Author Topic: new style to old style front end switch  (Read 3950 times)

Offline 79chevykid

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new style to old style front end switch
« on: January 30, 2011, 10:37:16 PM »
so iv got a 79 c-10 and the cab floor had more rust then i wanted to repair so i bought a cab off an 83 (dirt cheep) that is in beautiful shape,AC, floors are solid with a little surface rust here and there, the worst part is a dime sized hole in the cab corner that i will fix. but anyway i was wondering since i want to keep the older front end with the newer cab is there an easy way of doing this? has anyone done it befor, i tryed searching for it but only find the switch from old to new. thanks -kyle
1979 short box chevy custom deluxe (project)

Offline 87454westernhauler

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Re: new style to old style front end switch
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2011, 09:38:16 AM »
i did a new to old on my 87. you will have to change the wiper arm unit.
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Offline bake74

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Re: new style to old style front end switch
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2011, 12:57:01 PM »
     The hood hinges are different between 73-80 and 81-87, I am not sure if you can just swap out the front grill and headlights though.  There are several threads on here talking about swapping old to new, and new to old.
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom

Offline bake74

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Re: new style to old style front end switch
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2011, 01:01:06 PM »
     this one will get you started, just had time for a quick search.
 http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=16912.0
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom

Offline 79chevykid

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Re: new style to old style front end switch
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2011, 01:09:34 PM »
I tryed it out and it seems like the fenders fit pretty good.I have both sets of hinges still but I'm thinking ill use the newer ones since the holes are already there for them. What about the hood, as of now I don't have a hood and from what I have seen there is a better selection of newer style cowl induction hoods and back of the hood is different where it goes to the cab. will a new hood matchup to the old fenders?  -kyle
1979 short box chevy custom deluxe (project)

Offline nucknoel89

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Re: new style to old style front end switch
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2011, 03:12:31 PM »
I tryed it out and it seems like the fenders fit pretty good.I have both sets of hinges still but I'm thinking ill use the newer ones since the holes are already there for them. What about the hood, as of now I don't have a hood and from what I have seen there is a better selection of newer style cowl induction hoods and back of the hood is different where it goes to the cab. will a new hood matchup to the old fenders?  -kyle
If you're doing a 73-80 clip, ALL parts need to match that front clip.  You can't mix 73-80 and 81-87 hinges, etc.  As for the hood, they do make a cowl hood for 73-80s.  http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=4144-200-731&Category_Code=7H

Offline 79chevykid

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Re: new style to old style front end switch
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2011, 09:42:47 PM »
thanks, i did some research and i found the same thing about how the hood has to be the same along with all the front clip parts. im glad i dont have to do any major modification besides the wiper stuff, thought it would be alot worse. iv seen 4" cowl induction hoods for the 81-87 but not the 73-80 most places only have 2" but its not a big deal if i dont have the 4". 

heres some pics of the cab, the rust looks bad but is just on the surface, i just got done de-icing everything (the whole bottom had about 1-2" of ice)


1979 short box chevy custom deluxe (project)

Offline bake74

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Re: new style to old style front end switch
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2011, 07:05:23 AM »
     At least you are on your way, keep us posted..
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom