here that I have noticed already.

[Gene Sharp]

If you will use the bed boards and metal strips along with the cross supports under the bed from the 73up truck,,, but with 55/59 sides end and tail gate it will bolt right on except I would use the 1/2 inch bolts used in the later models

There is 1'' difference in wheelbase between the 80s short wheel base trucks and the 55/59 trucks you can either shorten the frame 1'' or cheat a little on each end
That is what I did the engine and trans will simply bolt back in fts hook back up
my preference in transfer caes is the NP 205 all gear drive because of strength and personally I like the 4spd
My white truck has a crate Ram Jet engine with NV3550 trans 5 spd and an Atlas IV transfer case 4spd (all fromAdvance Adajpters) with a true track posi in back and e locker in front
just to give you an idea of some possibilities

Gene Sharp

[GMC406]

So Im going to need a SWB 80s chasis if thats what I want to use? My 83 is a Reg cab long box so its a long wheel base. This 58 is a long bed as well so I assumed they would be the same. Oh well guess I could use the frame that is underneath it after all. Unless I run accross a SWB cheap. Your setup sounds pretty sweet. Don't think I can dump quite that much dough into this one, at least not for now.

[Gene Sharp]

while you are at it would be no problem at all to modifythe late model frame to what ever length is needed
I would just measure the wheel base i now have and make it fit
no big problem
just be sure to plate frame for extra support where it is spliced


There are lots of engine and drive train possibilities
it canbe done really cheap or lots of extras

Gene Sharp

[GMC406]

A couple posts up you metioned liking the NP204 the best. I never learned my t-case numbers. My 83 had an aluminum one on the back of the 350tranny. I got another 350 tranny out of If I remember correctly and 82 blazer. It had a steel T-case on the back and ended up not being able to use the tranny because the tailshaft was too short. I still have that tranny and T-case around from all those years ago. Is that a 204?

[Gene Sharp]

The main reason for using an NP 205 is it is all gear
no chains to stretch much stronger
to me while buiding is time to go for the best
NP 203 to me least desirable is fulll time 4 wheel drive
and prone to chain problems
just my opinion
a little junk yard shopping and you can build a nearly indestructable truck
on a fairly low budget
Due to the height of the 50s cabs I would think before I went to more than
2 1/2 inches of spring lift you may even find stock springs to be ok
this is my 53 Chevy on an 86 Blazer 4x4 frame
'Stock Springs
12:50 33 15 Tires on 10'' Wheels

Gene Sharp

[GMC406]

Thats a nice looking truck Gene. I would not want a full time 4x4 that is for sure, I have heard bad things about them. I agree about the junkyard shoping. Its not like I will be in a hurry to build so may as well take the time to find good pieces one at a time.

[blackdiesel]

mine is setting on a 77 gmc swb 3/4 ton chassis. if you have fab skills its a fairly easy swap. wish i would have went 2wd though, 4x4 sucks

[Gene Sharp]

if you get really tired of that 4x4
you could give it to me !
I really like the 4 bys
I will promise to give it a good home
and wax it often
lol

Gene Sharp

[blackdiesel]

I'm biulding a 2 wheel drive frame to put it on. but thanks for the offer.

[Gene Sharp]

seriously you should consider removing the 4x frame etc intact
and selling to someone to cover the expenses of your conversinon
would sure make it easy for someone going that route

Gene Sharp

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by Gene Sharp

seriously you should consider removing the 4x frame etc intact
and selling to someone to cover the expenses of your conversinon
would sure make it easy for someone going that route

Gene Sharp

its got a dana 44 and a full floater 14 bolt rear, all compleatly rebuilt. 4 wheel disk brakes, 305 fuel injected camaro motor with 35k original miles, very fresh rebuilt 700r4 (less than 500 miles) with a 203 t case. all cab mounts and radiator mounts will be left on the frame. ready to drop your body onto and drive. oh ya, comes with the computer and wiring harness. also will throw in the mickey thompson classic II's. ill sell the chassis in a heartbeat

[winchster]

I will soon have a 2wd frame ready for a new home. I'm going to put my '49 on a '78 K5 chassis. Just waiting on garage space to get started.