Wicked cool!!
I have been waiting to see someone do three cabs!!
Are you going to leave the rear most cabs door on to keep 6 doors or weld sheet metal and make it like a suburban?
I am interested to see how you get by the insurance and registration red tape with a whole new frame.
I was told that in making a new frame you are especially making a "new" vehicle and it needs to be up to date on all safety regulations. Airbags and ABS etc...
Of course I am out in BC and the govt like to get you coming and going. I have heard it's better to just "git er done" and deal with them in the I dint know manner. LoL.
Since you have the cabs disassembled to a degree I would suggest something I was going to do with a crew cab i was going to make.
Take the channel frame rails under the floor off and make one long one to run front to back. That way you won't have to try and line up cabs and have three cross members under each cab in the fronts to account for the cabs lift where the pedals at located.
Of course this means a little more sheet metal work in dropping the floor of the cab down to smooth the floor pan out but I think it would be better than having more stress and flex points between three cabs.
The CAT 3306 is a good motor. A lot of people rag on CAT engines saying they are throw away motors but I have run lots of equipment with them and have found them to be quite reliable and have plenty of power. Don't abuse them and they run forever.
I would also suggest power steering if you haven't thought of it. One from an old International will work quite well. Most sit above the frame rail that I have seen. Unless it is from one made in the 1980s.
Thanks for your reply
, I am replacing the entire floor and building a full enclosed roll cage. I have 5 kids and I want to insure they are protected to the best of my ability. Plus I want to put in a very large heated rear window. So when I started digging into things it made more sense to replace it with new steel. The channel/floor is being replaced with 2x4x.125 rec tubing for the permimeter and 1.5 x 1.5" x .100 square tubing cross members. 14 guage sheeting welded on the bottom and 14 gauge sheeting riveted on the top.
I looked into the regulations, admittedly there is a lot of "grey". From what I gathered, I am exempt from almost all of them as this is a personal vehicle and will not be used commercially. I do have to get it inspected. But I plan on putting on modern brakes, suspension, etc. So I am prepared for this. Or at least I hope to be.
CAT has had their dogs, but they have had a few triumphs. I was considering 3 engines. Cummins 6cta, 3306 and 3406. The 3406 was to big and heavy for what I needed it for. And I couldn't find a 6cta, they are not common up here at all. Lots of ata, but I wanted strictly no electronics. I am picking up a 300hp, 1100 ft/pd 3306C shortly.....That should do the trick nicely. There are few bad comments on the 3306, it is long and heavy, but has a very high reliability.
Funny you mention the power steering. I never thought of looking to the international side for parts. I was thinking about a Ford F550 or higher power steering box as the 3306 has a built in pump already. But admitedely would prefer to stay in the med duty truck side. Is there a specific model you would recommend?
) and she drew the line at that.
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