Can you put a 65 body on a 71 rolling chasis??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

REDNOSE65 · 11-26-2010, 01:34 PM

What would it take to do it, if at all possible?
Is it worth the trouble? Or should I just get the front/rear end and replace mine???

Any advise/info would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

raycow · 11-26-2010, 01:57 PM

By "front/rear end", if you mean the mechanical parts, this will be a somewhat easier job than swapping the body, assuming that both trucks have the same type of rear springs. If you are doing this to get disc brakes, you will have to swap the MC, prop valve, hard lines, hoses, etc.

Ray

REDNOSE65 · 11-26-2010, 02:10 PM

Well my goal is to have disc brakes, power steering, and 5 lug (highway gears) in the rear.

fatheadjames · 11-26-2010, 02:41 PM

I will actually be doing this in the next month or so. I will be putting a 66 on a 70 frame. Pretty sure the cab mounts will need to be moved or new ones built along with bed mounts. You will need to do something with the steering most likely also. I'm sure there will be other like things but those should be the biggest hurdles.
Posted via Mobile Device

padresag · 11-26-2010, 03:17 PM

the front frame horns are also at different angles
much easier to just change frt and rear axle assy and your frame to cab ser# remain the same unless you want to go to the bother of registering the change
ron

SCOTI · 11-27-2010, 12:57 AM

Front cab mounts are the same.
Rear cab mount position for the pre-67's is higher. Need to relocate the mount or make a spacer if using the later frame w/the earlier body.
The front radiator core support mounts need to move forward about .750" & up about 1".
The front radiator core mounting arrangement is different.
The front frame horns are different shape, angle, & height.

Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch easier to swap the front brakes, steering gear, & rear end over to your existing set-up.

onequickchevy · 11-27-2010, 09:49 PM

x 2 on the swap. Much easier, it all essentially bolts in. Gets you back on the road so much faster. Scared of doing the entire crossmember? Just change upper and lower ball joints to the year of your 73-87 donor truck, bolt on the donor spindles, drill holes and mount the donor idler arm / steering set up, drill holes on either side of the frame and run the donor hard lines. Heck you can even use the non power master cylinder, it bolts right up too. Just lengthen the rod a bit for proper stroke for stopping power! Worked great for me, bucks down approach too for sure.

jibbyjammin · 11-30-2010, 01:12 AM

I have put my 60 stepside shortbed on a 1987 1/2 frame and it was extremly time consuming. If I had to do it over I would purchase front end with disc brakes and rear end with disc brakes. It was not so much the money issue when I did it. I thought it would be cool to have all modern suspention and frame, but it was so much work that it would have been cheaper to purchase the new front and rear setups from yugi or whomever (there all around same price). Trust me it is nice to have all the origanal mounting holes, no welding, grinding, relocating, shortning, narrowing and all the other hard ass work I did for 2 years. When I could have bolted everything in place and much cleaner, the stuff you can purchase now is better then any stock item anyway. Save yourself the head ache and trouble just buy after market and install. Don't get me wrong I love what I have done and it was a great exsperience, plus I can say I DID IT MYSELF. I would not do it again

11-26-2010, 01:34 PM	#1
REDNOSE65 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: DALLAS, TEXAS Posts: 1,908	Can you put a 65 body on a 71 rolling chasis??? What would it take to do it, if at all possible? Is it worth the trouble? Or should I just get the front/rear end and replace mine??? Any advise/info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! __________________ RED NOSE '65 LOS HITTERS C.C DALLAS, TEXAS The making of a Red Nose... http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=396518

11-26-2010, 01:57 PM	#2
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: Can you put a 65 body on a 71 rolling chasis??? By "front/rear end", if you mean the mechanical parts, this will be a somewhat easier job than swapping the body, assuming that both trucks have the same type of rear springs. If you are doing this to get disc brakes, you will have to swap the MC, prop valve, hard lines, hoses, etc. Ray __________________ Live more responsibly. Eat lower on the food chain. Eat vegetarians.

11-26-2010, 02:10 PM	#3
REDNOSE65 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: DALLAS, TEXAS Posts: 1,908	Re: Can you put a 65 body on a 71 rolling chasis??? Well my goal is to have disc brakes, power steering, and 5 lug (highway gears) in the rear. __________________ RED NOSE '65 LOS HITTERS C.C DALLAS, TEXAS The making of a Red Nose... http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=396518

11-26-2010, 02:41 PM	#4
fatheadjames Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Baton rouge LA Posts: 8	Re: Can you put a 65 body on a 71 rolling chasis??? I will actually be doing this in the next month or so. I will be putting a 66 on a 70 frame. Pretty sure the cab mounts will need to be moved or new ones built along with bed mounts. You will need to do something with the steering most likely also. I'm sure there will be other like things but those should be the biggest hurdles. Posted via Mobile Device

11-26-2010, 03:17 PM	#5
padresag Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sidney,b.c. Posts: 4,425	Re: Can you put a 65 body on a 71 rolling chasis??? the front frame horns are also at different angles much easier to just change frt and rear axle assy and your frame to cab ser# remain the same unless you want to go to the bother of registering the change ron

11-27-2010, 12:57 AM	#6
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,064	Re: Can you put a 65 body on a 71 rolling chasis??? Front cab mounts are the same. Rear cab mount position for the pre-67's is higher. Need to relocate the mount or make a spacer if using the later frame w/the earlier body. The front radiator core support mounts need to move forward about .750" & up about 1". The front radiator core mounting arrangement is different. The front frame horns are different shape, angle, & height. Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch easier to swap the front brakes, steering gear, & rear end over to your existing set-up. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.* Last edited by SCOTI; 11-27-2010 at 12:58 AM.

11-27-2010, 09:49 PM	#7
onequickchevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Marianna, Florida Posts: 339	Re: Can you put a 65 body on a 71 rolling chasis??? x 2 on the swap. Much easier, it all essentially bolts in. Gets you back on the road so much faster. Scared of doing the entire crossmember? Just change upper and lower ball joints to the year of your 73-87 donor truck, bolt on the donor spindles, drill holes and mount the donor idler arm / steering set up, drill holes on either side of the frame and run the donor hard lines. Heck you can even use the non power master cylinder, it bolts right up too. Just lengthen the rod a bit for proper stroke for stopping power! Worked great for me, bucks down approach too for sure. __________________ Slowly but surely getting it done.

11-30-2010, 01:12 AM	#8
jibbyjammin Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: vacaville ca Posts: 5	Re: Can you put a 65 body on a 71 rolling chasis??? I have put my 60 stepside shortbed on a 1987 1/2 frame and it was extremly time consuming. If I had to do it over I would purchase front end with disc brakes and rear end with disc brakes. It was not so much the money issue when I did it. I thought it would be cool to have all modern suspention and frame, but it was so much work that it would have been cheaper to purchase the new front and rear setups from yugi or whomever (there all around same price). Trust me it is nice to have all the origanal mounting holes, no welding, grinding, relocating, shortning, narrowing and all the other hard ass work I did for 2 years. When I could have bolted everything in place and much cleaner, the stuff you can purchase now is better then any stock item anyway. Save yourself the head ache and trouble just buy after market and install. Don't get me wrong I love what I have done and it was a great exsperience, plus I can say I DID IT MYSELF. I would not do it again



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