72 Body on 79 frame and running gear?
 

Hey guys, first post here, but been lurking for a little while. I have had a 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 for the last 2.5 years. I am a little different then you guys and i have mine lifted 6 inches on 40 inch tires. over the last year the truck hasnt been driven, the engine and tranny taken out, etc etc.

I've just inheritted a 79 3/4 ton 4x4 from a member of the family who has recently passed. It is fully running and functioning, it was his daily driver.

My initial thought was to put the engine and tranny in my truck, but upon inspection i've found a lot of rust in the frame, not to mention the 79 has power brakes and steering, air condition, and is just a little bit more practical.(and i LOVE 67-72 era trucks) So now i am thinking of removing the 79 body, and simply dropping my 72 body on top of the frame and all of its running gear and wiring, and building a new dash in the 72 to remount everything. I know i will need to relocate body mounts, but what else will i need to do?
Thanks Guys!

Re: 72 Body on 79 frame and running gear?
 

shorten the wheelbase by 4 inches, and create a custom body lift. Your old truck has a flat frame and the 79 has anything but flat. You'll need thicker ones in some areas and thinner ones alsewhere.

Re: 72 Body on 79 frame and running gear?
 

Metal fabrication is my strong suit. lets say i take the bed off the 79 and cut its cab off at the rear cab corners and the bottom of the a pillars leaving the floor and the firewall. My thoughts are to do this to both trucks, and then simply weld the 72 cab onto the 79 floor/firewall.

in terms of the bed, i'd like to keep the wheelbase all the same, center the wheelwell, and shorten the bed around that to make it look proper.

what do you guys think about this?

Re: 72 Body on 79 frame and running gear?
 

anything wrong with these thoughts guys?

Re: 72 Body on 79 frame and running gear?
 

the wheel base on a LWB 67 - 72 is 127 inches.
On a 73 - 87 it is 131 inches
You'll find a gep between the cab and bed. You'll want to relocate the rear end forward so you can place the bed where it needs to be.

Re: 72 Body on 79 frame and running gear?
 

i forgot to add vital info to my first post. the 72 is a lwb. the 79, a swb. so in theory, all i would need to do is cut it down to size and add in the gas filler, correct?

Re: 72 Body on 79 frame and running gear?
 

ahhh, gotch.
You may want to look up mudder and see if he has done his build thread. I spoke to him a couple years ago and he was telling me he wanted to do a build thread on his truck that he built quite a while ago. Not sure if he ever got around to it. (He built his like this) Also maybe poke around on the 4X4 forum, I'm sure others have done it too.