73-80 & 81-87 Cab swap

[Free88]

Sorry for this question again, but search is not working and I can't find anything about this request. Can you use a 81-87 cab on the 73-80 frame? If I am thinking right it was mentioned that you just had to swop the cab bushings to the year of the truck cab that you are using. Also the front cowl and wiper arm assemblies were to be used also. So in other words, if I was going to put a 87 cab on a 80 frame, I would use the cab mounts from an 87, Correct. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[beaterC10]

The cab mounts need to match the frame. The newer mounts have a larger OD on the side that mounts to the chassis.

[Free88]

Thanks.

[AspecialZ]

Also remember that the newer posts for the wipers are taller and that you need the 81-87 hood and cowl to fit the cab. The pics I posted is a 76 cab with a mocked up 76 front end and the 81 front end I bought it with.

[75stepside]

Originally Posted by AspecialZ

Also remember that the newer posts for the wipers are taller and that you need the 81-87 hood and cowl to fit the cab.

ya, i just found that one out! good thing i didn't slam the hood the first time...

[Streetmaster]

Im do'in the same swap, take'in an 86 cab, and i've got it on my 76 GMC frame. It bolted right on, but i did have to make sure to use the 73 to 76 doors to match with my 73 to 76 front fenders because the doors are a little different up whare the top of the fender meets the door. I did notice that the hood hits the things that the wiper blades attatch to, so im gonna see if they are shorter on the older cab,and if so all that needs to be changed are the wiper thingies.

[Free88]

Thanks Streetmaster. DId you use the mounts from the older cab? Will be glad when all this switching is done.

[Streetmaster]

Yeah Free88 i used the old frame mounts, most of the cab is all the same as far as i can tell, one thing to note is that the older type hood went all the way up towards the windshield,and it covered the windshield wipers. and the 81-87 hoods has fall just short of the wiper arms, so if your planning on useing a 73-80 front end, with a 81-87 cab, just go to the bone yard and unbolt the wiper motor linkage, and the the two pieces that come up thru the cab that the wiper arms clamp onto, because they are smaller on the 73-80 cabs. One other thing you cant do is use 73-80 doors with 81-87 fenders or the other way around, because just above the body line were the to meet wont be the same. Hope this helps

[Free88]

Thanks for the extra info. I am lucky enough to have good doors for both age groups, along with fenders, rad cradles and hoods. Thanks again.