1980 GMC Crew Cab Question. 81 Cab?

[splehigh]

Hello everyone,
I recently bought a 1980 Crew cab 2500. According to the VIN it is an 80 crew cab 2500 but it has the newer 81-87 style cab and front clip. The slots in the cab for the hood hinges appear to be there from the factory. It also has the newer style 81-87 style dash.

So at this point I'm trying to figure out if someone swapped the vin tag or if its possible that it was a late production 80 that got the newer cab. I don't think that is possible but one could hope. Perhaps Keith Seymore could answer that.

The VIN is TCM24AB******

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[mongocanfly]

on my 81 chevy ,the blinker lights are in the bumper..is gmc is different ?..
how is the fit of the fender to the cab in the red circled area?

[sweetk30]

thats a 89-91 work truck style grill setup with 2 headlight .

81-82 only had turn signal/markers in the front bumper .

ether someone re-bodyed the truck or swapped a vin or gave you a bogus title . . .


and 1980 was about the change over year for the newer font style on the gauges for gm .

[Palf70Step]

My 81 GMC has the newer stuff on it too. It got in a fender bender with the first owner and they used an 85 for replacement parts I have the headlights/turn signals in the grill now and the later style bumper. I'd say someone did the same for yours either for looks and maybe a fender bender like mine. It is easy to swap over the radiator support and front bumper (or even whole front clip). 80 was a sort of changing year. I am not sure if 80 used the old style hinges or the later style hinges, but I know folks swap front clips out a lot with no issues. The wiring may not have even need changed or modified. I have since gone back to a 81 center grill, but left everything else the same.

[rod1701]

80 truck. 90 front clip. If it came off another white fleet truck, may look pretty close to a factory job.

[splehigh]

Well the VIN matches the title. I made sure of that before purchasing.
I'm thinking it was either a really good clip conversion or someone swapped the VIN from an 80 to an 89-91 cab.

[MJN]

Originally Posted by splehigh

Well the VIN matches the title. I made sure of that before purchasing.
I'm thinking it was either a really good clip conversion or someone swapped the VIN from an 80 to an 89-91 cab.

Is the VIN plate held on with factory rosette style rivets? Besides the front clip the mirrors have been changed and are from a van. Looks like its had quite a bit of work. You can also make the 81 and newer dash pad work in the older cabs, so look there for any adaptations made to make it fit.

[splehigh]

The vin tag does have the correct rosette rivets. I'm pretty sure those can be bought though.

I didn't notice the mirrors before.

I was looking at it again last night and realized it has the ECM behind the glove box. So it's definitley not an 80 cab.

Perhaps the year was wrong on the title?

[93M6Formula]

Originally Posted by splehigh

The vin tag does have the correct rosette rivets. I'm pretty sure those can be bought though.

I didn't notice the mirrors before.

I was looking at it again last night and realized it has the ECM behind the glove box. So it's definitley not an 80 cab.

Perhaps the year was wrong on the title?

You definitely have a mutt on your hands. That's an 89-91 Non-V22 grille and headlight bezels and everything else is definitely 81+. If it has an ECM in the dash, I feel like someone VIN swapped an 89-91 truck.

I think I would pull the dash pad and look for VIN tampering. If it truly has a 1980 VIN, the tag won't fit right under that dash because they are only 13 digit vs 17 digit on 1981+ vehicles.