fastest/best/efficient way to swap a good frame for my damaged frame

[sircrunch]

I have an amazing condition 78 c10 Silverado big 10 v8 shortbed. Zero rust, great running truck. but it has frame damage in the front. I talked to a frame shop, they said it would be a lot of a work to put it on a frame puller so I've decided against repairing the frame.

I've got a parts truck 80 model shortbed with a 6 cyl.

The plan is to tear apart the '80 parts truck down to the frame. Unfortunately I can't just use the suspension/brakes/driveline from the 80 model because I want to retain the original big 10 components off my wrecked truck.

So that means pulling each and every thing off both trucks to do the swap.

So I'm here seeking help and advice on how to most efficiently pull this off. Any tips on removing the cab/bed/front clip, perhaps while keeping as many parts together??? Any time saving tips? Words from the wise? experiences?

[sweetk30]

its not bad i have done over a 1/2 dozen . but its easy with my massive tool box and 2 post lift .

can be done tho with basic tools / lots of blocking to support and time.

gives you time to clean / inspect frame / repaint it for a like new look also .

how bad is your frame now ?

i fixed this my self no pulling post or frame table . just hand tools.

took a left hit once and was tweeked good . top of frame was 4.8* out of square from pass side @0.1-0.2 . then side check right was 0.6 off 90* and driver side = bad side was 94.3* and stright edge showed big kink .

[sweetk30]

then few 3/4" threaded rods to hold good spots still and pull in bad spot and hold it . and heat up and hammer back big kink to flat .

[sweetk30]

then found crack hidding down in and fixed him and fish plated it .

all said and done i got it in spec.

took me just a few hr's .

[sircrunch]

unfortunately my frame is mangled. its scrap. i already have a new fender, core support, grille, bumper filler and other body parts ready to install once i get a good frame under it.

[kipps]

My suggestion, but without the experience.

Dispose of the front clip. It sounds like half of yours is trashed anyway, so might as well remove it all. Bed comes off the usual way. Either a decent tractor loader, or half-a-dozen friends. I'm told that cabs can be lifted with a padded 4x4 under the roof. I would try several large ratchet straps instead. Hook two straps together inside the cab, and run each of them out the open doors and up to the rafters of a shed. This way, you have a ratchet on each side of the truck, instead of depending on the strap sliding through the cab. After you've run the straps, close the cab doors for better balance. Cab will likely still want to nose-down. Attach a third strap from the firewall to a rafter to mitigate the problem. It will be slow lifting, but you don't need to go more than a few inches.

Again, just a suggestion with no firsthand experience.

[hatzie]

Four guys can pull a longbed fairly easily.