motorhome convert to pickup

[stevecobb76]

I got this 1990 chevy 30 class c motorhome w/ van front clip. it has been through **** and the roof has been pounded with limbs falling out of trees. Lots of water damage well beyond repairable.
but it is a 1990 6.0L 366 tbi big block V8 1 ton dually chassis with less that 30k miles! So...

(can you smell the smoke yet??)

it would be far more useful as a pickup rather than a lawn ornament.


If I cut off the motorhome body and haul it to the dump. I could put a pickup body on it.
I don't know about the wheel base yet and how the measurements would line up putting a dually bed on it too here is the vin if anyone could help me out on the wheel base / frame measurements and my options, that would be great!!!
2gbjg31k6L4154290

 

[bcp]

Most I see must have a longer axle-to-cab distance than pickups.

Found these examples:

Ford van dually centurion

1978 Dodge Dreamer 1 Ton Dually Van - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2164690/1978-dodge-ram-van-150?rp=1

GMC C4500 4×4 Crew Cab Dually Pickup with Kodiak Cab Over Camper | Truck Camper HQ

Bruce

 

[4570Man]

You might need to shorten the frame a little, but seems like a good project.

 

[stevecobb76]

This is a 1 ton frame correct????

You might need to shorten the frame a little, but seems like a good project.

is there anything else that I need to worry about other than shortening the frame?
I could leave frame like it is and just put a flat bed on it too! from what I read, the body mounts are all the same on the frames.

 

[mikefromnh]

Start hacking away. What could go wrong?

Maybe you'll get lucky and be able to throw some oak planks on the existing sub floor for a flat bed.

 

[4570Man]

Making the cab water tight might be the hardest part.

 

[Tig]

I see flat bed, stake truck potential.
The skin of the old RV will probably be aluminum, which has good scrap metal value.

 

[4570Man]

My uncle has a Chevy 3500 truck with a dump bed. We have been using it to haul wood. It is at the house if you want any measurements off it.

 

[jaotguy]

fun project no matter which way you go !....

I say mock up / mount the box .... flare the rear fenders to clear the dualies ... then figure out where the rear of the cab will be ....

a piece of 1/4" plywood to fill in the missing back , some fiberglass cloth and resin , body filler and paint ...

if you have a cab to box void , stuff in a work box to store tools and lock up other items ...

 

[NC419N]

I have seen several types of those van body conversions around here mostly flat bed's with fiberglass coated sealing off of the cab. You never know until you try it out. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[stevecobb76]

the c/k 30 frame is = a 3500 = and the 3500 only came in a 1 ton model??? this true or false????

and what I have read online, in 1990 chevrolet was using the c/k frame for the non-complete commercial fleet vehicles. And it came as a c10, c20, or c30 and also the k option being 4 wheel drive. and that is what was sold to company's like four winds rv manufactures
so what I can gather from all of this is that I have the same thing as a chevy 3500 1 ton heavy hauler pickup w/ xl extended frame
& the option to make it 4 wheel drive using parts from a k frame in the future!!!!!!!!!
Who needs gas mileage anyways??????

Request to everyone: can I have some gas mileage for Christmas?

fun project no matter which way you go !....
if you have a cab to box void , stuff in a work box to store tools and lock up other items ...

I like that idea!!!! like a tow truck tool box or gang box between bed and cab

 

[bucktaker]

most likely a 350 not a 6.0 .....All chevy MH of that vintage were small blocks

 

[stevecobb76]

I can only find glove box info sticker. nothing under hood at all. nothing on door jambs at all.
here is what is printed on glove box sticker:

service parts identification
2gbjg31k6L4154290

p- sch-item w/b model
s 188 0501 146.0 g 31632

c60

gt5

k68

m40

n33

r6p

slm

vxt

x88

yd6

zw9

8e2

82w

c7c

jb8

lo5

na4

qa3

r8t

tgk

v73

yd3

yhp

oiu

82i

9w2

GQ1

k34

mx1

na5

r6e

sca

ul5

xhp

yd5

zq3

wa-
700u95

C60 : HVAC SYSTEM
GT5 : AXLE REAR, 4.10 RATIO
K68 : onan GENERATOR,105 AMP
M40 : TRANSMISSION, AUTO 3 SPD, TORQUE CONV VAR 1
N33 : STEERING COLUMN, TILT TYPE
r6p : not found
slm : not found
vxt : not found
x88 : not found
yd6 : not found
ZW9 : g30 extended wheelbase (according to https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/do...formation-kits/G-Van/1995-Chevrolet-G-Van.pdf )
8e2 :
82W : TRIM COMBINATION, VINYL, DK MED GRAY (W)
C7C : GVW RATING, 10500 LBS________________<<<<<<<<< 1 ton????
JB8 : 8RAKE, POWER, DISC, DRUM 10000 LBS
L05 : ENGINE, GAS, B CYL, 5.7L, 1 TBI, V8...hmmm 350... nice...
NA4 : EMISSION SYSTEM, GVW,AB0VE 8500 LB
QA3 : WHEEL, 16 X 6.0, STEEL
r8t : not found
tgk : not found
V73 : ANTENNA, FIXED
yd3 : not found
yhp : not found
01U : PRIMARY COLOR, EXTERIOR, SPECIAL, (91)
82I : INTERIOR TRIM, MED DK GRAY (91)
9w2 : not found
GQ1 : AXLE, STD RATIO
K34 : CRUISE CONTROL, AUT0MATIC, ELECTRONIC
MX1 : MERCHANDISED, TRANS, AUTO PROVISIONS
NA5 : EMISSION SYSTEM, FEDERAL, TIER O
r6e : not found
sca
UL5 : RADIO, DELETE
xhp
yd5
ZQ3 : SALES PACKAGE, DRIVER CONVENIENCE II

thank you K7LN for helping me with the missing rpo codes below!!!
r6p = Sales control item
slm = Sales processing stock item
vxt = Vehicle - incomplete
x88 = Market brand - Chevrolet
yd6 = Spring rear Base equipment
8e2 = Front seat delete
r8t = Sales control item
tgk = Color combination - solid, special paint
yd3 = Axle (base equip) for scheduling GVW plate
yhp = Tire rear - LT225/75R16/D BL R/PE ST TL ALS
9w2 = Color - polar white
r6e = Sales control item
sca = Plant code - Scarborough, Ont, Canada
xhp = Tire front - LT225/75R16/D BL R/PE ST TL ALS
yd5 = Spring front - Base equipment

 

[AaronS]

Subscribed. I want to see how this turns out.

 

[stevecobb76]

to remind myself,
I measured 166" wheelbase center to center +/- 1" for brothers lack of knowing how to hold a friggin tape measure tight!!!!

also 8 lug 6.5" bolt pattern front and rear.
and g30 according to the rpo sticker
and gvw 10500
does this make it a 1 ton 3500?

when the downpours stop here in tampa florida for more that 2 minutes, I will get the sawzal and start cutting!!!!

 

[franklin2]

I have seen one of these running around where I live. Like someone else said, building the back wall of the cab is going to be the hardest part. The bed is easy, I would make a flat bed for it.

 

[boggen]

you might get a few bucks more out of fridge, sink, stove, generator if there is one some place on it, maybe A/C unit as well via craiglist battery bank / charging system might be nice to keep and/or sell.
the water pump for sink/shower, you might be able to re-use as a "12v electrical sprayer pump"

 

[Farmerford]

Steve:

I only hope you have some young children to embarrass when you pick them up after school in that thing. I once had a decrepit Isuzu SUV that smoked so bad that my daughter would walk two blocks from school to be picked up so her friends would not see her get in it.

 

[EddieWalker]

Go for it. I'm looking forward to following your progress

 

[stevecobb76]

p- sch-item w/b model
s 188 0501 146.0 g 31632

I decyphered this part of the rpo sticker from here..
http://gmupfitter.com/files/media/photo/163/2000_LD_GeneralInformation.pdf
hopefully this will help someone else with decoding this stuff.

and w/b is wheelbase. 146" is not close to the 166 that I measured. So I guess that means that four winds rv company extended the chassis.... or just moved the axle back 20" ish