Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

You can narrow the 8.8 pretty easily as they have two different axle lengths. You just grab a second short axle at the wrecking yard and swap it out for the long one in the rear end you buy. Once you get it home just cut down the axle tube on the long side to match the short side and you now have a narrowed rear end on the cheap. Strong axles, great availability of good posi carriers & gears. This is really popular to do in the S-10 world as the shorter rear end fits the S-10 perfectly.

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

nice wheel choice!!

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

This truck is looking amazing

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

so i got ahold of a bed i had to cut it in half to load and transport it in my S10. First step of many in operation Fat Tire

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

Very nice build! Looks like I will stay tuned in for the rest of the build.

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

I started cuting the tubs. A complete tub measures 11" and i added 9" plus 3" from he bed give me a total of 23" . The tire is 18" so i will have 2'' clearance in the front and 3" in the back since i want to tuck i need all the clearance i can get. i still need to seam the 2 halfs together, at that point i will cut the floor form the donor bed and transplant that extension to final bed.

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

full shot

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

Quick scetch of dimensions

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

Plan for the floor. Cut the curve out from main bed keep straight piece. attach piece from donor bed main objective is to keep the original curve with the bolt patterns.

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

Looks like you have the tubs all figured out. I will be watching this transformation for sure. That is going to be some big rubber underneath there!

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

:metal:

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

I got the tubs almost finishd i had to add a center strip to keep the original shape. I welded the bolt hole section by placing it on the the bottom of the bed heres a few pics

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

floor cut outs and completed tub

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

damn!! that is WIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEE

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

Nice fab work! looks good!

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

Looks great. Keep up the good work.

Will you have to do any mods to the frame to use the new width of the tub?

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

update The fab work on the bed is complete -were the tubs bolt on to, some minor body work was required. The tubs are still cokin i got 1 finished and primered heres are a few pics

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

low res pics with my phone of the process bare metal to the muddin to primer shot with direct to metal then feather fill

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

Looks great! keep it up! man those tires are going to be WIDE!

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

:metal: nice progress!

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

Looks real good

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

Wow. Man, you're a pro!

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

I ordered my MT HR 1 wheels and tires today from Summit they only make these in a 5 on 4.50 or 5 on 4.75 so i ordered the 4.75. For the rear i will ordered a 4.75 bolt pattern and for the front i might just use an adapter. i wil set the rear tires in for a moch up and get a measurement from back side of wheel to the other back side measure and order my housing and axles cut to size. For the center section i will use a track lock posi with 3.70 gears 31 spline with a 1050 yoke. not sure about the brakes yet, all i know is that they will be disc.

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

thanks, i put about 35+ hrs in the tubs and bed.

Re: LS1 into a 73 cheyenne
 

With 5 on 4-3/4 bolt pattern you can run Vette or Camaro brakes. 98-2002 F-body rear disc is really popular and are 12" diameter with an internal drum in hat parking brake. They even came on the 6-cylinder cars of that era so they are pretty easy to find. I got a complete set with e-brake cables and the brake hard lines for under $100 on ebay. Since you are having the housing narrowed you can just have them put on the Strange small GM housing ends while they are at it so stock Chevy car brakes will bolt right on and you still get the press-on bearings & retainer plates.

You could turn a stock rotor into a bearing hub, drill it for 5 on 4-3/4 and use Vette or Camaro slip on rotors up front. Many size options from 12x1.25" on up. You could fab up a caliper mount bracket to use the matching PBR calipers up front or run the Wilwood D52 calipers at all four corners.