Well cash and hard work. And time. Or maybe lots of cash and patience. I talked to a friend today who is unhappy because her bike won't be in the Seattle Roadster Show this weekend. Seems after five years the shop couldn't finish it in time.
My usual source for information such as body lengths is off-line right now. Otherwise I'd have those numbers for you plus the link. If you check the tech tips here you'll find instructions how to get a restoration pack. That will have lots of info including these lengths.
It doesn't matter which frame you choose, the length of the factory frames won't be right for the configuration you are talking about. You'll either be modifying the body to change the length or the frame.
You just want to steel my whole plan don't you... I'm currently planning to put mine on a Chevy K3500 frame. The donor is an extended cab long box with 155 inch wheel base. Thats 22 inches longer than the stock 1-ton panel wheel base of 137 inches. Putting the COE front on the panel shortens the body wheel base by about a foot. Sorry I don't have the exact number at hand, and since I plan to play with the wheel openings I'm not committed to the original positions.
If you do the math you'll see my wheel base and easiest body length don't quite match. Can I keep any parts of my plan secret?
If you were starting with a stock body configuration I'd say easiest approach would be to add the pieces to the stock frame. Since you are already changing the body in significant ways, it may be easier to mount this modified body on a frame that already has the running gear on it.
I'm starting with an IFS 4x4 and swapping that suspension into another frame would be a major project. Swapping a straight axle 4x4 onto another frame would be much easier. Especially if you are swapping it onto a frame that was straight axle in the beginning.
You should go straight axle under an original type frame just so yours will be different than mine... Especially since we could end up at the same truck shows!
