new truck old sheetmetal

[67mater]

Anybody on here taken a late model truck and put the old body panels on it? thining of buying my brotehr's 01 silverado 3/4 ton 4x4 and put my 68 GMC body on it. All new everythign except the body panels. I've seen several very nice late model engine swaps, and 73-87 4x4 frames used, but anybody gone new or nearly new?

[ChevLoRay]

Why? Sounds like a lot of work to me. What do you hope to gain from all that would have to be done? I don't mean to knock your plan, but what is it about that combo that intrigues you the most? The '67-72 suspension rides better. You can buy just about anything that you need, short of a new cab in steel, so that only leaves the drivetrain....which can be transplanted, with or without the computer, depending on what you use and how it's connected.

[67mater]

A lot of work is tearing down and completely rebuilding; I know I'm doing it. the intrigue is in a completely modern drivetrain, computer controlled etc. truelly low mileage but with the classic look. the other point would be that if I did it again, I would source each body part seperate; pickign and fixing as required to combine a great body ratehr than trying to find that "diamond in the rough".

[thirdstreettito]

There was a guy who put a 68(?) GMC X-Cab on a 93 dually frame With not much problem.

[Shane]

"Not much problem" is a relative term based on someones ability, tools and pocket book.

It is a MUCH BIGGER job than it looks.

[Jtrux]

Do it and let us know how it turns out, I for one think if there is a will there is a way. Just do it.

[67mater]

if someone wants to buy my 67 4x4 for $5k, I'll by my brother's 01 and sacrifice my 68 GMC to do it.

[ChevLoRay]

Well, keep us posted....

Seriously, I see where you're coming from, but at my age I wouldn't do it. Still, my '69 is sitting in the driveway and on the other side of town. I don't have nearly enough expertise to do what I'm trying to do, and trying to do what you're talking about would never happen.

When I was younger, back in my VW days, I wanted a tube chassis that would enable me to mount a VW body shell. Within that VW body shell, I wanted to install a small block attached to a Corvair transaxle. My thoughts went so far as to even use (common for the day) exhaust tips exiting in the stock location to help with the disguise. Later, I thought about a rallye-cross vehicle using a Fiero rear engine/transaxle set up in the back with a Cavalier front drive engine/transaxle up front, all setting in a Chevette body. Two V-6's, sync'd together woulda made an all-wheel drive rallye car that I woulda just had fun with on the streets.

I guess the thing here is don't let me or anyone else dampen your desire to build what you dream. You never know when you're too old to dream.

[67mater]

I'd be the last to say I have skill, but I do have perseverance and I'm willing to try. I'm pretty much sold on the idea, but I need to finish up the current 4x4 truck (so I can have the garage back) and then likely sell it, or the novas and the impala, or all of it. Seems funny I would never had tried the idea if I hadn't rebuilt the 67 first, even though I say I'd do this way if I could do it again. Catch 22