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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: GregLloyd1 on December 27, 2019, 04:20:37 pm

Title: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 27, 2019, 04:20:37 pm
Hey Y’all I need some help please.
I bought a 1979 GMC K1500 High Sierra SCSB stepside (according to my title). The front end appears to have a 84’ conversion done to it. It’s basically frankstein with miss matching year interior parts just rigged/screwed together.

Now frame down I’ve identified as 79-80 model year components and the VIN on my dash frame matches my title. The cab doors have a VIN belonging to an 84 GMC High Sierra (imagine it was a full front end donor conversion).

I just need help ensuring the cab is a 79 model before i start buying parts. Please let me know if any sure ways to tell or identify.


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Title: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 27, 2019, 04:41:49 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191227/f198e5aa676448e3d770208462381db3.jpg)

Here’s a photo of the truck when i bought it.
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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: VileZambonie on December 27, 2019, 06:38:54 pm
Depends on what parts you are buying. Post pics of the inside, dash, etc. Are the wipers on the dash or on the stalk? Lot's of parts will interchange and can be made to enhance your truck although most have been butchered
Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 27, 2019, 06:43:57 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/f0a6bdf8af49d42a4fe27f99d77af0ea.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/e681cb88e038e1510c364aa45f5f56ba.jpg)
Interior when i bought it


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: VileZambonie on December 27, 2019, 06:46:32 pm
So, looks like an 84 cab on a 79 chassis like you originally said.
Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 27, 2019, 07:08:40 pm
Interior doesn’t fit correctly though. Is there a way to know based off the dash frame shell?(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/8a3a34479f0fc7c3aed3b1d08bc6ee84.jpg)


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 27, 2019, 07:09:03 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/34903db3af55af928d168c4d09dafc22.jpg)


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 27, 2019, 07:09:22 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/dc876afd467a8f7d66ea4bff643e2f62.jpg)


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 27, 2019, 07:09:49 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/5cb3943ffb3de28b3424f4613ff27766.jpg)


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 27, 2019, 07:10:38 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/ad3003b5ec4796e2cad7046443779c05.jpg)


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 27, 2019, 07:11:50 pm
The VIN on that dash frame is to a 79’ so i imagine the cab was just retrofitted with the dash components?


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 28, 2019, 07:45:46 am
in 79 the wiper switch would be in the dash and the high beam switch would be on the floor. i doubt someone rewired the cab and hid the front clip conversion so good you dont see any patch work on the firewall. that being said the vin plate "might" not be the correct vin plate for that truck. i wouldnt really advertise this as you never really know whos watching......i also had a friend in high school that lost a truck because the vin had been swapped and someone extorted him into selling the truck or they would tell the state police because too many people knew
Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 28, 2019, 08:31:01 am
Ok idk i guess,
The high beam is on the stalk along with wiper control.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/fe47bbc70b6a01544f04b586d8b43940.jpg)


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 28, 2019, 08:31:29 am
Here’s the fuse box area
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/c8c9f45ef1e5b18c6de9c26f4b743e98.jpg)


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 28, 2019, 08:32:28 am
Here’s the fender wells to the firewall, are those gaps normal?
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/d5b6cf0bf0f92a7289b393facbaa419d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/437e87da8d51e4269e874c4cb3bcf4a0.jpg)


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 28, 2019, 08:34:12 am
Here’s the rearend/bed
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191228/1084eb9bff999c0818a93ba21564aa8b.jpg)


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 28, 2019, 08:36:36 am
I haven’t torn the carpet up yet to know if the high beam was originally floor mounted, but this trucks wiring can’t be trusted lol the guy basically spliced and rigged all the wiring! None of the dash instruments actually work correct. There’s tons of wiring unplugged in this thing.


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: VileZambonie on December 28, 2019, 08:47:32 am
There's a million of these trucks out there with cab swaps where the vin plate moves to the new cab. You will just need to go through and undo the butchery but you can fix it. If you want to keep the 84 clip just source interior parts for the 84 dash.
Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: VileZambonie on December 28, 2019, 08:48:35 am
Also a new wiring harness is available and can often be the best solution.
Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 28, 2019, 08:51:34 am
I’m doing a LS swap so i planned on rewiring the tragedy rats nest that’s in it lol. So we are thinking it’s an 84’ cab with the original 79’ dash frame? Or it’s a 79’ cab retrofitted with 84’ front and doors?


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: VileZambonie on December 28, 2019, 11:16:25 am
From what you have shown, it appears to be an 84 cab and front clip with a VIN tag swapped over.
Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 28, 2019, 01:22:01 pm
How would i be able to confirm that possibility? I checked the cab-frame mounts and they are the 79’ mounts. I can’t confirm what radiator support mounts bc they are in terrible shape!

Would anybody be willing to take a picture of radiator supports and your VIN plate (cover the vin numbers)?

Again thank you guys for the effort, I know this has been annoying.


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Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 28, 2019, 02:31:40 pm
you have to use the 79 mounts when swapping cabs. the 79 should have 13 digits in the vin while the 84 will have 17 this should mean the 84's vin plate is longer than the 79. if the holes in the vin plate match up perfectly and the rivets still look OEM (have flat sides not the typical round ones) called "rosette rivets". another possibility is that the dash itself was cut out and rewelded
Title: Re: Need help Identifying my model year!
Post by: GregLloyd1 on December 28, 2019, 02:57:12 pm
Thank you, that gave me my for sure answer I appreciate it


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