Crown Vic chassis question

[46FordPile]

So I know the front suspension on the 03-09 Crown Vics are popular with the pickup guys... Do folks use the whole chassis / suspension for stuff? I am planning out a 74 C600 Cabover / pickup project, and wondering if the frames are at all a viable option for stuff. It looks like they get pretty wide in the body area, but beyond that - any thoughts on them?? I plan this to be a low cool cruiser like one I spotted from Asia.

[JWD]

Several guys on you tube swapping the short bed trucks and using the whole chassis and some using the long bed trucks and cutting the bed down to short bed length that's what i'm planning to do with my 68 F-250. Looks to be a pretty slick way to go.

[Old Stuff]

I'm sneaking up on obsession for the heavier trucks being built like the pic you show. They are freaking super cool. Give us some pics of the truck you'll be building!

[46FordPile]

Here's the cab I am starting with:

[46FordPile]

Gonna pick it up after spring break in a couple weeks... Have a line on a bare frame, and still need to sort out a proper stepside box. hoping to use Crown Vic front suspension, with 88-97 Cougar rear IRS. Should be pretty fun and unique. The origin of my obsession resides in Asia somewhere.

[46FordPile]

Couple more pics

[46FordPile]

My biggest head scratcher at the moment is how will I sort out the steering. The rack on the CV points toward the rear, and the shaft coming down from the cab is very likely forward of all of that. we'll see.

[JWD]

That's one beautiful cab you got there!!!

[46FordPile]

Thanks. It’s a 74 C600 from a low mile fire truck. Pretty stoked.

[Gene]

My biggest head scratcher at the moment is how will I sort out the steering. The rack on the CV points toward the rear, and the shaft coming down from the cab is very likely forward of all of that. we'll see.

And then make it work with the tilt cab? Should be a pretty big challenge. Most guys use a steering box from a motorhome, but those are steering boxes, not rack & pinions. Does the Crown Vic rack sit in front of the suspension (front steer) or behind the suspension (rear steer)? If its a front steer, maybe you can just rotate the rack so the steering column linkage points up? Gene

[46FordPile]

Yes it is front steer. Rotating might be a possibility