can you put a crewcab on a standard cab frame?

 

since you have to take only about 4 and 1/2 inches out of an extended cab long box to put a short box crew on, I would say no.

 

can you do this swap and custom fit a short bed to this frame?

 

would it be easier to take 4x4 running gear and add to 2 wheel drive truck?

 

yes you can, but your bed will be very short, and forget a mid-ship fuel tank.

there are pictures of one or two here on the site.

My 76 F-150 2wd long bed is at the fabricator's shop right now, getting 33.5 inches welded into it, to accommodate a crewcab and stay a long bed.

 

I currently have a 1990 ford F250 4by4 standard cab long box,I am wanting to swap a crew cab off a 1990 F350 2 wheel drive onto,I know I will have to bob/chop the bed down, I am curious if anyone has any hints or pointers for me on this?I am sure I'm not the first to do this.do i need to swap all the wiring from one dash to the next?or do i just swap brains and put a couple bulbs in for the four wheel indicator and low range?I am planning to start the project in less than 24hrs and would appreciate any help I can get.I am a fast worker,I have completely stripped the standard cab truck and put it back together several times and can do it in about 2 1/2 days start to finish.also I have decent fab skills.thanks to everyone in advance,Brian

 

First of all, this is the '73-'79 forum. I'm sure there will be people with more insight in your particular build in the bull nose forum. Secondly Fordiesel93, it would be more polite to start your own thread instead of hijacking someone else's.

As for the original question, ...sure, it can be done. All it takes with anything is time and money. Don't be in a big rush to get it done, though. You'll end with a truck you hate and nobody will buy. Take your time and do it right. Body mounts will be the major hurdle. You'll have to fab another crossmember for the rear cab mounts. The shape of the frame won't be right either. meaning some of the body mounts will be farther away from the body than others. You'll have to modify some of the body mounts as well as some of the bed mounts.

I own a hotrod shop and this is what I do for a living. If you're that good and you're quick, it should take you about a month or so. (assuming you have a day job) Nothing about this build will be quick or easy. Measure twice, measure again, mock things up, measure some more, make a few chalk marks, measure again, erase your chalk marks and make new ones, measure one last time, ...THEN cut.


Do it right, do it once.

 

yup


There is a standard cab, long bed frame under this




Honestly I'd say it all depends on your skill level & set of tools as to how long it will take. I could the cab swap in a day if I had both trucks at the shop & ready. All you really have to mess with there is the rear cab mounts as the fronts are the same.

The bodywork on the bed would be a bit of work, but unless you are going from a wide rear frame rail to a narrow one or vice versa then most of the bolts (4 of the 6) should be able to be kept I would think.

 

I have a 73 F350 crew mounted onto a regular cab long box frame. As stated, box is very short and yes takes time and skill. However i am very pleased with the results of my crew.

 

Why not just bolt some seats into the bed and put a cap on it?

 

because then you still just have 2 doors and an annoying "cap" to deal with!

 

that seems like the bed would be more then 8ft on that truck if it were a standard cab.

 

PM the owner & ask. I;m only telling you what I was told when I PMed him.

Maybe he failed to mention it being an SCS (140" wheelbase) but I think the wheels are closer to the rear bumper on those are they not? Too lazy to find a pic & double check though...

 

they are indeed closer but thats regular bed so there would be no way to tell.

im not doubting but if you hold a piece of paper over the rear windows of the crew cab the bed looks super long

 

I guess it could be a 140 WB frame IF he put a regular bed on it AND moved the mounting points for the leaf springs to move the axle up. He didn't mention having to do any of that.

As for the looks of the bed - it looks about right to me if I cover the rear door. Keep in mind there is a bit more cab behind the front door of a standard cab than there is b-pillar of a crew cab. Meaning the cab ends on a standard cab a little bit further back than the rear door on a crew starts. It's not much but it would eat up a little of the extra length you are seeing.