Building a Crew Conversion

[rebel horseman]

Guys, I'm sorta at a crossroads here. On the one hand I have my '93 Club Cab that, as you all know, is not exactly family friendly. It's workable but kiddos in the jumps seats just aren't a long-term solution or a viable option if we ever want to take road trips or if (God help me) may daughter grows up and wants to rodeo or something. So, long story short, I'm going to have to upgrade to a crew cab preferably, or at the very least an extended cab with a useable rear seat area.

So here are my thoughts:
1 - I can sell the Dodge and buy a 2nd Gen extended cab
2 - I can sell the Dodge and buy a '95-'00 Ford crew cab F250/350
3 - I can have someone build me a 1st Gen conversion.

Option 3 is my preferred option as I love my old school truck. My problem is that I do not have the time, facility, resources, etc. to do the conversion myself. I'm hesitant to bring it to a body shop because, quite frankly, they usually have little to no experience in the eccentricities of 1st Gen trucks such as where to look fro rust, repairing cowl cracks, etc. What I'd like to know is, is there anyone out there who does (or would be willing to do) these conversions on a commercial basis? Or, if not, does anyone want to sell me their conversion?

[BobS]

I predict #3 will cost far more than numbers 1 & 2.

[ahale2772]

sadly i agree with bob, yet the cool factor is worth the price....

[Firstgenfanatic]

I am actually converting my 93' club cab to a 93' Crew shortbox. The frame and running gear will stay intact, but the body will change. I plan to do most of the work myself and leave the paint/body work to the professionals. The biggest challenge for me is a long term place to do the swap and down-time for my 93' club cab. The rest is just patience and small modifications. An example of this exact conversion is shown below...........

[1STGENFARMBOY]

my lord thats quite a view you got out the back there bud.

Darwin

[RumbleFish]

i had the same idea. what is your plan for the rear cab floor to frame issue?

[Firstgenfanatic]

I will notch the rear floor like several folks have done before. There will be 2 boxed channels protruding from the floor when it is done. I have pics of this process from a 1st gen owner who did the same thing. A little bit of welding work avoids using body lifts to achieve the clearance needed.

[Mark Nixon]

I'd KILL for a place to DO conversions.
I know how to do them, just no satisfactory place to do it.
Then there's the possible LEGAL issues of doing it for hire.
Mainly from the standpoint of if the EPA starts being, well, GOVERNMENTAL about it.

Mark.

[Firstgenfanatic]

Yup! It would be nice to have my own shop for big lifting and all the specialty machinery I need. This project will take some time and coordination. I am patient and the results are well worth it. This is the rig I have always wanted........nothing else.

[Firstgenfanatic]

I found another person online who has documented his club to crew conversion. Below is a pic of the rear floor mod that is required............

[Mark Nixon]

Seems to me that people would just convert the 2wd trucks to 4wd.
That floor work seems like an unnecessary hassle, if you already have the proper frame to clear it.

Mark.

[MunK]

As an owner of a W350 CC/SB could someone explain to me the reason for the cab floor modifications? I must have missed something, I was under the opinion the crew cab and club cab long box shared the same frame?

NoRM

[BobS]

As an owner of a W350 CC/SB could someone explain to me the reason for the cab floor modifications? I must have missed something, I was under the opinion the crew cab and club cab long box shared the same frame?

NoRM

Both share the same 149" wheelbase but the straight section of the frame below the door on a crew cab extends approximately 34" [which is the same length of the rear door] more than on a standard cab. In your case the distance it is the difference between the 34" minus the length of the club cab insert panel. This in turn causes the kick up portion of the frame between the cab mounts to be in the wrong position by being too far forward in which causes the cab to contact the frame.

[MunK]

Bob....

Thanks, I guess as many as i have tore apart I missed this. I am just to the point of putting the cab back on my crew. So the subject was of interest.

NoRM

[Scout4life]

I saw someone mentioned converting the 2wd. How hard would that be? i have a 91.5 W250 reg cab, and i found an 85 2wd. so i have all the parts i need. id just have to mount the leaves in the front, and the #1,2,3 crossmembers right? anyone done this? looking for guideance.