Frame Swap?????

[68gmc owner]

I have a 68 GMC 2WD 1/2Ton longbox and was going to do the 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on it but the prices for all the parts I need in my area would be $400 to $500 and they are not readily available, So it got me thinking, I can buy a complete running 1988 or newer GMC/Chevy 2WD 1/2Ton pick up for $1000 or less. Has anyone ever did a frame swap and just put a newer frame under there truck. I think the newer frames wheel base is 6 inches longer but I can work with that. Dont know about the width though. I can do any body mount fab work needed. Was just wounder about a frame swap. Thanks for any help.

[hugger6933]

There is or was a guy on here that did a swap from a 2006 truck.

[Palf70Step]

Find a 73-87 model and pulll all the parts from it. Most will bolt onto you 68 and it is a lot less work than mounting your body on a 73-87 or 88 up frame. Both of those have longer wheelbases, so you are looking at a LOT of fab work to make it happen.

[dmack91]

The later frames also have a substantial step-up (behind the cab, I believe) that has to be dealt with.

[Ron 586]

1. Find a donor truck (73/87) with 5 lugs and disk brakes.

2.Pull the entire front cradle and rear end from it.

3. Pull all your old front cradle and rear end.

4. Install donor parts under your truck and enjoy.

This is assuming you have the engine and tranny out and out of the way. You may have to drill a couple of holes in your frame for the new front end. It's not hard if you have the tools and area to work in. Good luck.

[Sammy]

I faced the same on the reconstruction (for lack of a proper word) on project 'Odd Ball." Now days a 5 lug conversion for the disks and a greater wheel selection it is worth the work involved. I toyed with the idea seriously of just changing the entire cradle front end from a 71. Then ended up doing a conversion with all new parts from early classics that I needed on a killer deal instead. Yesterday I got a rear end tire to tire for the rear conversion to 5 lug. But planned on beforehand to just remove the current axles and have them redrilled and plugged for 5 lug. However a last minute :come get this before the scrap heap gets it" caused me to load the trailer up for a $50 cost. I may end up just buying new U bolts as the current ones look to be well pitted of 50 plus years of rust. Save your self some bones find a doner plenty are headed to the smelt plant $200 a ton. Shouldn't cost you more than a 100 dollar bill for both the front and rear off a donor truck which is a bit more than what they are going to get at scrap price anyway.

[CC69Rat]

I have the 73+ front swap on my 68, and it worked out great. You can pick up the whole k member pretty cheap, in fact I know where one is right now you could probably get for $50 (but it's in TN of course) there are several advantages to it being the parts, rotors, etc. are cheaper and you can still find most of the parts in your local parts stores. Easy 5 lug disk swap on the cheap.

I have the HD rotors too, and I understand the suspension geometry overall is slightly upgraded compared to the original design. If I were doing one myself (I bought mine already swapped over) this is the route I'd go. Mine is off an 84.

.. just my .02

[brad_man_72]

running driving 76 for $600. I used the parts I needed sold the other good parts I didn't want and scrapped the rest of it. Pretty sure I made money on my 5 lug disc brake swap.
there's a reason all of us poor guys do it this way.

[BFRO$TY]

what about a '65 swb frame under a '67 swb??