Need opinion

[chrpmaster]

I was talking with my little brother over the weekend and he is going to junk an 82 C10 4wd I gave him about 5 years ago.  It was kind of junker then and he did little or no maintainance so it doesn't run. 

I always loved that truck.  It had the 6.2 diesel with a 700r4.  I had it for many years and it has over 260k miles on it.  The body is rusted beyond all help but I'm pretty sure I could get it running again with a little work.  Since I gave it to him I bought and sold a 99 GMC Sierra and recently bought a 76 C10 in good original condition.   I cannot justify owning and fixing up both (especially to the wife) but wondered if it was worth it to swap engines and trannys.  Partially for fuel mileage and also cause I love that diesel engine sound.   I could salvage lots of parts but hate to part out a great old truck.

What would you do?  I have a limited budget of money and time.  Anything I do would have to happen fast because my wife would lose it if it was sitting around here for very long.

[TexasRed]

I didn't think that 6.2 gave much for mileage or longevity?

[chrpmaster]

I always got pretty good mileage when I had this truck.  High 20's on the highway was pretty normal.

[VileZambonie]

Since your wife wears the pants, ask her what she'd do 

What's in the 76 now?

[fitz]

82 C10 4wd I gave him about 5 years ago. 

If the 82 is a 4x4 I would try to get it running than do a body swap.

[Captkaos]

If you like the diesel and you have 2 trucks just swap everything over and convert it.  The diesel should give you really good gas mileage.  25mpg is not out of the question on a 2WD...  I am looking for one right now.

[chrpmaster]

Since your wife wears the pants, ask her what she'd do 

What's in the 76 now?

The 76 is 2wd with a low mileage 350 with th350. 

[chrpmaster]

If you like the diesel and you have 2 trucks just swap everything over and convert it.  The diesel should give you really good gas mileage.  25mpg is not out of the question on a 2WD...  I am looking for one right now.

I thought about doing that but am concerned its over my head.  I am not on the level of mechanical experience that many of you guys are and don't want to over reach on this project.  With a very busy family schedule I think a diff/rear axle swap may be pushing it.  Plus with summer coming on I need my truck operational for hauling chores.

So I will make a decision once I actually get the diesel over here so I can look it over closely.  I know the diesel has some miles on it but I think with some tinkering I could get it running again.  I also know most the brake lines are rotted out, the fuel tanks are shot, most of the electrical system is iffy and the list goes on.

I will keep you guys updated as this project progresses.  Unfortunately it will be slow for a while.

Andy

[chrpmaster]

It was a nice day and I had some time so I crawled under my truck and looked around.   I noticed a couple new things.  First I have a two piece drive shaft with some kind of bearing in between the two parts.  I was used to a single drive shaft and didn't know how this might complicate a tranny swap to a 700r4. 

Also I noticed an extension on the rear of my th350.  Somewhere on here I read about different length extensions and again didn't know if that complicated things.  I know the tranny on the 82 diesel is in good shape, I had it rebuilt by a good tranny shop and it has less than 25k on it since then.   If the dimensions are favorable and would make for an easy swap I may not mess with the final drive at all. 

What information should I look found out  on my truck and the donor truck to determine how tough a tranny swap would be?


Sorry for the newbie questions.

Andy

[Irish_Alley]

if they are the same bed size then just swap the drive shaft and do away with the Carrier bearing. you must have a long tail shaft on the 350 then again if they are the same bed swap every think over. or you could just swap engines and keep the trans in and get a drive shaft from the junk yard