The Stumpy Truck

[36Binder]

This story started in 2013.
I picked up a 57 GMC LCF (Lower Cab Forward) pretty cheap. One of the guys I worked with, (Named Stumpy) just had to have it. So I convinced him it would fit great and be a unique rig on a 1975 Caddy Eldorado that I had picked up a few years earlier. So I sold both of them to him and we pulled the cab off the frame and then removed the body from the car frame. I hauled the pieces out to another guy from work's house. Stumpy and Lee then cut the bottom out of the cab until the running boards were where they wanted them. They also cut 26 or 28 inches out of the frame between the torsion bar bracket and the rearend.

Stumpy lost interest in the project and was moving out of the state. I bought it back for about a third of what he paid. That was Spring of 2014. It's been sitting at my place ever since.

I decided it needs to go away and the best way to sell it is finish it and make it run and drive. I've talked about working on it for years but it is now in my shop and getting worked on.

I started this thread to help motivate me and provide a little entertainment for all you guys.

On to the pics

These were in Lee's shop in December 2013

 

[36Binder]

So here are a couple pics from November when I moved it into my shop. Not a lot on the exterior is going to change much. Not sure what I'm going to do for a bed yet either. I've got a couple of options. None of which are yellow

 

[lowbudget50]

I like it!!!!!!!-!!!!!!!!!

 

[36Binder]

And finally cab mounts. Stumpy never got this far. I've dreaded doing the front cab mounts for years. And yes they lived up to the PIA I thought they would be. I will do something with the core support/radiator mounts next days off. Seats are mocked up. Probably try to find something better. Those are just a random set I have sitting around.

The steering column was a source of many many hours of debates around the the lunchroom table years ago. It still is not exactly settled yet but I ordered more parts today to hopefully finally be able to steer this beast around.

 

[36Binder]

Edit: double post to add pics.

 

[zzrodder]

Cool[cl
Have you thought of the Steer Clear steering box drop? may help to get down to the Eldo box.....

 

[36Binder]

Cool[cl
Have you thought of the Steer Clear steering box drop? may help to get down to the Eldo box.....

Not yet...
Off to the Googles

Edit: It looks like a 16" drop will solve a lot of my issues. If I can get it squeezed between the engine and the cab mounts, and convince the wife it's the only way the truck will drive.

 

[skull]

[P[P[P

[[[

later

 

[DozerII]

Really cool truck [P[P[P[P

 

[blacksheep]

Love this project. That truck is very cool!

 

[endicott_jb]

Very cool build. I’m gonna try to keep an eye on this.

Side note, I always thought it would be kinda cool to take a FWD Cadi, drop a COE or LCF cab on it, bob the rear frame and weld a trailer straight to it. That way it sits lower than a normal rollback or ramptruck.

 

[BillM]

This looks like it's going to be pretty cool! I'll be watching...

 

[36Binder]

Very cool build. I’m gonna try to keep an eye on this.

Side note, I always thought it would be kinda cool to take a FWD Cadi, drop a COE or LCF cab on it, bob the rear frame and weld a trailer straight to it. That way it sits lower than a normal rollback or ramptruck.

This option has been discussed at length over the years.
Probably not very realistic to happen now. My timeline for this build is pretty short. But I do have another mostly complete 75 Eldorado for parts.

These pictures were taken in early 2014 before Stumpy quit the project. I tried to use them to inspire him. LOL. It's a caddy welded to a trailer that a furniture store used to use as a delivery vehicle

 

[joedoh]

my brother and I talked about this around christmas, he wants to use a GM motorhome chassis because it is wider than a car and has airbags to drop the rear of the frame section low enough to just drive on. FWD caddy drivetrain too.

stumpy is cool!

 

[05snopro440]

my brother and I talked about this around christmas, he wants to use a GM motorhome chassis because it is wider than a car and has airbags to drop the rear of the frame section low enough to just drive on. FWD caddy drivetrain too.

stumpy is cool!

The GMC motorhomes used the Olds motor, I believe everything else was the same between the Olds and Caddy though.

 

[05snopro440]

The Steer Clear can be clocked too, so it doesn't need to go straight down and you can fit it wherever you need to. It might be the best solution for you. This is a very cool build, I'll be following!

 

[36Binder]

Last night after work I cut down a 2x6 to mock up a Steer Clear. I think I can make the 12" one do what I want. But damn it's a tough pill $$ to swallow.
I gotta decide soon so I can have parts by Tuesday to work on it this next days off.

 

[05snopro440]

Posies has a version too. http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/super_slide_springs/featured_products/offset-steering-box/

 

[endicott_jb]

This option has been discussed at length over the years.
Probably not very realistic to happen now. My timeline for this build is pretty short. But I do have another mostly complete 75 Eldorado for parts.

These pictures were taken in early 2014 before Stumpy quit the project. I tried to use them to inspire him. LOL. It's a caddy welded to a trailer that a furniture store used to use as a delivery vehicle

Back before I moved up here to Mt, I spent a bit of time in CA and went to an all VW car show. There was a guy there who had took a 4wd pickup, welded a trailer to the rear and just ran the front axle. Thought it was a neat idea but was about the same height as a ramp truck so it didn’t really help with lowered cars.

 

[36Binder]

Posies has a version too. http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/super_slide_springs/featured_products/offset-steering-box/

Thanks for the link. Nice to know the options.

I figured a 12" would be the best option for me.
The one you linked in 5" is a better price but not enough length. Their 10" is spendy though and probably not enough