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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: jpatters13 on December 09, 2015, 10:18:03 pm

Title: 74 to 86 cab swap?
Post by: jpatters13 on December 09, 2015, 10:18:03 pm

20 years ago, I rebuilt a 1979 Chevy stepside.  I replaced the cab with a 1974 cab and retitled it as a 74.  I later sold it.  My 15 year old son has taken a liking to square bodies and I tracked down my old truck in the woods in Mississippi. 

The whole build is chonicled here: http://jpatters13.wordpress.com/74-chevy-truck-project/ (http://jpatters13.wordpress.com/74-chevy-truck-project/)

I now need to rebuild it a second time for my 15 year old son.  The cab is rusted beyond repair.  I found a very clean 86 cab.  I know that I will need to weld up the hood hings slots and the wiper grill holes below the windshield.  Are there any other issues that I will run into by swapping for the newer cab?

Help....

Title: Re: 74 to 86 cab swap?
Post by: Captkaos on December 10, 2015, 12:31:08 am

Are you keeping the front from the 73-80?  If so the front is easy..
For the cab, the only gotcha would be if you use the pre-83 setup,  wipers moved in 1983 and the mount isn't the same...  You can make it work though just use wiring from the cab...

Title: Re: 74 to 86 cab swap?
Post by: jpatters13 on December 10, 2015, 04:48:39 am

Thanks  The 86 cab is completely stripped...only a shell.  What do I need to do to use the pre-83 setup?  I want it to appear as if its's still a 74.

Title: Re: 74 to 86 cab swap?
Post by: Captkaos on January 01, 2016, 12:42:25 pm

In a nutshell, bolt the fenders on and swap out the wiper assembly and your done.

Title: Re: 74 to 86 cab swap?
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on January 01, 2016, 04:46:07 pm

This is an interesting and fantastic story.  i hear there is reality tv car show in planning stages that is just about this----people being reunited with their former cars.

Title: Re: 74 to 86 cab swap?
Post by: jpatters13 on January 19, 2016, 12:16:24 pm

I would love for the truck to be on a show like that.  I'm actually hoping that Chevrolet wants to do a story on it.  I can see it as a perfect 2017 Super Bowl Commercial where they hand me a set of keys to a new Silverado as a thank you for my passion for the bowtie!  8) ;D

Title: Re: 74 to 86 cab swap?
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on January 23, 2016, 11:41:07 am

i will try to find the link.

In the meantime, how did the cab get rusty just sitting there?

Oh, and as far as chevy giving out new cars, my cavalier has over 300K on it---they should give me a new Cruze. ;D

Title: Re: 74 to 86 cab swap?
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on January 25, 2016, 07:57:46 am

Here is the link:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/are-you-searching-for-a-long-lost-car-got-the-vin-if-so-we-need-to-talk.1003331/#post-11317328

http://www.theonesthatgotaway.com/

i mis-read;  It is in the planning stages and it's about people who haven't found their car yet.  But he is writing a book about this.