74 4x4 swap ??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MrRico · 01-07-2006, 03:54 PM

A friend has a 74 4x4 1/2 ton frame we want to put a 72 and older body on. Why cant we? what might give us trouble if we did try and swap the body?

Rod · 01-08-2006, 10:40 AM

Chassis is longer so as it is the box will sit back about 3 inches from the cab...Mudder67 has done the swap though with modifications...I think he has links in his sig to the truck pics..

Its easier to use a suburban 4x4 frame or truck 4x4 frame of the 67-72 vintage..prefered years being 71-72 for the disc brake front already. IMO.

MrRico · 01-14-2006, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod

Chassis is longer so as it is the box will sit back about 3 inches from the cab...Mudder67 has done the swap though with modifications...I think he has links in his sig to the truck pics..

Its easier to use a suburban 4x4 frame or truck 4x4 frame of the 67-72 vintage..prefered years being 71-72 for the disc brake front already. IMO.

Ok thanks Rod, do you or does any one know what the difference in wheel base is going form 71/72 - a 74 c/k 10 frames? this will help but we are really not to scared to shorten the fram a few inches. We are willing and ready.

MrRico · 01-19-2006, 04:05 PM

Bump. Does any one know the actual wheel base of a 74 long bed 4x4 and a 71 long bed 4x? Its time to cut chop weld and build. Would like to have real #'s to go on.

**Captkaos** · 01-19-2006, 05:42 PM

A long bed 73-87 has 131.5" wheelbase.
I am not big into the 67-72's but I believe they have 129" wheelbase.

MrRico · 01-20-2006, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captkaos

A long bed 73-87 has 131.5" wheelbase.
I am not big into the 67-72's but I believe they have 129" wheelbase.

Ok I see, these are the #'s we need to confirm. This project should be so easy in my opinion. Thanks Captkaos.

Can Anyone confirm?

Mudder · 01-20-2006, 05:46 AM

Make sure you leave enough room to remove your distributor when you mount your cab. Use the old cab mounts and mount them like you would on the older truck. They are gonna be loacated in about the original location as the where on the 74. You may need some body lift blocks to get things leveled out. Measure 3 or 4 times befor u cut.

You would be wise to find the trucks and do your own measuring.

MrRico · 01-20-2006, 04:01 PM

Well, ok, how different do you say from the cab forward will mount? We have plenty of trucks to measure and cut from so what I am thinking is, we need to get cab forward mounted first then worry about the rear later. Can we cut body mounts from the 71 2wd frame and weld then in place on the 74 4x4 frame? Is that even nessisary? I would have thought that things would line up way better then this.

We have a hand full of both body style trucks but only one 4x4. We also have lots of room to do the work so we can spread things out and be ready with the tourch, welder and grinder as we need.

How would you guys go about this other then selling out what we have and buying a 71 4x4? My friend has been driving his 74 4x4 and was looking to completly rebuild it from the tires up. The 71 I have been working on has gotten him to thinking he would way rather have a 72 and older truck.

Mudder · 01-21-2006, 05:43 AM

If you PM me your email addy I can send you pics of all my cab and front clip mounts. to give u some idea. Cab needs to be mounted first and you need some osrt of engine block sitting in the frame to make sure you have the cab far enough away from the motor to be able to get the distributor out. I bolted all of my cab mounts.

01-07-2006, 03:54 PM	#1
MrRico Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Elkville Posts: 15	4x4 swap??? 74 frame under a 71 2WD??? A friend has a 74 4x4 1/2 ton frame we want to put a 72 and older body on. Why cant we? what might give us trouble if we did try and swap the body? __________________ Thank you, Mr. Rico Check out what happened Today in history @ http://wildmopartruckcountry.com/for...php?board=59.0 Also visit www.mopartruckworld.com Last edited by MrRico; 01-20-2006 at 04:06 PM.

01-08-2006, 10:40 AM	#2
Rod Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Eastern - Manitoba Canada, Winnipeg Posts: 4,369	Re: 74 4x4 swap ??? Chassis is longer so as it is the box will sit back about 3 inches from the cab...Mudder67 has done the swap though with modifications...I think he has links in his sig to the truck pics.. Its easier to use a suburban 4x4 frame or truck 4x4 frame of the 67-72 vintage..prefered years being 71-72 for the disc brake front already. IMO. __________________ Senior active founding member. 70 3/4 ton GMC Suburban 4x4 250/4 spd. 71 1/2 ton Suburban Chevy 4x4, 350/350 72 Chev 1 ton tow truck 402BB w/Holmes 440 wrecker on propane 2005 FLSTSCI Harley Springer 85 FXSB Harley Lowrider 72 Triumph 650 Bonneville 5spd "Poor people don't have hobbies" Quote from wife.

01-19-2006, 04:05 PM	#4
MrRico Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Elkville Posts: 15	Re: 74 4x4 swap ??? Bump. Does any one know the actual wheel base of a 74 long bed 4x4 and a 71 long bed 4x? Its time to cut chop weld and build. Would like to have real #'s to go on. __________________ Thank you, Mr. Rico Check out what happened Today in history @ http://wildmopartruckcountry.com/for...php?board=59.0 Also visit www.mopartruckworld.com

01-19-2006, 05:42 PM	#5
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Re: 74 4x4 swap ??? A long bed 73-87 has 131.5" wheelbase. I am not big into the 67-72's but I believe they have 129" wheelbase. __________________ 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

01-20-2006, 05:46 AM	#7
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Re: 74 4x4 swap ??? Make sure you leave enough room to remove your distributor when you mount your cab. Use the old cab mounts and mount them like you would on the older truck. They are gonna be loacated in about the original location as the where on the 74. You may need some body lift blocks to get things leveled out. Measure 3 or 4 times befor u cut. You would be wise to find the trucks and do your own measuring. Last edited by Mudder; 01-20-2006 at 05:47 AM.

01-20-2006, 04:01 PM	#8
MrRico Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Elkville Posts: 15	Re: 74 4x4 swap ??? Well, ok, how different do you say from the cab forward will mount? We have plenty of trucks to measure and cut from so what I am thinking is, we need to get cab forward mounted first then worry about the rear later. Can we cut body mounts from the 71 2wd frame and weld then in place on the 74 4x4 frame? Is that even nessisary? I would have thought that things would line up way better then this. We have a hand full of both body style trucks but only one 4x4. We also have lots of room to do the work so we can spread things out and be ready with the tourch, welder and grinder as we need. How would you guys go about this other then selling out what we have and buying a 71 4x4? My friend has been driving his 74 4x4 and was looking to completly rebuild it from the tires up. The 71 I have been working on has gotten him to thinking he would way rather have a 72 and older truck. __________________ Thank you, Mr. Rico Check out what happened Today in history @ http://wildmopartruckcountry.com/for...php?board=59.0 Also visit www.mopartruckworld.com Last edited by MrRico; 01-21-2006 at 09:45 AM.

01-21-2006, 05:43 AM	#9
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Re: 74 4x4 swap ??? If you PM me your email addy I can send you pics of all my cab and front clip mounts. to give u some idea. Cab needs to be mounted first and you need some osrt of engine block sitting in the frame to make sure you have the cab far enough away from the motor to be able to get the distributor out. I bolted all of my cab mounts.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.