Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

So I finally drug the truck into the shop so I can get started on this project. I picked up this truck about a month ago and it is in need of a little love. It hasn't been registered since 2003 so I'm going to have to go through everything. I'm going to cut it down to a short bed and eventually drop in a 6.0. For now I have to focus on the short bed conversion and replacing the rockers and front floors. I go to the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival every year with my YJ so I need the truck functioning by June to use it to drag the Jeep there. Lots to do. :)

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...109_071403.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...116_121508.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Cool rig and sounds like a good plan. Going to keep it a dually or go single rear wheel? What's the specs on the truck? June will be here before you know it!!! Looks like a nice shop to work in.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

You are right MTCK, I need to put my signature together. It is a 454, auto, D60/D70, A/C, power everything. The interior is really clean aside from the rust. I plan on single rear wheel. Yes, I am spoiled with my shop. The lady we bought the house from said nobody wanted the place because of the 40×80 shop. I agreed and asked her to drop the price. :)

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

So I finally messed with the truck and little tonight. I took the two, yes two, bolts that held on the fifth wheel hitch on out so I could yank it out of the bed. I can't believe someone hauled trailers with two 1/2 inch bolts. I also investigated things a little and got a pic of this.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...2_211053_1.jpg[/IMG]

The bed is really nice for this part of the country. Just look at that floor.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...202_211153.jpg[/IMG]

Here she is in all her rusty glory. Hopefully I can make some steady progress now.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...1214_001_1.jpg[/IMG]

I tried unbolting the bed mounting bolts and to my surprise they actually turned...for a little while. The head started turning in the bed. On to plan B. What is the best method to remove them? I was thinking drilling out the heads would probably be the easiest.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Will you be finding new axles or using single wheels in dually offset?

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I would tack weld the head to the bed floor....unbolt, then cut the small tacks off. MUCH easier than drilling out the carriage bolts.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Not sure yet. I am trying to make a deal on a 3/4 ton suburban or a 3/4 ton truck with the 6.0 I want. If either of those deals works out I will have the right axle too. That could cost me more in the long run though if the gear ratios don't match up. Worse case, I will just run wheel spacers for the time being.

I thought about that, or welding nuts to the head. That way I could clean up and re-use the carriage bolts.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Ive got a crew short bed I built for hauling my jeeps too. Im running an 8.1/4l80e combo though.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Me too, but I didn't build mine. My UAW pals in Flint did :chevy::metal:

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

somehow I screwed up and move the original pic of the Jeep so here is another.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...addyJeep17.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I thought dually axles were significantly wider than SRW, so spacers would do the opposite of what you'd want if trying to mount SRW wheels.

The donor trucks will be IFS so unless you're going 2WD you'd need more.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I haven't measured anything yet, but it was my understanding that the dually rear axle is 4" narrower than the front. I'll know more when I get things torn apart...hopefully this weekend.

Heres my jeep hauler
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Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I thought I had read of folks using H1 rims with squally axles since they have a ton of back spacing.

Willy do you have a build thread for that thing? I want to see more but not hijack...

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

This worked beautifully, Thanks.

So obviously I got the bed bolts out. I even got the bed off after that.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...206_153324.jpg[/IMG]

I then started fighting with the rusty hitch and bumper bolts. Luckily all but three of the bolts broke. Those last three took a 3' cheater all the way off.

Before

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...206_153345.jpg[/IMG]

After

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...206_213040.jpg[/IMG]

I removed all of the unnecessary brackets and started wire wheeling the frame. To my surprise, the frame has very little pitting under the scale.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...207_135448.jpg[/IMG]

close up of the frame.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...207_135454.jpg[/IMG]


Here is what has been taken off, including about a 20 pound pile of rust.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...207_135501.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

That's a good looking TJ there WildWilly. I thought I saw somewhere that you have a 2A as well. I have a 2A that will eventually become an active project. Your hauler is very nice too.

Ive got an m38, and 3a. M38 is heavily modded, and the 3a just has a granny tranny and lift.
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Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I never did make a build thread on it, Im too lazy to keep up with those. I did a build thread once on pirate4x4 on my willys jeep, but im just not good about remembering to take pics. If you have any questions about it I'd love to help though.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I might be interested in the section of frame you cut out if you want to part with it

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Keep watching and remind me when I cut it.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Ok how much are you cutting out and what type cut are you going with (the front section)

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I'm going to do the "z" cut I guess it's called.

I-----,___I. Kinda like that. 14"

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I like the z cut to I I was asking I wasn't sure on how much you had to cut out to do a short bed I just know I you had to cut some out of the middle and some off the very end thanks

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

From what I understand, 14" in the middle and 6" in the back.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I done a Google search and found a YouTube video of a guy cutting a 83 crew cab down its a three part video you might want to check out he explains some issues he found while getting ready to cut the front doing a z cut and he only cut 3 and 1/2 inches of the end of the frame he done a pretty good job on it loos good might check it out might get some helpful tip

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Thanks, I was planning on doing some more research before I got myself to the point of no return.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

14" is correct. I have cut several, and while I can agree that the "Z" cut is arguably better, I have always done a straight square cut, and fishplate on the inside of the frame rail. I have never had issues with any of them being fatigue points or anything else. its much easier to make a precise straight cut (at least for me), due to the location of the forward spring hanger and trying to fit a saw in there to cut exactly where I want.

I always make my cut about an inch or so behind the front bed mount holes. IIRC you can measure it out pretty close to where the rear gas tank mount holes will not interfere with the splice, but its pretty close. I think on my last one the gas tank holes were very close to the splice.

I think I usually only take 4" or so off of the rear, or you can not the bed lip and leave the frame rails sticking out for more bumper mount material.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

The more reading I do, the more I am thinking about a 45 cut. I watched the videos mentioned above and read a few other threads and don't see huge benefits of doing the "Z" cut. Can anyone argue differently? I should be cutting this weekend.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I've weld frames in all three z/45/ and straight cuts and never had a problem with any of them I just prefer to use the z and if it's not possible to use a z I like a 45 and I only use a straight as a last option if room or the frame shape dose not make it possible I actually went and looked at a truck for the cab and it was a wrecker at one time and it was cut straight with no fish plates (which I don't recommend) the only extra support was piece3x3 1/4wall squad tube welded to the top rail for the wrecker bed to clear the step up in the frame it was a 89 crewcab that was a wrecker scene 91 and the truck was just parked about 5 years ago when the bed was put on a 4x4 truck with all that being said as long as you clean good and get good penetrating weld and plate the inside with a fish plate I don't ever see you haven a problem

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I fired up the coal stove and the wood stove in the shop on Saturday and spent the day cutting up my truck. Since it was 0 degrees with a 20 mph wind I had no intentions of doing anything outside. I ended up going with the 45 cut starting 3" behind the front bed mount hole in the frame. I guess the pic is from 1" behind the hole, but by moving back to 3" I had more room to cut at the bottom without as much interference from the cab.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...212_225146.jpg[/IMG]

No turning back now.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...213_181044.jpg[/IMG]

One side burned mostly in, the other just has a few good tacks. I ran out of welding wire so this is where I stopped. I still need to cut up some 3/16" for fish plates and burn everything in.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...213_203043.jpg[/IMG]

Before

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...206_213109.jpg[/IMG]

After

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...213_203141.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...213_203203.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Oh yea...Shop Tip of the Day....notice the scissor Jack under the frame. If you don't have a couple of these around the shop you should go get some. They are perfect for aligning the frame and many other things. The ones with a hex bolt on the end are better because you can use the impact.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Looks good I'm still interested in the pieces you cut out

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I got some more wire and at least finished welding the seams while I waited for a buddy to shown up last night. I'm going to Motorama tomorrow so I probably won't get a whole lot done this weekend.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Hey JW76, I can't send you a PM because your box is full. Send me a message when you get it cleaned up. :)

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

wow, two weekends in a row where I didn't get much done. I shot pool in three different towns this weekend so no time in the shop. I did at least get some grinding done Friday night and got 1 fish plate burned in.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...103414_001.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...227_103540.jpg[/IMG]

Yes, I know what you are thinking. I have seen better welds too. It is impossible to get a comfortable position up in there.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Got the rear completely disassembled finally.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...305_160810.jpg[/IMG]

I then spent a couple more hours with the wire wheel on the grinder. I really should consider a dust mask when I do that crap. I think I am still coughing up rust. Aside from the abuse to my lungs, the rear of the frame is just about ready for paint. I also started wire wheeling the leaf packs.

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...305_160647.jpg[/IMG]

Any thoughts on how many leaves to remove? Since I am no longer going to be a dually and have no intentions of having massive payloads in this thing I am going to soften up the rear a little. I am thinking removing 4 of the 10 leaves out of the main pack and retaining the overload pack in case I do load here down a bit. Does this seem out of line to anyone???

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Nice work. Can you figure out the tongue weight from your trailer? I'd try to replicate that and then take some measurements to make sure you are level. My rear springs in my v3500 were hammered, and it sagged empty. I think the wear on your springs would make it hard to know how many to remove without a little trial and error. Leave the big overload on the bottom and make sure no leafs are broken above it.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

I agree, it will most likely take some trial and error. I may run a small block if necessary to get the ride height where it needs to be. Thanks for the input.

Re: Daddyjeep Hauler - 85 K30 crew cab short bed
 

Nice work. I will be following along. :metal: :metal: