So I did a dumb thing, thinking of expanding on stupid

[Gearhead1]

When I originally started my R10 87 SWB project, I was going to hot-rod it and beefed up the frame by boxing it the way street rodders do. Unfinished and unmotivated, I cant seem to get rid of it.

10 years of sitting in my garage and my life direction has changed. Now I need to put together a welding truck to carry my 1500 lb welder on a flat deck. My question, is; Is it possible to convert this R10 to a R20 or R30 or would that need a frame swap?

[zieg85]

R10 and R20 have the same frame.  Put a 14 bolt FF and 3/4T rear springs and you have a R20.  R30 frames are larger in height

[VileZambonie]

Agree, just beef up the suspension

[Gearhead1]

Thanks guys.

I've located a running, driving K20 4 x 4 with a bad cab. Wondering if my 87 cab and front clip will work...seems to me, 73-80's had different inner fenders also?

Failing that, would I be able to swap the front suspension/transfer case into mine? (assuming rear axle and springs are a direct swap) Thinking this route + having a driveshaft made might be the easiest...

[dvdswan]

there always a reason to hang on to stuff. 

[Captkaos]

You didn't say what year the K20 was, but you can put the 87 cab on any model frame you just use the cab mount bushing from the donor.
Being a R (2WD) you may have clearance issues with the trans tunnel...  You didn't say what the drivetrain was.