pre 1981 cab on a 1986????

[cc_bob]

Hi,
I just bought a 1986 1 ton 4x4 dump which I will be picking up next weekend. Depending on how bad the cab actually is when I pick it up I might be changing the cab over. If it is not too bad I'll just put rockers in it.

My dad offered to give me a pre 81 cab and front clip off of a flat bed that he no longer uses for free . If I don't use it, we will probably find a bed for it and rebuild the motor. The cab and front clip on it are extremely nice but I would like to keep the late model front clip (I think they look better). Besides holes for the hinges, what other differences are there? Will the fenders bolt up? I would like to use the interior out of the 86. This cab also has a set of perfect doors on it.

Also, if someone happens to know, what axles woul be under this truck? Dana 60, and a corporate rear? Just curious...

Oh and one other thing, he will not sell it if I do not use it. He's had the truck for a long time and put the cab on it about 5 or 6 years ago right before the motor started to knock. It's one of those "one of these days" projects.

Thanks for the help.

[old Rusty C10]

the only problem with the cab is the hood /cowl thing you could possibly modify the cab on the older style to fit the newer style hood or if worst comes to worst i have a 81 up cab in good shape that could be had for a couple of hundred dollars if you come pick it up and help take it off the truck

[AspecialZ]

I can give you a good idea on this one. When I bought my project the attempting builder before be changed the front end from a 76 (year of the truck) to an 81. Here is a pic of it... everything fit upto the 76 cab, even the cowl with some modification. see if I can't get you a better view.

[u2slow]

Originally Posted by cc_bob

Hi,
I just bought a 1986 1 ton 4x4 dump which I will be picking up next weekend. ...what axles woul be under this truck? Dana 60, and a corporate rear?

A stock 'cab & chassis' dually has a D60 front, and a narrow 14-bolt rear. If it was a dually pickup that sombody swapped on a dump bed, then it would have a D70 rear instead.

[1FaastC10]

if you're swapping the whole body cab and clip, and not just one or the other as AspecialZ mentioned, its a whole lot easier than going through all the crap that he showed. just take the body mount bushings from the 81+ cab, and put them under the older cab. i put an 86 cab on my 79 chassis this way, and everything lines up fine.

[cc_bob]

Thanks for the help guys. If I end up switching the cab, I will be buying new inner and outer fenders (at least) because I would like to keep the later model front clip.

Here's a link to the truck, what do you think?
My new to me truck

[72 CustomCamper]

With him using it as a plow truck I'd be worried about rust in the frame...


Chuck

[cc_bob]

Originally Posted by 72 CustomCamper

With him using it as a plow truck I'd be worried about rust in the frame...


Chuck

I spoke with him already and he said the frame is solid and the plow was only on there a couple years. The brakes went out and it's been sitting for a while . For $1350, I thought it was well worth it, the axles and dump (pto driven) are worth that. I'll have a better idea of what condition it is in and what I will do after next weekend when I pick it up.

The guy that listed it was the owner's mechanic, he said the motor only had around 20,000 miles on it. We'll see soon enough.

Thanks again,
Bob

[1FaastC10]

my '77 has been a plow truck all its life, and i dont have any issues with the frame being soft. its all in how the truck is taken care of.

[cc_bob]

Originally Posted by 1FaastC10

my '77 has been a plow truck all its life, and i dont have any issues with the frame being soft. its all in how the truck is taken care of.

Good Point.

Salt also has a LOT to do with it but I have had quite a few older trucks that were used as plow trucks their whole life and the frame is still solid (yet rusty).

I've seen a lot of 60's cars where the frame rails were rotten past the rear axle, this was just a bad design, like the rocker panels on our trucks.