Cab differences???

[masterlock]

What are the differences between a cab for a 77 C10 and an 88 C10. The cab on my 77 was rotted out and the shop where it is wants to replace it with an 88. The cab looks almost identical as far as the the basic sheetmetal, My only concern is when it comes to all the interior stuff i.e. the dash and gauge cluster will it fit? Just looking for some reassurance that it will all work out for me without having to buy a whole new dash and so on.

[f.monroe]

That stuff will fit . The seat belts wont bolt directly in . They changed the mounting points and angles in 78 . The 81 and up cab will have the provisions for later style hood hinges. No problem since you wont be using them .There may be other differences but they are all minor . It should work with a little modification.
Frank

[80stepsideguy]

88 c10 is a totally different truck. I think you better check with this guy before you do any kind of cab swap.87 was the last year for the c10 IIRC on the body, they did have the square body for the blazers and suburbans 88-91.

thanks
pat

[GM72K10]

Originally Posted by 80stepsideguy

88 c10 is a totally different truck. I think you better check with this guy before you do any kind of cab swap.87 was the last year for the c10 IIRC on the body, they did have the square body for the blazers and suburbans 88-91.

thanks
pat

They also had square body cabs for 88-89 C30 cab and chassis, called R30/V30

[babyJay]

Originally Posted by masterlock

What are the differences between a cab for a 77 C10 and an 88 C10. The cab on my 77 was rotted out and the shop where it is wants to replace it with an 88. The cab looks almost identical as far as the the basic sheetmetal, My only concern is when it comes to all the interior stuff i.e. the dash and gauge cluster will it fit? Just looking for some reassurance that it will all work out for me without having to buy a whole new dash and so on.

If it's truly an 88 half ton, the sheetmetal can't look identical. And what do you mean by "almost"? Also, GM didn't make an 88 C10, in 87 they became R/V series trucks. One of my 87's is a V30 (4 wheel drive) and one is an R30 (two wheel drive).

[ont_guy_38]

He says the cab looks almost identical so I'm thinking he meant to type 87 not 88

[old Rusty C10]

if hes using your old doors with the new cab it will line up and work fine.... if he uses your old dash pad youll never know the difference ont he dash... the only mods i see happening if you have a stick and the other is automatic or if one has heat and the other AC

[GM72K10]

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

if hes using your old doors with the new cab it will line up and work fine.... if he uses your old dash pad youll never know the difference ont he dash... the only mods i see happening if you have a stick and the other is automatic or if one has heat and the other AC

not to be a wise guy Bob but 81-87 dash pads do not work in 73-80 trucks and vice versa

[old Rusty C10]

Originally Posted by GM72K10

not to be a wise guy Bob but 81-87 dash pads do not work in 73-80 trucks and vice versa

years back i had the 81 cab i put on the 76 frame and the dash pad worked fine.... Im pretty sure i laid the newer dash pad on the old cab when i sent it to the boneyard.... i do know there is the issue with the VIN tag

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by GM72K10

not to be a wise guy Bob but 81-87 dash pads do not work in 73-80 trucks and vice versa

Not true, had a 81+ pad in my 73..fit fine. The only real problem is for the guys with 79-80s as their VIN is on the dash as opposed to the door pillar like the earlier models.

[GM72K10]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

Not true, had a 81+ pad in my 73..fit fine. The only real problem is for the guys with 78-80s as their VIN is on the dash as opposed to the door pillar like the earlier models.

well then I would say that is a fitting problem lol

[motornut]

my 78 the vin is on the door(pillar,jam)
the pad from my 89 sub fits no probs in the 78(had to remove one slide in clip,hit the dash vin)
either door panels fit fine with either dash pad
i think there was a gap with old dash pad and new bezel
wipers and light switch move

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by GM72K10

well then I would say that is a fitting problem lol

no, not on my 73...VIN is on the jamb...dash fit perfect.

For the OP, the dash in his 78 won't work right in the "88"...I was just correcting the blanket statement about dashes not swapping period.

[masterlock]

Thanks for the reassurance guys. Whether it is called a C10 R10 or X10 i just wanted to know that it should all work out and it looks like that is the consensus. Besides the seatbelt mounting location there were no differences that I could see but this is my first truck project so I just wanted a second opinion.

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by masterlock

Thanks for the reassurance guys. Whether it is called a C10 R10 or X10 i just wanted to know that it should all work out and it looks like that is the consensus. Besides the seatbelt mounting location there were no differences that I could see but this is my first truck project so I just wanted a second opinion.

Year matters when you ask for help with no pictures. We all know there is no such thing as a 88 C10, but didn't know if YOU did...so they were trying to clarify in order to give you the best most accurate help.

[benoit454]

the wiper linkage is completely different, the holes are not lined up the new cab would need holes drilled and filled to make the older wiper linkage work, not to mention the hood hinge holes cut into the cab that would need filled. If you do a 81-87 front clip change then it would be no problem just use the 81-87 linkage. Not sure if the motors are different or not but another problem is the dash part, the switch for them is on the dash of the old trucks and new trucks its in the column. Not sure how that one would work out. Maybe you can use yours bezel on the newer pad? or use your pad and bezel. The door panels don't line up too great without the right dash either. meaning again 81-87 door panels and dash, or 73-80 dash and door panels. a/c or not effec ts dash and bezel. alot of small things.

[masterlock]

Not too concerned with having to patch up holes on the cab. Im already patching up the holes from the A/C and other misc. holes that are unneeded. As for the dash Im keeping my 77 dash, bezel and cluster and am using the doors from my original cab. The wiper linkage Ill have to look at.

[Jonboy]

84-up have the wipers on the column, vs. on the dash, and the light switch was moved up. Not a big deal, but the dash bezel will not work.

[big_b]

the front fender does not bolt up correctly. if you look at the old cab and the new cab at the upper cowl mount, youll notice its different. older style fenders mount differently at the top mount. its about a 1/2" difference.

[benoit454]

hmm ppl have put the 73-80 front ends on the 81-87 trucks never heard of there being a problem bolting them up. As for your dash and doors good choice, I lke them alot better and would make it easier for you too.

[big_b]

well maybe im full of **** or i have the only '83 cab thats different?
im doing a cab swap from a '79 to an '83. i tried bolting my '79 front fenders to the '83 cab and the top mount hole on the cowl did not line up. that mount affects your hood gap and lining the fender up flush with the doors. my '83 cowl did not have the ear that sticks off the top that the fender bolts to that the 79's have. maybe people just hog the holes out so they line up and dont think anything of it???

the other difference is the cowls with the hood hinges in them do not have the rear hood support that the '73-'80s have. (the support that keeps the back of the hood flush with the top of the fender.

[masterlock]

I guess I am just gonna have to go for it. It would cost me more in labor to replace the whole floor as opposed to replacing the cab. I guess I will have to report back to let everyone know how it all fits Ill be pretty disappointed if the 77 dashpad didn't fit.

[masterlock]

Ill be honest guys maybe it is an 87. To my understanding it is an identical cab minus the hood attachment. I will have pictures of it soon so everyone can get a good look.

[babyJay]

Originally Posted by masterlock

Ill be honest guys maybe it is an 87. To my understanding it is an identical cab minus the hood attachment. I will have pictures of it soon so everyone can get a good look.

That's good to hear because if it is an 87, then that makes everything a whole lot different. Keep us posted.

[masterlock]

Ok as promised I have pictures. After long inspection all I have found different in the cab is there is no hole for wiper controls (no big deal), the floor hump is different and the dash has a few extra holes but the 77 dashpad will fit so will the cluster. The wiper set up is different but not in any crazy way. Here are the pictures.