body swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cherry delight · 02-18-2003, 09:52 PM

i'm doing this 79 blazer frame with a 84 blazer body using the radiator support from the 79. putting 6 inch lifted leafsthis should be a simple swap correct?

RockHQ · 02-18-2003, 11:03 PM

Yeah the body swap will be straightforward, with the 6 inch lift you need to be aware of the problems it will arise.

bigblock73 · 02-18-2003, 11:11 PM

Be aware, the radiator supports changed in 81 along with the new fender/grill setup. I don't THINK you will be able to use the 79 core support with the 84 fenders/grill.

BTW - welcome to the board.

-Jeff

*1FaastC10* · 02-19-2003, 01:03 AM

the 73-80 front clip will bolt directly to the body, no problems. you will have to use the 73-80 windshield wiper system, as they tuck the wipers behind the hood, rather than through the cowl.

bigblock73 · 02-19-2003, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1FaastC10
the 73-80 front clip will bolt directly to the body, no problems. you will have to use the 73-80 windshield wiper system, as they tuck the wipers behind the hood, rather than through the cowl.

Tom, he is not using the 79 front end, just the radiator support. I don't know if it will work...what about the grill...will that bolt to the older support?? If I read the post right, you are going to put the entire body from the 84 on your 79 frame except for the support, that will stay 79 circa.

-Jeff

cherry delight · 02-19-2003, 08:40 PM

i am glad i haven't thrown the 79's body away. I am aware of what is entailed in the 6 inch lift i was hoping the fenders from the 84 would work. the reason i am putting the 79 core support on is because the customer would rather have the round headlights and he custom fabricated a goofy looking grill. Here is a new question can i swap the headlight assembly from the 79 to the 84?

phantom dually · 02-19-2003, 10:43 PM

You all are correct the 79 core support will not work with 81-up fenders!!

CustomChevy · 02-19-2003, 11:00 PM

the hood and grille trim will not work. the 81-up has a flat face hood and trim. In 1980 models, they did offer both types, round headlight and square headlight.

you may be able to modify those headlight cover plates to work, but this may be too much of a hassle. your buddy may have to go ahead with the 79 front end if her really has to have those round headlights.

oh, that 79 radiator support will not work. the front face is different. as mentioned above, the support follow the curve of the hood, which for 79 is curved, while the 84 is straight.

hope this helps. good luck!

cherry delight · 02-20-2003, 06:41 PM

what if i use the 79 hood?

phantom dually · 02-20-2003, 07:21 PM

It is really all or nothing!! The whole 79 setup will work or the whole 84. You can not mix and match the two years together!

*1FaastC10* · 02-20-2003, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigblock73

Tom, he is not using the 79 front end, just the radiator support. I don't know if it will work...what about the grill...will that bolt to the older support?? If I read the post right, you are going to put the entire body from the 84 on your 79 frame except for the support, that will stay 79 circa.

-Jeff

well, uhm, Jim... i'm not Tom...

in order to use the '73-80 core support you need to use '73-80 fenders, hood, core support. in 1981, along with the bodystyle change, they changed the hood hinges. '81+ hinges actually recess into the cowl. also, there is a cowl vent panel on the '81+ trucks between the hood and the windshield, whereas the '73-80 trucks didnt have one at all. if you were to take the '84 Blazer body, remove the cowl panel and wiper mechanism, and replace teh mech with one from a '73-80 truck (shorter stalks, to fit behind the hood), everything would fit fine. or, you could just get an '81+ clip, and have to do no modifications whatsoever.

BTW, another problem you're going to run into with the swap are teh body mounts. use the bodymounts for the '79 and you'll have no problems at all.

cherry delight · 03-05-2003, 04:16 PM

hello board,
I thank all of you for scaring my customer and I really mean that because he decided to buy an '89 blazer and lift that instead, which I will still be doing. Now to the thank you, after y'all told me how much of a ***** it would be to swap the bodies. My estimate was way too low I would have been doing it pretty much for free and that sure as hell don't pay the bills.

02-18-2003, 09:52 PM	#1
cherry delight Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: montana Posts: 28	body swap i'm doing this 79 blazer frame with a 84 blazer body using the radiator support from the 79. putting 6 inch lifted leafsthis should be a simple swap correct?

02-18-2003, 11:03 PM	#2
RockHQ ROCKET POWER! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Finland, Europe Posts: 509	Yeah the body swap will be straightforward, with the 6 inch lift you need to be aware of the problems it will arise. __________________ What did i do last nite? I had a wonderful time, That's what they tell me What did i do last nite? 1979 C-10 shortfleet: Olds 350, Th400, 12 bolt Current project: 1969 Olds 455 W-30, needing a rebuild

02-19-2003, 08:40 PM	#6
cherry delight Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: montana Posts: 28	new question same theme i am glad i haven't thrown the 79's body away. I am aware of what is entailed in the 6 inch lift i was hoping the fenders from the 84 would work. the reason i am putting the 79 core support on is because the customer would rather have the round headlights and he custom fabricated a goofy looking grill. Here is a new question can i swap the headlight assembly from the 79 to the 84?

02-19-2003, 10:43 PM	#7
phantom dually Project92 SWB stepside Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 4,792	You all are correct the 79 core support will not work with 81-up fenders!! __________________ 92 C1500 stepside 496 Stroker Competiton Engineering Ladder bars/QA1 coilovers. Dana 60 rear with 4.10 gear and posi. Bonspeed Palisade 20x12 in rear w/335/30/20 and 20x8.5 front w/245/40/20. 5/8 drop with Belltech springs/DJM spindles/drop shocks. WWS Progress thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=140448

02-20-2003, 07:21 PM	#10
phantom dually Project92 SWB stepside Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 4,792	It is really all or nothing!! The whole 79 setup will work or the whole 84. You can not mix and match the two years together! __________________ 92 C1500 stepside 496 Stroker Competiton Engineering Ladder bars/QA1 coilovers. Dana 60 rear with 4.10 gear and posi. Bonspeed Palisade 20x12 in rear w/335/30/20 and 20x8.5 front w/245/40/20. 5/8 drop with Belltech springs/DJM spindles/drop shocks. WWS Progress thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=140448

02-18-2003, 11:11 PM	#3
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	Be aware, the radiator supports changed in 81 along with the new fender/grill setup. I don't THINK you will be able to use the 79 core support with the 84 fenders/grill. BTW - welcome to the board. -Jeff

02-19-2003, 01:03 AM	#4
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	the 73-80 front clip will bolt directly to the body, no problems. you will have to use the 73-80 windshield wiper system, as they tuck the wipers behind the hood, rather than through the cowl.

02-19-2003, 11:00 PM	#8
CustomChevy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 461	the hood and grille trim will not work. the 81-up has a flat face hood and trim. In 1980 models, they did offer both types, round headlight and square headlight. you may be able to modify those headlight cover plates to work, but this may be too much of a hassle. your buddy may have to go ahead with the 79 front end if her really has to have those round headlights. oh, that 79 radiator support will not work. the front face is different. as mentioned above, the support follow the curve of the hood, which for 79 is curved, while the 84 is straight. hope this helps. good luck!

02-20-2003, 06:41 PM	#9
cherry delight Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: montana Posts: 28	what if i use the 79 hood?

03-05-2003, 04:16 PM	#12
cherry delight Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: montana Posts: 28	hello board, I thank all of you for scaring my customer and I really mean that because he decided to buy an '89 blazer and lift that instead, which I will still be doing. Now to the thank you, after y'all told me how much of a ***** it would be to swap the bodies. My estimate was way too low I would have been doing it pretty much for free and that sure as hell don't pay the bills.



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