I'm buying another one!!!

[nova801428]

Just found out I am buying an early 80's GMC 3/4 truck.  It has mold on the inside but that's ok.  The body looks really straight with absolutely no dents or no rust.  I am going to take a picture of it this afternoon.  This is to replace my old 75 Chevy.  It has no engine though.  I am taking my drive train and sticking it into this truck (this truck could be a 1/2 not sure).  I'll get some pics up after school.  Now, should I swap the body?  Or, swap my good components onto the other truck.   Oh, the guy only wants $200

[ccz145a]

I faced the same dilemma this summer and decided to put the new body on my old chassis. But my situation was probably unusual.

Facts:
I do not have a garage big enough for the truck, so all work is outside.
My driveway is very steep, so using a picker to move just engine and trans here is out of the question.
I do not like doing a major undertaking that may take months in the front of the house.

So, all work is going on in the backyard and I figured it would be a lot better to grab some friends to swap cabs and beds instead of trying to control an engine hoist in the grass on a slope. Plus I decided I liked the heavy frame from my '75 versus the '84.

Hope this helps.
Chip

[nova801428]

Thanks, here are the pics

[nova801428]

[werewolfx13]

Thats a nice looking project..its a 1980. The only year of the 73-80 body style to have square headlights, and not all of em had the square lights.

I would definitely swap the body over to your frame, assuming your frame is good. Be sure to clean up the frame thoroughly and paint it.

[nova801428]

Yeah, my frame is good.  How do you know?  Couldn't it be a 80-87 or is it for sure an 80?  The sticker on the inside of the door was removed.  No title...but who cares

[75 C20]

yeah its definately an 80. 81-87s had different front clips and 1980 was the only one with that type of headlight setup

[Fordeatinz71]

it's an '80 dude...that was the only year that had square headlights and it also got the "newer" looking gauges that year...not bad minus the little bit of rust.  i'd swap bodies...you will get into a lot of work trying to swap all the 4x4 stuff over...also, it's a 3/4 ton...

[nova801428]

Yep, while I remove my body I am going to check out the frame and make sure its all sound.  Other than that, I will be set to go.  Does anybody know about the light on the top of the cab in the rear?  On the second to last pic, it looks like an old light, any suggestions?

[Lt.Del]

Yeah my 79 has a cargo light.  If you don't want one, just throw some fiberglass over it before painting it.  If you want to replace it, I am sure  competitor.com has them.

[nova801428]

Is that a one  year option?  I would like to have either a brake light or a cargo light.  It would be cool.

[85MudMonster]

pretty good find for $200.

[nova801428]

I think so.  It was sitting at my moms work and I saw the front was sticking up, so I figured whoever owns it knows it does not have an engine and it has not driven in a long time.  So, they said $200 and I said I'll take it.  I would try to get them to take lower, but that alright.  I get to wash buses by hand.....yaaaaay!!!!

[JJSZABO]

If you want a brake light in place of the cargo light, Jeff from 73-87.com has a write up on the conversion.

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/garage_exterior.htm

Looks like a good project.  Good Luck

[nova801428]

The write-up is not working...