67-72 on a 73 to 87 4x4 frame

[davidh]

I know I need to keep my cab mounts off the other frame. Is the wheel base the same as later trucks? I plan on using a 82 up 3/4 donor truck.
I know this has been done. so what are the things I need to look for when doing this swap?

[1969k10stepside]

Frame is longer...You will probably have to use a body lift,fab up body mounts...Personally,I'd just keep looking for a 67-72 4wd frame and save myself the trouble

[xshadow]

I have a friend that used a late 70's blazer frame and put a stepside body on it. They moved the rear....I think they had to move it 7" back. it worked out good and looked good.
I've also seen one that was for sale on a leter model frame it was a long fleetside. It didn't look very good because they left a gap between the bed and cab.

[ChaseDale3and8]

I was wondering the same thing. I saw a guy that used to live out by my parents do this to a 72 back in the late 80's but I never went over to look at it close up. I wonder if it would be any easier to swap the spring hangers, etc. from a later model to the earlier frame if you couldn't find a good 67-72 4x4 frame?? Might be a better way to do it. At least you wouldn't have to worry about body mounts etc. I wonder if anybody has doe this? ...Joe

[xshadow]

The blazer worked out good. He drove the truck for years and then sold it. I can ask what was done to make it work. I really think the main thing was to relocate the rear 7" back and he used a shortbed stepside. He also had to do a little work to put on a rear bumper....really this truck turned out great.
(if i remember right it was 7")

[Longhorn Man]

the truck bed on blaxer frame, unless the frame was extended, or the bed shortened, the bed would hang off the back of the frame a foot or so.
As for putting the 67 - 72 on a 73 - 87 frame, the wheel base is longer, and you'll have to fab up your own body lift due to the fact that the later frame is no where near flat.

[jamie72]

pm mudder his is on a new frame, he can tell you what is involved.

[xshadow]

I'll see if i can get some pictures of the short stepside truck on the blazer frame. My father and uncle built it. It was a sweet truck. My uncle sold the truck but perhaps my father still has some pics somewere. as for the swap on a late 70's truck frame I've only seen one. The body sat on the frame pretty good. It just had a gap between the bed and cab that looked bad to me. It wasn't well done. with some skill I bet it could be pulled off. If it can be done with a blazer i'm sure it could be done on a truck frame.

[Mudder]

I think it can be pulled off........... And you would have some advantages of a newer frame.

[davidh]

a month or two ago peterson's 4wd had a 65 chevy long wheel base on a 86 3/4 ton frame. I meant to buy that issue but didnt. they also used a 72long wheel base steel floor and bolted to the 65 bed panels.

[Mudder]

The short wheel base is about a couple inches shorter in the 67-72's than the 73-87's. The mounts are easy. I could probably do away with some of my body lift by adjusting the hieght of the cab mounts some. If I redo mine this winter we have thought about using a Burb frame. I have been looking for something to use.

[davidh]

I might be able to come across a burban frame. would that be a better choice?

[cobinder]

David, you might look at these links or this site. He seems to have lots of info along the lines your after.

good luck with your truck.


http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/2wdto4wd.html

http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/framespecs.html

[Mudder]

My body man seems to think a burb frame would work better. I'd have to do some measuring.

[earl87gta]

Why dont you just use the spring perches on the origanl frame it would be easier or buy a set of 4x4 frame mounts and cross meber from diy4x4. the hole covertion to 4x4 would only be around 400 for 200 more you could have a complete 4in lift with that set up. you cant put a 4in lift on the new frame for that cheap.