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Just starting on a 66 crew cab I just picked up. There's not much there so it's really a blank slate for me. There's a cab with doors and a frame that's been modified, the front has a big piece of steel welded on for a bumper and the frame was extended in the back behind the cab. So while I start working on the cab I am looking for a 4wd frame to put under it (along with a whole lotta body parts), which leads me to my first question. After reading many, many posts I realize a 4wd extended cab frame is going to be out of the question, so I'm leaning towards getting a 67-72 4x4 frame, cutting it and welding in the center section of my frame. I was thinking of a 1/2 ton, this will probably be a daily driver so no need for a HD suspension, but if I go with a 3/4 ton I think the frames are the same up to 77 while the 1/2 ton frame are 4" wider in the back. I know other people have done the 4x4 swap but haven't seen any crew cab ones. Any suggestions to keep the frame swap as simple as possible? There's so much info on this site it's almost overwhelming. Thanks
I have completed a 65 crew cab so most of what I tell you should apply. The biggest difference will be that mine is 2wd. I used a stock 1966 LWB 2wd frame. The front of the cab bolted on to the stock frame location using all stock mounting stuff. I relocated the stock rear cab mounting cross member toward the rear of the frame to mount the back of the cab. Now stock cab mounts all in place and cab bolted to frame.
If you use a stock length bed, either 6' or 8', you would extend the frame between the front (of the rear springs) spring hangers and the relocated rear cab mounting cross member. Obviously the amount you extend it would depend on which bed you run.
I did not have to extend my stock 8' frame because the conversion company shortened the original 8' bed the same amount they extended the back of the cab.
The 8' bed is now 30" shorter than stock. If you look at the bed picture, notice the middle stake bed pocket is very close to the front stake pocket.
Rich
I did notice that in the pictures. Went and looked at your build photos and you did an amazing job with that bed. Keeping the original paint and patina - it looks great.
