69 with 90 frame?

[blk81shrt]

Hey guys,

I dreaming up a project after driving by a 69 short box the other day.

Could I without too much heavy surgury put a 69 short box body on top of a 90 short box frame? It would be great because I could use all the components like disk brakes and steering from the 90.

Sorry if this is a newbie question.

[babyJay]

Anything's possible with enough time, tools, and money. You could convert your 69 to 72 disc brakes and power steering. I think you're in for heavy surgery either way to say the least....

[ChevLoRay]

If the 69 is a leaf sprung frame, in my opinion, you've got nothing to gain in the quality of ride department. Sure, you'll gain disc brakes on the front. If you transfer all of the ABS componetry, you'll gain ABS. You'll also have to move the ECU and all other computer-related stuff if you are keeping the original engine/tranny. It's an OBDI vehicle, so unless you have the scan tool, it's really gonna be fun to sort out the possible trouble codes.

Why not just convert the '69 to discs, as was already suggested? It will be a lot less work, and the conversion won't affect the value like a possible transplanted chassis may affect it. May not, but then it may.

I wish my '96 had a coil-sprung rear end like my '69. Much better ride, and better handling.

[blk81shrt]

Hmm ya but I do not plan on having stock suspension on truck, probably go with a four link or similar. Also i would keep all the major components the same ie brakes, engine, etc. Would it be a big deal with all the trouble codes and such?

I know that it wouldn't be a direct swap, but I would like to have a fuel injection, power brakes and steering. They are upgrades that I would want to do to a 60's truck anyway. Can you blame me?

Even looking at cost break down- for a 87-90ish truck it would be probably less then $1500- no way could I get the all those parts (steering, brakes, efi)for any less then that. Also, it would be so much work to sort out the computer stuff to run EFI in a 69.

More to the point, does anyone know the logistics of a project like that? I mean what steps would I have to take?

I'm thinking that I would have to change all the mount locations for the body. Not such a big deal for the bed because I could easily raise the bed floor- or put in a custom wood bed. Under the cab I could weld new cab mount locations and to bolt the cab. One of the major issues that I see with accomplishing this project is that the rockers would be too high or low making the truck look funny like it had a body lift or something. Would I have to worry about this? Could I modify the floor of the cab to it look right?

[jd4300fel]

I put my long bed on a later model frame. it took lots of measureing and making sure things are level and where you want them. I was able to recenter the wheels in the openings and closed up a few gaps I did not like. I had to make all my own custom mounts and used several different body mount cushions to make it work

[blk81shrt]

Any pictures? maybe a build thread??