1961 Crew Max
 

Well here it goes. Found this beat down 2003 d-max on craigslist for a good price and decided to try and put it in a 61 crew cab. The crew cab has been for sale for a long time. It should be here around the first of january. Will post more pics once it gets here. Thanks CHIZZLER

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

wow! that blue crew has been for sale for a long time, it is one of the first ones I found pics of on internet searches for crews.

looks to be a neat build!

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Will you try to reuse the 61 body on the 2003 frame or move the DMAX to the 61 frame?

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

LB7 / 5speed

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I think what im gonna do is find a 64 and up frame and ditch the factory torsion/x frame. i know we will have to stretch the new one. I figured it would be better to find a complete running d-max truck as a donor. This truck i found has 200k and the owner seems to remember spending around $4k at about 130k. Im hoping injectors but until i get it cleaned and plug it in i cant tell.The transfer case is shot but im going to convert to 2wd so that dosn't matter. There is lots of details to work out so im going to work on getting the chassie mocked up first then test fit motor and trans. Probably talk to the crew at porterbuilt and see what we can do.chizzler

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

watching this build

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Should be an interesting project.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I'd try to put the 61 body on the new frame if at all possible, even if it requires stretching the frame and channeling the body over it.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Pretty sure the new frame is much wider than the 60's frames.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I'm In Can't Wait.,, :metal:

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

this should be an interesting combination and end result ....

what is the late rated for mpg's ....???

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

this truck had 14.4 estimated mpg on the dash computer.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Cool project. I daily drive a 2006 Duramax and have since new. Would love to put a complete drivetrain in one of these.
I have a longggggggggg step side 3/4 (or 1 ton) GMC I just bought and hauled home last week. Hummmmm?

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Sounds like a great project, I will be watching

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Cool project. I'm looking forward to the build thread.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Great project! I personally don't like body swaps on newer frames, but that's just me. If you plan to drop the truck, that newer frame will be hard to do any way I think because the frame drops so far down under the cab it would kill your lowered stance without the floors getting raised to compensate for it..

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I plan on using a 64-66 long bed frame and ditch everything else. The frames on the Hd's hang way low for that big old allison. thanks all for checkin in. CHIZZLER

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I found a frame for one I was going to build that is probably the perfect style to look for.
it was a 66 c/30 factory flatbed, it has a 133 inch wheelbase, the frame rails are about 3 inches taller through the center because it is a 1 ton, and it has a leaf spring rear.
the extra 5 inches would work nice between the rear wheel and the cab, not so short looking like the 127" wb. I am pretty sure your current crew is like mine , which is a 141" wheelbase

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

That's what I would do as well. Those '88 and up frame swaps just do not work out well IMO. Just a FYI, a '63 frame is the same as the '64-'66 frame.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Thanks for the info. There is a 1 ton dually i got my eye on right now local. Not sure what he wants for it.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I also have my eye on this truck. It looks like it has pretty good sheet metal and bed. It's also a half ton.


http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/4789822543.html

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Cool Crew! Its crazy, I found this crew cab in Saratoga, Wyoming back in the 90's when I was doing construction there. The guy also had another 64-66 cab. I called back a couple years later and he said it all sold and went to the west coast somewhere. Glad too see it is finally getting some love. :metal:

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Update. Yesterday i got the d-max all cleaned up any everything i could pull apart and keep it running. Im looking at stand alone wiring kits and have no intention to spend $1000 plus dollars. anyone build there own?

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

The Ls engines are pretty straight forward.

The duramaxes have 2x the wiring.

I think you'd start the same way you do with an LS swap. Get the computer flashed to turn off all the stuff thats not required for your swap. Then take the entire harness out and remove whats not needed and re-loom it all.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

You might post that question in the 'Diesel Conversions' section of this forum.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

well the crew cab showed up this morning. overall its what i expected. looks like the drivers door of the four is the only one that will need to be replaced. all other front sheet metal and bed will be replaced. still looking to find a donor truck. looks like rockers on both sides will be replaced with the drivers side being the worst. thinking i can cut the entire floor from the d-max donor and make it fit. tunnel is very tall and size is within 1/2" front to back and side to side. as far as new suspension goes im still looking into it. CHIZZLER

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

That is cool! Tagging along.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

here is what I had made for the floor in my crew...

I guess it depends on how your floor braces are, and which frame you are using.....

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

is that a crew you are building? any more pics?

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Where did the truck come from?

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Looks like a great project to follow.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

I got it from a guy in northern california. He has 2 more. Truck originally came from colorado and was a forestry service rig.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

looking forward to this project! So SICK

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

well guys got a little more done today. got all the sheet metal off the front. got most of the floors cleaned. the drivers side pillar is not connected to the floor section. can any of you crew cab guys pull a tape and get me a measurement at floor line from pillar to pillar. i want to x-brace the inside before i start cutting. thanks CHIZZLER.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

my pillars are not attached either!

this might work:
run your measurement from the inside edge of the door jamb-where the weather strip mounts-, right where the lower striker hits, on the back portion of the cab, and then match that up with the center pillars.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

thanks for the advise. i will take a look at that and check the measurement. thanks

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

This is a cool idea. Following along.

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

awesome build so far!

Re: 1961 Crew Max
 

Well guys today was a good/bad day working on the truck. Motor came out just fine but realized to keep the oil pan above the frame the d-max would be past the hood. Now if i went with a medium static drop or kept it a 4x4 i could get away with the pan hanging down. I have a 4x4 duramax crew cab now and am not looking for another 4x4. For those of you that have seen my other trucks understand the stance im looking for. Very low and fast with great suspension parts. I figured i should make something out of the front sheet metal rather than scrap it so i made this to hang on the shop. Thanks CHIZZLER.