cab differences: 73-80 and 81-91 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

crosby · 10-10-2005, 05:02 PM

hello. I have an 87 cab on an older frame (77 or so) and a 77 K10 stepside I will be bringing home this weekend. The 87 cab is pretty decent, but the 77 is not. Will the newer cabs work with the older front sheetmetal? Is there any modification necessary? I want to use the 77 front end, and use the good 87 cab. Thanks very much for any help you can provide!

**Captkaos** · 10-10-2005, 05:07 PM

Yes it will bolt up with minimum modifications. The 81-87 wiper stalks are longer and will need to be swapped to the 73-80 versions to clear the hood. The 81-87 cowl will need to be removed also. There will also be holes left for the mouting of the original 81-87 hinges.

crosby · 10-10-2005, 07:10 PM

Hi Chris, thanks very much for the help. What do you mean by cowl, the sheet metal piece that goes over the wipers, and has the vents in it? That sounds pretty minor if all I have to do is swap to the older style. Great news, thanks very much!

**Captkaos** · 10-10-2005, 07:55 PM

Yes it is the piece that has the vents in it that the wipers goes through.

us111 · 10-11-2005, 01:12 PM

hello,,don't let me confuse you because i'm not positive but i thought the body line's were different somewhere along the line..maybe someone with more knowledge can say for sure..

crosby · 10-11-2005, 01:23 PM

Hi, thanks for the message. The marker lights were different, and in the earlier trucks, the line on the fender went down towards the ground towards the front of the truck. On the newer trucks, that line faded into the front without going down. If I understand correctly, the fenders were different, the hoods were different, and the cowls were different, but the cabs were essentially the same. Just like on the newer 88-91 one tons and Suburbans, etc., the noses were completely different, but the cabs were pretty much the same.

**Captkaos** · 10-11-2005, 01:30 PM

The actual body line was modified to fade into the fender, but the body line matches up all the way to the back of the truck. EVERYTHING from the fenders forward are different and will have to be changed out, but the cab is the same from 73-87 with some minor changes.

crosby · 10-11-2005, 01:39 PM

Thanks Chris!

ElGracho · 10-11-2005, 10:50 PM

Also, use the body mounts that match the year of the frame, not the year of the cab.

static22 · 10-11-2005, 11:16 PM

I think the wiring harness is a little different as well. If you are using the doors that match the cab then I don't think you will have any problems. The rest of the connections may plug right in but don't be surprised if you have to cut and splice a little.

10-10-2005, 05:02 PM	#1
crosby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 437	cab differences: 73-80 and 81-91 hello. I have an 87 cab on an older frame (77 or so) and a 77 K10 stepside I will be bringing home this weekend. The 87 cab is pretty decent, but the 77 is not. Will the newer cabs work with the older front sheetmetal? Is there any modification necessary? I want to use the 77 front end, and use the good 87 cab. Thanks very much for any help you can provide! __________________ Crosby 1978 Chevrolet K10 stepside NH

10-10-2005, 05:07 PM	#2
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Yes it will bolt up with minimum modifications. The 81-87 wiper stalks are longer and will need to be swapped to the 73-80 versions to clear the hood. The 81-87 cowl will need to be removed also. There will also be holes left for the mouting of the original 81-87 hinges. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

10-10-2005, 07:10 PM	#3
crosby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 437	cab differences Hi Chris, thanks very much for the help. What do you mean by cowl, the sheet metal piece that goes over the wipers, and has the vents in it? That sounds pretty minor if all I have to do is swap to the older style. Great news, thanks very much! __________________ Crosby 1978 Chevrolet K10 stepside NH

10-10-2005, 07:55 PM	#4
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Yes it is the piece that has the vents in it that the wipers goes through. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

10-11-2005, 01:12 PM	#5
us111 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ashland oh Posts: 660	cab hello,,don't let me confuse you because i'm not positive but i thought the body line's were different somewhere along the line..maybe someone with more knowledge can say for sure..

10-11-2005, 01:23 PM	#6
crosby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 437	Hi, thanks for the message. The marker lights were different, and in the earlier trucks, the line on the fender went down towards the ground towards the front of the truck. On the newer trucks, that line faded into the front without going down. If I understand correctly, the fenders were different, the hoods were different, and the cowls were different, but the cabs were essentially the same. Just like on the newer 88-91 one tons and Suburbans, etc., the noses were completely different, but the cabs were pretty much the same. __________________ Crosby 1978 Chevrolet K10 stepside NH

10-11-2005, 01:30 PM	#7
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	The actual body line was modified to fade into the fender, but the body line matches up all the way to the back of the truck. EVERYTHING from the fenders forward are different and will have to be changed out, but the cab is the same from 73-87 with some minor changes. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

10-11-2005, 01:39 PM	#8
crosby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 437	Thanks Chris! __________________ Crosby 1978 Chevrolet K10 stepside NH

10-11-2005, 10:50 PM	#9
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,550	Also, use the body mounts that match the year of the frame, not the year of the cab. __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

10-11-2005, 11:16 PM	#10
static22 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: oklahoma city Posts: 62	I think the wiring harness is a little different as well. If you are using the doors that match the cab then I don't think you will have any problems. The rest of the connections may plug right in but don't be surprised if you have to cut and splice a little. __________________ Shaved '77 Silverado Last edited by static22; 10-11-2005 at 11:17 PM.

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