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Post by jkflash on May 2, 2014 5:57:54 GMT -7
I have developed a bad habit of allowing my mind to start thinking about something and letting it snowball into what some would call "incredible, million dollar ideas" and others would say a blend of crazy and stupid. I am wondering, those of you who haul a car long distances for a show, is the old style ramp truck cool? I have access to an old GMC box truck that could be converted to a ramp truck OR I could trim the frame and put a bed on it making it look like a lifted pickup. My dad hasn't driven the vehicle in some time and when I mentioned putting the bed on it he said "do it!" So right now I am torn between putting the Elky on a trailer on long hauls or building this ramp truck. I belong to a car club but their mentality of "F it! PUT A TURBO LS1 IN IT!" is getting kind of old and this group of guys seems to be a little more open to opinions.
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Post by jbailey on May 2, 2014 6:44:50 GMT -7
They are cool and its a good idea, but before you get started make sure you can get brake parts for the truck you're gonna use. Also check the gearing as most those big old truck aren't geared for long highway driving.
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Post by jkflash on May 2, 2014 8:38:43 GMT -7
As far as the brakes go, I just watched an episode of Extreme Off Road where they took a similar truck and outfitted it with F350 axles and made it 4X4. Don't know if I plan on doing that, I do know the overspeed light comes on at about 68mph. The trans is a 5-speed manual, not sure about the gearing in the rear diff.
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Post by jbailey on May 2, 2014 8:57:38 GMT -7
How long is the box part? Sounds like its an old cube van with a one ton suspension and axles.
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Post by jkflash on May 2, 2014 9:47:46 GMT -7
When I measured the box the other day it was 25 feet long. This has bigger axels than one ton, it is a 7000 series truck.
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Post by jbailey on May 2, 2014 10:04:23 GMT -7
Hoofta lol. Yeah, sounds like 2 1/2 ton. Does it have a 2 speed rear end? That should make for a great car hauler.
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Post by jkflash on May 2, 2014 10:14:28 GMT -7
No 2 speed rear. Not sure of the trans but I do it is a 5 speed, we only ever used gears 2-5 because I was always told first gear on that was only for very heavy loads. The engine is a 396 big block that was destroked. It isn't much to look at right now but I think it could be a great foundation to start with. I was thinking about the car hauler idea because I have a show vehicle that I don't drive the 7 hours to Minneapolis and lately I seem to be fascinated by the old ramp trucks. I also thought about shortening the frame and turning this into a pickup.
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