Body swap questions '89 to '82 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kevinr1970 · 07-22-2013, 04:02 PM

I am getting ready to start pushing forward on a body swap on my very rusty '82 2wd K5, complete front clip and all.
I have an '89 GMC Jimmy that is rust free (motor shot, hasn't ran in maybe 10 years).

Looking for advice and things I might need to watch out for.
I intended to use the harness's from the '89, but what problems could I run into with that? The '82 has AC, and really nothing else; the '89 is fully loaded. '89 is TBI, but I will be running a carb'd engine (maybe TBI later, or maybe 6.0l further down the line).
I will probably keep the low-hump from my '82 body and cut out the floor around it (bolt-in hump, '89 hump is not removeable), but one reason I would do that is I have a brand new low hump carpet kit. On the '89 the floor is cracked around the seat mounts so I need to do some floor work anyways.

Any other considerations I should take on doing this swap?
Any thing I should keep off the '89 chassis that I will need later down the line to finish swap; I want to take the chassis directly to the scrapper?

Thanks in advance!

hyatt · 07-22-2013, 04:15 PM

you would be a lot better off putting a engine in the 89 Totally different frame and body

kevinr1970 · 07-22-2013, 04:24 PM

The '89 is a 4x4 and the '82 is 2-wheel drive; I want to keep the 2-wheel drive. '82 is the last year for the 2-wheel drive.

Body (tub) is the same, only thing different is the core support and headlight set-up. Fuse block is different so harnesses are different which is why I would keep those.
Doors, fenders, tailgate, etc are all the same as far as I know.

Maybe I am not understanding what you are referring to?

hyatt · 07-22-2013, 04:27 PM

my mistake thought you were working on a truck They are different

kevinr1970 · 07-23-2013, 06:34 PM

Maybe I should have put K5 in the title

So no one else, this a pretty straight forward deal?

Jonboy · 07-23-2013, 06:49 PM

The only frame change I know of was between 77 and 78, when the rear floor changed. Just me, but I would leave the high hump and buy a new carpet.

kevinr1970 · 07-23-2013, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy

The only frame change I know of was between 77 and 78, when the rear floor changed. Just me, but I would leave the high hump and buy a new carpet.

That is the way I am leaning, but... I have to fix the floor anyway...
I am not a welder, so that decision might come down to how much I will get charged to do the additional work?

07-22-2013, 04:02 PM	#1
kevinr1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,316	Body swap questions '89 to '82 I am getting ready to start pushing forward on a body swap on my very rusty '82 2wd K5, complete front clip and all. I have an '89 GMC Jimmy that is rust free (motor shot, hasn't ran in maybe 10 years). Looking for advice and things I might need to watch out for. I intended to use the harness's from the '89, but what problems could I run into with that? The '82 has AC, and really nothing else; the '89 is fully loaded. '89 is TBI, but I will be running a carb'd engine (maybe TBI later, or maybe 6.0l further down the line). I will probably keep the low-hump from my '82 body and cut out the floor around it (bolt-in hump, '89 hump is not removeable), but one reason I would do that is I have a brand new low hump carpet kit. On the '89 the floor is cracked around the seat mounts so I need to do some floor work anyways. Any other considerations I should take on doing this swap? Any thing I should keep off the '89 chassis that I will need later down the line to finish swap; I want to take the chassis directly to the scrapper? Thanks in advance! __________________ 2009 Honda Fit CfC (bsf 44.9 mpg) 2000 Tahoe Limited 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 2wd, will end up swb, not dually and replace CCswb below 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 4x4, just going to fix things up for now 1982/1989 K5/GMC Jimmy 2wd 1987 GMC 1/2 ton swb 2wd Crew (sold)

07-22-2013, 04:15 PM	#2
hyatt Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: sparta tennessee Posts: 345	Re: Body swap questions '89 to '82 you would be a lot better off putting a engine in the 89 Totally different frame and body __________________ 1946 car hauler 1948 surburban 1937 chevy sedan 1940 olds sedan (project) 1967 ss396 chevelle 1999 dually crewcab(24000 miles)

07-22-2013, 04:24 PM	#3
kevinr1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,316	Re: Body swap questions '89 to '82 The '89 is a 4x4 and the '82 is 2-wheel drive; I want to keep the 2-wheel drive. '82 is the last year for the 2-wheel drive. Body (tub) is the same, only thing different is the core support and headlight set-up. Fuse block is different so harnesses are different which is why I would keep those. Doors, fenders, tailgate, etc are all the same as far as I know. Maybe I am not understanding what you are referring to? __________________ 2009 Honda Fit CfC (bsf 44.9 mpg) 2000 Tahoe Limited 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 2wd, will end up swb, not dually and replace CCswb below 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 4x4, just going to fix things up for now 1982/1989 K5/GMC Jimmy 2wd 1987 GMC 1/2 ton swb 2wd Crew (sold)

07-22-2013, 04:27 PM	#4
hyatt Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: sparta tennessee Posts: 345	Re: Body swap questions '89 to '82 my mistake thought you were working on a truck They are different __________________ 1946 car hauler 1948 surburban 1937 chevy sedan 1940 olds sedan (project) 1967 ss396 chevelle 1999 dually crewcab(24000 miles)

07-23-2013, 06:34 PM	#5
kevinr1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,316	Re: Body swap questions '89 to '82 Maybe I should have put K5 in the title So no one else, this a pretty straight forward deal? __________________ 2009 Honda Fit CfC (bsf 44.9 mpg) 2000 Tahoe Limited 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 2wd, will end up swb, not dually and replace CCswb below 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 4x4, just going to fix things up for now 1982/1989 K5/GMC Jimmy 2wd 1987 GMC 1/2 ton swb 2wd Crew (sold)

07-23-2013, 06:49 PM	#6
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	Re: Body swap questions '89 to '82 The only frame change I know of was between 77 and 78, when the rear floor changed. Just me, but I would leave the high hump and buy a new carpet. __________________ 1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241

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