Is it possible to start with a reg cab frame. put an extended cab onto it, with a short bed? Just curious

 

i have seen 1/2 tons like that, best bet would be to find one of those and measure the wheel base. I would think you'd probably have to fab body mounts though.

 

I actually saw one with a short bed at work twice. I got talking to the guy and he said he swapped his long box for a short one with his buddy who runs an autowrecker. He said he cut the frame 15 inches and had to have a custom driveshaft made and have to fabricate new suspension mounts. It looked REAL good, if you didnt know any better you would have thought that the truck was stock. I wish I could've snapped a pic of it. Anybody know why Dodge didn't like short beds back then? . It might make turning around in the parking lot a little easier

 

You mean that you can turn aroun in a parking lot?
My K turns look more like multiple W's

Michael

 

late to reply, but better late than never I suppose. Maybe not.

Regular cab, long box Dodge truck is 131" wb, Club Cab Short box Dodge truck is 133" wb. Reg cab long box uses 2 joint drive shaft(1 piece), Club/short uses 3 joint driveshaft(2 pc w/ hanger bearing) It seems to me, that the last time I looked at this, there would be enough room in the "kick up" of the frame rails to accomodate moving the axle back 2 inches. Or, you could shorten the box 2 inches. I think moving the axle would be less work. . Ps, you need the hanger bearing. The driveshaft will "whip" if you add 2 inches. Thats why they went to 2 piece.

As for the reason Dodge never offered a CC/SB combo in a 250 with the Cummins: who knows, but the reason I heard most often was that it was a weight and balance issue. Too much on the front axle and it would be unstable during braking. My theory is they didn't want to have to build too many models.

Seems to me 98 was the first year you could get a Cummins in a shortbox truck.

 

Yes it was... as a matter of fact, I know of a certain '98 12v I've been looking at recently... ext. cab, short box, 4x4... Wish I could get my hands on it.