Crew Cab Conversion
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Crew Cab Conversion
This is my first post in this forum, so please forgive me if this is a repost. But does anyone know if it is possible to convert an extended cab long bed into a 4-door short bed, and if so, what will i need to do it? Thanks in advance.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
You'll need a Crew cab short bed frame, cab and bed.... LOL
IIRC, a crew cab frame is longer between the cab mounts than yours, and a short bed frame is 16" shorter behind the cab. You could modify yours to suit, but, I'd reccomend against it unless you have some good fab skills and are a very competent welder.
IIRC, a crew cab frame is longer between the cab mounts than yours, and a short bed frame is 16" shorter behind the cab. You could modify yours to suit, but, I'd reccomend against it unless you have some good fab skills and are a very competent welder.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 517
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by kcd_69
ok, so the frame is different. does anyone know the first year the crewcab, short bed was made, and did they make a f150 with it.
Last edited by 82F1507.5; Feb 15, 2007 at 06:03 AM.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Honkytonkville
Originally Posted by 82F1507.5
I could be flamed to death for this, but I think the first real crew cabs, which is to imply 4 full size cab doors, were introduced in the early 1970's. In Texas these were primarily ranch hand trucks used to haul crew and gear for horse shows and the like. Of those I saw were all long bed trucks, for good reason. Most of these were heavy optioned fancy two tone trucks just for show, and not very popular with the city folk back then. They were a bear to park anywhere, especially in a public car park. Obviously I am not certain about time frame, but I don't remember seeing any prior to 1970. I have been around long enough to remember going to the Ford dealer with my dad to look at the new 1957 Ford Thunderbirds.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by scottie2hottie
in the 60's actually, '65 i believe was the first year ford factory made crew cabs. there are some older ones out there(few and far) but they were from an aftermarket company i believe. they were actually only short beds until the late 70's when they first introduced the crew cab long bed. But none of these were f150s. To my knowledge ford didn't have a crew cab f150 until 2000 or somewhere around there. f250s and f350s had them all through the years, mainly f350s. In the early 80s all f350 were long beds, and im not sure if there was a crew cab short bed f250. you might be fabbing this one.
Now that I have had a chance to think about it some more, I believe the crew cabs I saw in the early 70's were F-250's or better. It was kinda hard to tell back then unless you looked at the bolt pattern on the wheels.
I also think you are right about the F-150 crew only available at the turn of the century. Exactly what model year I don't remember, but I did consider a King Ranch SCREW in 2002 when I bought my Lariat SCAB. At the time I did not want a crew cab, then I could not live without it, so I later bought one of those too.
I also think 82F100SWB is right about the chassis. One or the other, or both may be wrong, the cab rear support cross member, or bed wheel well in wrong place.
The bottom line is that it would be much easier to take the emblems off an 80's F-250/F350 crew cab and replace them with F-150 emblems and enjoy the extra towing capability.
Last edited by 82F1507.5; Feb 15, 2007 at 11:40 AM.
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Thanks Guys for all the good info. I am currently shopping around for a good older truck to be a secondary/work truck. I found a 1996 F-250 CrewCab Short bed, but it has the 460 v8. As a secondary vehicle, it should get decent gas mileage. I also have found a 1980 f-250 extended cab long bed 4x4. It doesn't run, but it is in good shape. I can get this truck for $500. I'm not sure on the engine size though. This would be a good truck, but I personally feel that an extended cab is useless, unless you have some doors to get in back there. Thus the reson for this thread. I was thinking of buying this truck and converting it to a CrewCab short bed. But I now relize that this may be too much work. Thanks again for all the info.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Quesnel, BC, Canada
Ive only ever seen one 1997 and older F350 cc/sb....and its in my driveway. All the other ones I have seen are F250s. I believe my wheelbase is 165", ill check tomorow if I remember. I have seen a r/c l/b turned into a s/c s/b tho...it looked good.
Also if I remember....I can measure and compare cab mounts on my 90 F150s/c and the 96 c/c for you to see if they are the same, I doubt it tho.
Also if I remember....I can measure and compare cab mounts on my 90 F150s/c and the 96 c/c for you to see if they are the same, I doubt it tho.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Pensacola, FL
the rear cab mounts are almost certainly in different location, but you can cut them off and relocate them if you want to. only question would be getting the bed lined up, that may require some fab work. the front clip from 80-86 will bolt up, i did it on my truck, but the fenders will need some modification due to the wrap around bumper on the newer trucks. and the lower fender bolt near the door is mounted horizontally on 80-86 and vertically on 92-96, i cut and bent the lower part of my fender to get it to work. my truck looks like an 83 from the outside with the creature comforts in the cab of a 95. i'm taking it in for a paint job in next couple of weeks then i plan on posting pics of the finished product.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 683
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From: North Georgia
kcd I am doing a crewcab 86 model with a shortbed right now. I actually bought a 1 ton dully 4x4 and took off the flatbed cut the frame 16" plated it back together plus welded it and put on a stepside short bed off a 93 model. The bed bolted right up with the existing holes. (that is if you cut the frame in the right place.) So far not that big of a deal I will try to post some pics if I can figure out how. anyways this is a cool project and one heck of a truck in my opinion. good luck with your project.
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,472
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From: Exmore, VA
Damn, 95Ford4X4, you did just the opposite of what I am doing, I am takeing all the front sheet metal and dash with needed interior trim from a 1990 std cab and installing it on my 1986 crew cab. I am doing it to make the EFI change easier.