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| | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 271 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2012 Posts: 271 | So my new cab is coming in two weeks....
This is a good thing since my friend already did some structural testing on my old cab. In case anyone is wondering a severely rusted 1954 AD cab will hold one round hay bale on top of it.... but not two. Ask me how I know... lol.
Anyway- the cab and front end I have coming is off of a big bolt so the fenders/front end are of the bigger variety while the 3800 originally came with the smaller fenders.
i sort of like the big bolt look with different proportion of big front end to cab and the fenders are in much better condition than mine. i can save my fenders but it would be more work for sure. they are pretty strait with no bondo but need the mounting flanges repaired. i would also have to buy a new grill which could be costly if i keep the original 3800 small grill look.
So are the 1-ton trucks "rare" enough that I should keep it original or should I fab up some frame extensions at which point I would have the same frame as a 1-1/2 ton and with my new body could make a 4100 "clone?" I love the look of both trucks but i think i lean toward the 4100 slightly. This will be a steak body dump when I'm finished.
opinions? | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | If you don't have the pickup bed then why not make it more like a 4100 with the good sheet metal? However if you use the big fenders I'd be sure to use some tires that do a decent job filling them.
A 1 ton flat bed isn't that rare or desirable simply for what it is so might as well make out of it what you please.
Grigg
| | | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 271 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2012 Posts: 271 | Thats what I'm thinking...
If I had the bed I'd probably stick original but this truck had a hoist on it already which I plan to repair and make into a steak body dump (with a gooseneck hitch if I can squeeze it in.
The wheels I have on it are 18" vs. the 4100's 20" but I think the tire height is the same or very close around 33". So I think it will be OK as is but I could always change the wheels/tires.
At that point it would be pretty much the same besides springs and axles. Might have to replace my springs but I dont think it's worth beefing them up for how I'll be using it... As it is I think the p/o already added some leafs in the back. At some point I have to find out what stock ride/frame height should be.
Tj | | |
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