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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: seventyx3 on December 22, 2008, 12:25:28 am

Title: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: seventyx3 on December 22, 2008, 12:25:28 am
I want to put a 1974 3/4 ton body on a 1973 1/2 ton frame. Will I need to make any modifications?  Both trucks are 2wd.   Thanks
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: Dragon on December 22, 2008, 12:54:44 am
No real difference when they are around the same timeline(The Later Year Trucks from '81-87 or so, not only got an exterior redesign, but also some frame tweaks here & there), and share basic suspension setup(If swapping a 2wd to a 4wd, or vice versus, then there is a Trans Tunnel differences)...
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: 80stepsideguy on December 23, 2008, 09:52:00 am
If i`m not mistaken the only differences were the leaf springs and the front hubs and spindles and rearends were the only differences between the 2.Otherwise they were the same as far as frames and control arms and springs.If you were going to go from a 1 ton to a 3/4 ton i think they were different as far as the parts mentioned.

thanks
pat
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: Captkaos on December 24, 2008, 10:48:57 am
It is a bolt on.  You HAVE to use the frame specific mounts though.
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on December 25, 2008, 12:19:59 pm
If i could stretch the question out further, mainly due to curiosity reasons, how about 1ton chassis cab to 1/2 frame.

i ask because i noticed that the 1 ton chassis cab came with bucket seats, so is the floor of the 1 ton's chassis cab (vs 1/2+3/4 "regular" cab) different?

Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: choptop on December 25, 2008, 01:28:39 pm
I dont think so, I think the only difference in cabs is the center hump between the 4x4 and the 2wd.
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on December 25, 2008, 09:50:50 pm
In that case, i'm thinking that it is possible to put bucket seats in any pickup----assuming you can find some buckets out of a 1 ton chassis cab?

This is without any drilling or fabrication on brackets?
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: Blazin on December 25, 2008, 10:21:05 pm
Not all cab and chassis came with bucket seats. I would even go so far as to say that there were more 1/2 tons offered with factory buckets than 1 tons. Also the cab and chassis cabs are identical to a 1/2 or 3/4 ton cab. the only floor differences are 2 wheel drive SM456, & all 4x4s have a high center. 2 wheel drive autos, and three speed standards have a low floor center.
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on December 26, 2008, 12:17:23 pm
i have(as you may know) an 83 and clearly it shows in the owner's manual and factory service manual that the chassis cab could come with buckets.  i always thought that 83's pickups never came with buckets and that the only way to put them in is to select seats from whatever car/truck with buckets, and then make your own brackets to adapt to the trucks floor?  But apparently this is not true.

This is news to me.
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: Blazin on December 26, 2008, 07:55:27 pm
I didn't say they did not come with buckets. I said it was not as popular as the 1/2 tons with buckets. Except worded differently!
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: seventyx3 on December 27, 2008, 10:19:58 pm
How about a blazer or suburban?  Will either of them fit on a longbed pickup frame?
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: Captkaos on December 27, 2008, 10:32:44 pm
Neither the Suburban or Blazer will go on a LWB frame.  Both are too short. and the frame isn't anything close to the same.

Of course with a welder and a sawzall, you can put a Corvette on a LWB frame...
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: Captkaos on December 30, 2008, 11:35:10 am
Finding bucket seats in a 1T truck is going to be harder than finding a 1/2T truck with buckets.  Regardless of where you find them (on a 73-87 pickup) you will still have to get the mounting tabs that are welded to the floors.
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: seventyx3 on January 03, 2009, 08:34:47 pm
Is it a direct bolt on to put a 77 4wd 1/ ton cab on to a 73 2wd 1/2 ton frame? 
Title: Re: 3/4 body to 1/2 ton frame
Post by: Blazin on January 04, 2009, 02:51:24 pm
The cab is a direct fit. If the 1/2 ton is a standard shift the floor will be the same. If it is a 2 wheel drive then the floor center will be higher, but will not cause any problems. If the 73 is an auto and the 77 not you will need to either install a floor shifter or swap the column.