83 K10 to C10 Frame Swap Question

[buckshot305]

I have a 83 SWB K10 4x4, but want to swap my cab/bed/front clip over to a 2x4 SWB C10 frame. My question is this; will any 73-87 C10 SWB frame work, or do I need a 81-87, or will only a 83 frame work? What differences in frames do I need to look out for? Thanks for the help!

[bigarmzz]

Originally Posted by buckshot305

I have a 83 SWB K10 4x4, but want to swap my cab/bed/front clip over to a 2x4 SWB C10 frame. My question is this; will any 73-87 C10 SWB frame work, or do I need a 81-87, or will only a 83 frame work? What differences in frames do I need to look out for? Thanks for the help!

man, my dad just bought a 87 swb 2wd and i'm trying to talk him into lettin me find a swb 4x4 chassis to swap it onto....too bad we couldnt hook up....the chassis on his truck is fantastic

[Dalaigh]

Originally Posted by buckshot305

I have a 83 SWB K10 4x4, but want to swap my cab/bed/front clip over to a 2x4 SWB C10 frame. My question is this; will any 73-87 C10 SWB frame work, or do I need a 81-87, or will only a 83 frame work? What differences in frames do I need to look out for? Thanks for the help!

You can make any frame work, but an 81-87 frame would be better. There are some minor differences between the 70's and 80's chassis.

[Matt Man]

sell it and buy a 2wd they are way easier to find 2wd than 4wd

[buckshot305]

Originally Posted by Matt Man

sell it and buy a 2wd they are way easier to find 2wd than 4wd

The truck has a good bit of sentimental value, or else I would do just that.

[buckshot305]

Originally Posted by Dalaigh

You can make any frame work, but an 81-87 frame would be better. There are some minor differences between the 70's and 80's chassis.

That's what I was thinking, I just wanted to be sure. Parts are so interchangeable on these trucks, but there's always that oddball part that changes everything up.

[buckshot305]

Originally Posted by bigarmzz

man, my dad just bought a 87 swb 2wd and i'm trying to talk him into lettin me find a swb 4x4 chassis to swap it onto....too bad we couldnt hook up....the chassis on his truck is fantastic

That would be sweet. Your dad has good taste! That truck is too nice to beat up off road - the same reason I'm wanting to swap mine. I'll never use the truck for what it was built for. Here's mine.

[makman1297]

I swapped my 77 2wd to 4wd, it worked out, just had to re-drill alot of the holes. If you have a complete doner to swap from and get all the measurement then its not too bad.

[rcbildr]

Originally Posted by buckshot305

That would be sweet. Your dad has good taste! That truck is too nice to beat up off road - the same reason I'm wanting to swap mine. I'll never use the truck for what it was built for. Here's mine.

That's a nice truck!!! Why not just keep it like it is? Maybe change the tires to something not as aggressive as those.

[buckshot305]

Thanks! I've enjoyed the truck like it is since the restoration in 2006. I want to keep the truck for sentimental reasons, but I'm wanting something different. I want to do a 2wd swap w/ a 6.0L LQ9 and a T56, as well as finish some things on the interior that were not in the budget back in 06.

[bigarmzz]

Originally Posted by buckshot305

That would be sweet. Your dad has good taste! That truck is too nice to beat up off road - the same reason I'm wanting to swap mine. I'll never use the truck for what it was built for. Here's mine.

i like that stance it has.....here's a few of my last 4x4's i did back in the day















sorry i got alittle carried away there with photobucket....all well, we all love "truck porn" lol

[buckshot305]

Do you like black or red better???? Those are some very tastefully built trucks you've done. The black one with the full trim package makes me want to put trim on mine someday. Those are great looking trucks!

[rcbildr]

Originally Posted by buckshot305

Thanks! I've enjoyed the truck like it is since the restoration in 2006. I want to keep the truck for sentimental reasons, but I'm wanting something different. I want to do a 2wd swap w/ a 6.0L LQ9 and a T56, as well as finish some things on the interior that were not in the budget back in 06.

Cool!!! I remember seeing a post or two on here where someone took a 2wd crossmember and bolted up to his 4x4 frame. IIRC just by doing that gave the truck a 2" drop because of the way the frame is arched for the 4x4 axle.

The plans you have for your engine/trans combo is what I've been thinking/dreaming about putting in my 83 camaro....but that's a ways down the road, my 63 is priority number 1 right now.