Chevy body on a dodge frame
#1
Chevy body on a dodge frame
Ok, i have a 93 cummins i want to build up. I really love the old shortbed chevys from the 80s and have a good body i can use. I figure instead of transplanting the cummins into the chevy i could just put the chevy cab on the dodge frame and shorten the frame to the correct wheelbase.
Anyone know what will be involved other than the obvious? Will my intercooler and everything fit? Can you get wiring harnesses from painless wiring or anywhere else to make the gauges work in the chevy dash? Or where can i buy new gauges that will fit in the dash and work with my cummins?
Anyone know what will be involved other than the obvious? Will my intercooler and everything fit? Can you get wiring harnesses from painless wiring or anywhere else to make the gauges work in the chevy dash? Or where can i buy new gauges that will fit in the dash and work with my cummins?
#2
Chevy body on a Dodge frame? Sacrilege!
I honestly don't think you're saving yourself any work by doing this. You'll have to make all new body mounts which I imagine could be a real pain if the frames aren't the same width due to having to move them and widen of shorten them. I think you'd be better off just dropping the Cummins in the Chevy frame and strengthening it where you need to. The axles from the Dodge can be used, just move the spring perches.
I believe Painless or LMC truck both have wiring harnesses for the older GMs. I would just buy Autometer gauges or whatever brand you prefer and stuff them in the in the dash. The holes in the cluster trim are already the perfect size. You'll just have to make some lights for the turn signals and brights. I can't remember if you can get a tach or speedo with a brights indicator or not, I think you can though.
I honestly don't think you're saving yourself any work by doing this. You'll have to make all new body mounts which I imagine could be a real pain if the frames aren't the same width due to having to move them and widen of shorten them. I think you'd be better off just dropping the Cummins in the Chevy frame and strengthening it where you need to. The axles from the Dodge can be used, just move the spring perches.
I believe Painless or LMC truck both have wiring harnesses for the older GMs. I would just buy Autometer gauges or whatever brand you prefer and stuff them in the in the dash. The holes in the cluster trim are already the perfect size. You'll just have to make some lights for the turn signals and brights. I can't remember if you can get a tach or speedo with a brights indicator or not, I think you can though.
#3
#4
Thanks for the input. The only reason i was thinkin about doin just the body is because i want a short bed. So im lookin at a half ton. And im worried about a half ton frame holdin up to the cummins. Also, im just throwin this out there for input, because what i really want is an old crew cab dodge from the 80s, but they are like hens teeth around here
#5
#6
Any serious input on the matter? And the end of the project a guy can have a badass solid axel heavy chevy, acording to my tape mesure making the mounts is easy breezy. Running all the wiring from the dodge to the chev cab using chev pig tails for lights ect.. Robing the break booster and chutch gear from the dodge aswell, gas pedel if i have to. The trim for the shifters is a swap over to, make my own cluster aswell.
#7
#8
Any serious input on the matter? And the end of the project a guy can have a badass solid axel heavy chevy, acording to my tape mesure making the mounts is easy breezy. Running all the wiring from the dodge to the chev cab using chev pig tails for lights ect.. Robing the break booster and chutch gear from the dodge aswell, gas pedel if i have to. The trim for the shifters is a swap over to, make my own cluster aswell.
I agree, I have just purchased a 90 w350 5 speed 4x4 that got rolled. I am swapping my 72 Suburban body onto the frame of the dodge. Just gonna build my own mounts, and shorten the wheel base by moving the rear axle forward. Dodge had all the engineering figured out on the frame dimensioning, so why mess with what works. The dodge only needs a couple of wires to run, so I am going to use the gmc wiring, and make it happen.
#9
Ok so a few years of hum'n and haw'n went by.. Good deals on cummins part trucks come and gone..
But one i couldent refuse..I picked up a 99 2500 ext long bed with a nv complete and running with 30k km's on rebuilt 24v for 1500$
Have a 89 c2500 dually my wife wants me to scrap.. C/k chevy conversion is a full go!!
Gonna have tons of pic's and full write up for all you dreamers! Just gotta go get my ram from the arctic first
Here is somthing to drool over for the meantime
http://s1156.photobucket.com/user/Shottzillanwt/media/IMG_20150913_134842_zpsrpkixd6g.jpg.html
But one i couldent refuse..I picked up a 99 2500 ext long bed with a nv complete and running with 30k km's on rebuilt 24v for 1500$
Have a 89 c2500 dually my wife wants me to scrap.. C/k chevy conversion is a full go!!
Gonna have tons of pic's and full write up for all you dreamers! Just gotta go get my ram from the arctic first
Here is somthing to drool over for the meantime
http://s1156.photobucket.com/user/Shottzillanwt/media/IMG_20150913_134842_zpsrpkixd6g.jpg.html