Upgrading a 78 2wd with 85 4x4 parts

[macrod]

I purchased 2 blazers for 1k, a 78 2wd and a 85 4x4, the 78 has a 350 with a granny low 4sp, no power door lock, windows or AC. The 85 has a 350 with auto trans, power doors windows and AC. I would like to fix up the 78 with the parts form the 85, I want to retain the 4sp for towing purposes but other then that, everything else will be upgraded. My questions are as fellows:
1, Will the 85 body fit on the 78 frame
2, If not, what parts from the 85 will fit on the 78
3, How rare are 2wd’s with 4sp (I have only seen one other)
4, What is the best way to lower the 78

Thank you for all your help and if you have any other info/items I need to know about please include in thread.

[loblazer]

I am not sure about the body swap, should work, but all the other stuff should be ok. I have a 1980 2wd with a lot of 1986 and 1990 stuff on it. Everything pretty well bolts in. My 1990 seats were different bases than the 1980 as the passenger seat slides instead of lifts up but I just drilled new holes.You may have some pulley alignment issues when adding the A/C, it took me a while and a lot of shimming to get mine lined up. I may go to serpentine later.
I imagine the 4 speed is rare.
Good luck
Doug
Oct 2004
Truck of the Month

[macrod]

As I stated the 78 came with no air and no power windows or door locks, so I was wondering if I will have to replace the harness to accommodate the new powered items. I don’t have time to make things work, I am hoping for everything to plug and play. What are your experiences upgrading? I was told that the body is way to heavy to try and lift without a mechanical lift of some kind, I would then also be faced with the issues of having a frame and a body with different Vin numbers, God forbid if I would have to comply with 1985 smog laws. So I think I will try and transfer everything to the 78.

[kevinr1970]

You might have a problem trying to put AC in a cab that wasn't AC from the factory. I think the firewall may be different.

[loblazer]

It is a big job to add A/C. Put 85 body on and put 78 vin tag on it and get it registered as a rebuilt 78 if your state allows it.

[mkundo]

I have a complete A/C unit with all wiring if your interested?
Thanks MK

[longhorn71]

Originally Posted by kevinr1970

You might have a problem trying to put AC in a cab that wasn't AC from the factory. I think the firewall may be different.

The firwalls are different but you could cut and weld the peice in but it is a lot of work

[kevinr1970]

Originally Posted by loblazer

It is a big job to add A/C. Put 85 body on and put 78 vin tag on it and get it registered as a rebuilt 78 if your state allows it.

Locally (WA state) I asked what you would need to do to swap bodies that were different years. They said that you would need titles for both vehicles or paperwork for why you only had the cab (this was for a truck cab swap) and the truck would be registered as what it most closely resembled.
Im this case if you put the '78 clip on the '85 body you would have a '78. But if you used the '85 clip it would be an '85. It might be different where your at though.

[Cmoe]

I put a '87 tub on a '78 4x4 frame with little problems..... The one problem that I did run into is the core support holes were different on the newer style front clip and we just opened up the holes on the frame and it's been fine for 7 years now... Hope this helps...