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Author Topic: Early 80's truck on a newer frame?  (Read 21863 times)

Offline fsujammer

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Early 80's truck on a newer frame?
« on: December 19, 2011, 11:18:41 am »
Has anybody ever looked into putting an early 80's truck on a newer truck frame?  I am asking because I think it would be awesome to have a 1980 k30 body with the frame off some of the newer pickups with a Duramax/Allison powertrain.  I know you can probably drop a duramax in a k30 with its original frame but would like the better ride and stiffer frame of a newer truck.

Any input would be great.
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Offline 78 Chevyrado

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Re: Early 80's truck on a newer frame?
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2011, 02:33:38 pm »
I've seen it done once, and if I remember correctly  the only problem is that almost all of the frame will be visible from the side of the truck, under the doors.   kinda looks like a truck with a HUGE body lift.

I was also hunting up doing something like this, but seeing so much of the frame turned me off of it.  I'd love to have newer everything under mine too.  Only thing I really want to keep original from my 78 C20 is the body itself, everything else can be as new as possible.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2011, 02:35:24 pm by 78 Chevyrado »
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Offline Isaac3384

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Early 80's truck on a newer frame?
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2011, 03:49:47 pm »
If you're going through all that trouble, what would be wrong with dropping your body mounts and reworking some of the trans tunnel? The frames on the 73-87 are fairly tall, and suck up nicely inside the body, so, with a little modification, the newer fame should too... The body mounts probably won't line up right anyways, so dropping and moving them shouldn't be too hard. I'm also assuming there is a gap between the bed and frame, as well as room to lower the core support mounts...essentially, you'd be body dropping the truck a little...lots of work, but so is the drivetrain swap...
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Offline bake74

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Re: Early 80's truck on a newer frame?
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2011, 10:28:02 pm »
      I think the drive train swap would be easier in my opinion, though I have to admit I have done alot of axles, and drive trains over the years.
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Offline snibook7537

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Re: Early 80's truck on a newer frame?
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2011, 12:12:57 am »
Just curious but wouldn't you prefer the Dana 60 under the truck? I thought, maybe (probably) I am wrong but I thought the general consensus was that the solid axle is a way better design than an independent front.  Or are you just talking about for the comfort of the ride on a normal road?
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Offline nucknoel89

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Re: Early 80's truck on a newer frame?
« Reply #5 on: December 24, 2011, 11:10:38 am »
There is a fair amount of fab work required but it could definitely be done.  This was a feature in Truckin' a few years ago, a '66 C10 on an '06 3/4 ton frame, with a Duramax.
http://www.truckinweb.com/features/0812tr_1966_chevy_c10/index.html
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