WELCOME TO RIVER DAVES PLACE

MADE MY OWN SLEEPER SHELL

MOUZER

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I like that your set up is longer than the regular ones. Looks to be about half the bed rather than 1/4. Nice job!!! Oh and by the way you might want to think about polishing your wheels…🤪🤪🤪🤪
yes its 4 ft shell 4 ft cover
 

DRYHEAT

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Yes sir, just as much as a wing on a Honda Civic
I always thought the boat guys copied the drag racer’s that used the wing as an air deflector over the big gooseneck trailers back before big time 18 wheelers and toterhomes.😊
 

gottaminute?

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so do you seal the lower part of the bed off when you do this too or are you supposed to sleep on an elevated platform at the base of the shell?
pardon all the crap in it as it was relegated to storing stuff for a while..
mine was done a lil different. the sleeper was built into the cab hi shell. the back wall of sleeper us between the long and short side windows.
the pass thru from the back seat is sealed with a boot. allowed you to throw your jackets, breifcase and stuff up out of the way. remember.. these trucks were no mega cabs. mine had the slider moved from the cab to the back of the sleeper for access if wanted. the guy that had the truck built went nuts with changes. 5 link rear on all bags. front has tubular/heim jointed control arms, drop springs and spindles, relocated steering box, later door handles, hidden hitch, shaved bumpers and more. could load spare race engine and parts, drum of fuel , throw 100psi in the bags. rode and towed awesome but i've knocked three a/c boxes off the firewall. a little too low. actually broke a lower a-arm on a manhole cover ( repave job and dropped off the ledge and caught the manhole cover a few feet later).
if they only would of put the proper drains into the electric sliding sunroof, the cab wouldnt be a rusty mess.
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. its been sitting for years. i just need to decide what ti do with it.
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Clank123

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Started running the sleeper shell in 1983 when I ran the 2.5 liter hydro, bought a new Ford in 1986 (17,000.00 fully loaded) and went no window sleeper, did a full shell in 1990, switched to an enclosed trailer in 1994 and bought a new Chevy in 1998. Got out of boat racing to do some vintage drag racing…bottom picture was 2003.
Just the first one was lowered, kept the other 2 stock…couldn’t afford to raise 3 kids, go racing AND trick out the truck!
Sure had some fun though!
Wife used to wheel the Ford with 3 baby seats across the back as her daily driver…never put scratch on it!

Mike, sure like what ya did with the truck!
Dig the shell!👍

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MOUZER

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thanks dave and love the old school pics
 

MOUZER

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yes i did everything in the garage the sides of the shell where the windows where still shows so i found a guy to fix my body work...then i will repaint
 

sirbob

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I loved my old sleeper!

3/4 ton Chevy with a GMC grill. When camp was a rickety trailer with a parachute for shade. Long before weekend warriors and 40 foot pushers were the norm.

I can’t even count how many nights I slept in that sleeper in the desert?

Love what you built for your old square body.

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monkeyswrench

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pardon all the crap in it as it was relegated to storing stuff for a while..
mine was done a lil different. the sleeper was built into the cab hi shell. the back wall of sleeper us between the long and short side windows.
the pass thru from the back seat is sealed with a boot. allowed you to throw your jackets, breifcase and stuff up out of the way. remember.. these trucks were no mega cabs. mine had the slider moved from the cab to the back of the sleeper for access if wanted. the guy that had the truck built went nuts with changes. 5 link rear on all bags. front has tubular/heim jointed control arms, drop springs and spindles, relocated steering box, later door handles, hidden hitch, shaved bumpers and more. could load spare race engine and parts, drum of fuel , throw 100psi in the bags. rode and towed awesome but i've knocked three a/c boxes off the firewall. a little too low. actually broke a lower a-arm on a manhole cover ( repave job and dropped off the ledge and caught the manhole cover a few feet later).
if they only would of put the proper drains into the electric sliding sunroof, the cab wouldnt be a rusty mess. View attachment 1213537 View attachment 1213538 View attachment 1213539
. its been sitting for years. i just need to decide what ti do with it. View attachment 1213540 View attachment 1213541
I may get shot for saying this...I'd put a stock 6.0/4L80 in it, just for the mileage and serviceability. Put some old Alcoa's on it. I would then proceed to drive the hell out of it!
 

JJ McClure

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No you won’t. Motor and trans choice is solid. 16” Alcoa’s don’t work any more. Even in my simpleton brain
 

monkeyswrench

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No you won’t. Motor and trans choice is solid. 16” Alcoa’s don’t work any more. Even in my simpleton brain
I'd want old Alcoa wheels...oxidized and all...not change the exterior of the truck at all. I'd want the interior "restored", and the drive train modern.

Flying by on Rice Rd, dim sealed beams and 1157 tail lamp bulbs...the ghost of Parker's past👻
 

MOUZER

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all done with truck even though it really dont need it im gonna have the truck repainted white and body work done on shell where windows where and repainted had the back cover done in diamond tuck.....
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evantwheeler

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I still dont understand the usefulness of a half bed shell, but love the can-do git er done ness of building one yourself. Does the interior pass through into the shell area? Is there a bulkhead in the bed beneath the shell hatch? Would love to see pictures of the inside of this setup.

I have a full shell on my personal truck, and I love it. Thanks for sharing.
 

MOUZER

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no bottom on the shell i can remove the cover and open the shell door and put the tailgate down and roll in 2 dirt bikes can carry alot still no u can not access shell from inside cab..all this is just for looks..and i can open tailgate and slide anything in there
 

DRYHEAT

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Flying_Lavey

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no bottom on the shell i can remove the cover and open the shell door and put the tailgate down and roll in 2 dirt bikes can carry alot still no u can not access shell from inside cab..all this is just for looks..and i can open tailgate and slide anything in there
I get what you are saying, but... you cant get 2 dirt bikes in there up against the front bulkhead of the bed. The shell is too low for the bars to fit inside it.
 

MOUZER

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I get what you are saying, but... you cant get 2 dirt bikes in there up against the front bulkhead of the bed. The shell is too low for the bars to fit inside it.
i meant up till handle bars hit shell and leave tail gate down they will fit but i dont ride anymore lol
 

Outdrive1

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I totally get the sleeper shell from my youth. Mousers is in between a sleeper and full shell though. 🤷🏼‍♂️ A shell should just be big enough to fit 4 15’s in it imo!!! Maybe it needs 8 15’s in it????
 
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