73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: brownonbrown on December 28, 2011, 03:33:40 am

Title: body swap
Post by: brownonbrown on December 28, 2011, 03:33:40 am
I have a 78 that I have done all the body work on and painted rebuilt engine ect and am thinking about swaping bodys on to a 4x4 chassis has anyone done this before major questions are i know the cabs differ from 2 to 4 wheel drive but could this issue be illiminated with a small body lift also are the body mounts the same on 73-80 and 80 - 87
thanks in advance
Title: Re: body swap
Post by: thirsty on December 28, 2011, 05:43:10 am
A body lift should give you enough clearance for the transfer case.
The body mounts need to be correct for the frame that you are using. Either 73-80 or 81-87.
Title: Re: body swap
Post by: bake74 on December 28, 2011, 11:35:14 am
     The other consideration is title.  Yours is titled as a c10, it should not be hard to title it as a.k10 if you have paper work for both trucks.
     That way in the future you will not have any problems getting it registered or if you ever sell it.
Title: Re: body swap
Post by: junkman. on January 03, 2012, 01:08:48 am
if your using a 73-80 cab & fenders on a 81-87 frame you will need to move the core support mounts on the frame and use the cab isolators for 81-87  for the front bumper cut the  78 frame horns and weld in the part missing from the 81-87 frame its no big deal  or you can use a 81-87 bumper

good luck JM
Title: Re: body swap
Post by: Blazin on January 04, 2012, 06:39:28 am
Have been swapped pre 81 cabs onto post 81 frames, and visa versa for 20 plus years. I have never had to move mounts on the frame.
Title: Re: body swap
Post by: thirsty on January 04, 2012, 09:04:15 am
I've done the swap for an 81-87 cab onto a 73-80 chassis twice and didn't have to move the mounts either.
Title: Re: body swap
Post by: brownonbrown on January 04, 2012, 02:55:33 pm
ok thanks for the replys guys so if the cab will bolt right in all I have to do is use the mounts for the core support from the 2 wheel drive frame o the 4x4 and cut a hole for trasfer case shifter. still looking for the right deal on a 4x4