70-72 body on 73-80 chassis???

[K20chevy]

Hi Everyone,

has someone done a swap like this? and if so, what is involved? I assume different cab mounts on the frame. But will the older style body fit on the newer style frame? Does the wheelbase match? And can I reuse my steering stuff etc?

Thanks for your help!

K20chevy

[kris's66lwb]

I know the beds kinda line up
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[cory d]

a local going is doing it. the frames are pretty similar. i dont think the wheel base is the same though

nah 67-72 115" and 127"
73-87 117.5" and 131.5"

nothing that cant be corrected

[K20chevy]

So if my truck originally has the 131.5" wheelbase and the older style I would use the body from has 127", I would have a larger gap between the cab and the bed? It probably depends on the location of the wheel opening too, right?

I thougth the frames are kind of the same, but I´m sure the body mounts are different.

@ cord d: is there a way you could find out from that local what would be involved? I´d appreciate that a lot! Thanks!

[79gmcc15]

Nvm, I am dyslexic. ROFL

[K20chevy]

Well, the reason is, I always wanted a 70-72 truck but couldn´t find a good one to build. Up in the north east, it is almost impossible to find one. So I found the 78 K20 I have been building since. I still would love to have a 70-72, but the chassis on my has been modified so much that it would be a ton of work transfering everything to another truck. Therefore the idea was to keep my chassis and swap bodies insted of building another truck. But maybe once I finish the 78, maybe I just build a 70-72 anyways.. maybe that simpler than swapping things around... What do I know!?

[meter swinger]

Originally Posted by K20chevy

Well, the reason is, I always wanted a 70-72 truck but couldn´t find a good one to build. Up in the north east, it is almost impossible to find one. So I found the 78 K20 I have been building since. I still would love to have a 70-72, but the chassis on my has been modified so much that it would be a ton of work transfering everything to another truck. Therefore the idea was to keep my chassis and swap bodies insted of building another truck. But maybe once I finish the 78, maybe I just build a 70-72 anyways.. maybe that simpler than swapping things around... What do I know!?

Now youre onto something...a man can never have too many trucks...well don't ask my wife though.
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[K20chevy]

@ meter swinger: x2!! BUT the wife is one thing and running out of room to park them all might pose a problem too. I already have 2 cars, a Jeep and a full size truck. Anotherone would make it really difficult to keep the wife and neighbours happy...

[74 stepside]

The firewall forward I believe is the same. Crossmembers can be swapped. The rest of the frame is different. As far as wheel base, get out the tape measure and check.

[K20chevy]

@74 stepside: Thanks for the info. I´ll measure mine when I have a minute.

[huahuamick]

Very very cool, and thanks for the lesson! I love your unique ink!

[K20chevy]

I guess I´ll leave my 78 body on my truck after all and just buy a complete 69-72 truck at some point...

[K20chevy]

But just out of curiosity, if someone was to swap a early 70´s body on a 78 chassis... how would you legaly register it? As the early 70´s truck cause it has the vin and cab from that truck? Or the 78 truck cause the chassis and numbers are from the 78.... obviously the numbers on the frame wouldn´t match the vin in the cab.... does anybody know how this can legaly be handled???

[K20chevy]

anybody? Would it be better to regster it by the vin in the 70-72 cab then??

[donut]

This would be a WAG, but the cab. Make a pot of coffee and call DMV to make sure. I know in Maine, swapping later cabs onto earlier chassis was common, especially among friends that used to plow. But these were straight swaps, like '80's cab onto '70's frame.

Talk to your local inspection guy also, if anything has to be fabricated, it could get failed for that. Unless the mechanic is a "turn on the lights, honk the horn" inspector...

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by donut

This would be a WAG, but the cab. Make a pot of coffee and call DMV to make sure. I know in Maine, swapping later cabs onto earlier chassis was common, especially among friends that used to plow. But these were straight swaps, like '80's cab onto '70's frame.

Talk to your local inspection guy also, if anything has to be fabricated, it could get failed for that. Unless the mechanic is a "turn on the lights, honk the horn" inspector...

Thanks! Does the frame have any kind of vin number on it? if not, then the number in the cab should be the one for registration and if nobody could check the frame, it should be fine...

[donut]

There is a number on the frame, however I'm not sure exactly where. Shows you how many times over the years mines been checked. Thinking about it, buddy's fixing an old plow truck prob didn't care. Prior to me buying my plow truck, it hadn't been registered for 5 years. But still worked every storm. PO thought he'd "roll the dice."
That's why I'm unsure exactly what's required.

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by donut

There is a number on the frame, however I'm not sure exactly where. Shows you how many times over the years mines been checked. Thinking about it, buddy's fixing an old plow truck prob didn't care. Prior to me buying my plow truck, it hadn't been registered for 5 years. But still worked every storm. PO thought he'd "roll the dice."
That's why I'm unsure exactly what's required.

Thanks for the info! I really appreciate it!

[donut]

No prob. Lived in the Augusta area for about 25 yrs. Dealing with DMV, inspections/state police requirements can be a pain.

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by donut

No prob. Lived in the Augusta area for about 25 yrs. Dealing with DMV, inspections/state police requirements can be a pain.

true, it can be. But I just want to be on the legal/less obvious side of things. Sure you can tweak it to a certain point, but don´t want to go too crazy to get into trouble!

[motornut]

depending on how/why you are pulled over ,it can be fines,seized and towed up here.
impound fees while they "sort it out",and the fines go up on a scale of "involvement"
keep it legal

[Palf70Step]

Besides some of the stuff already mentioned, one big thing is the frame kick-up for the gas tanks. You will need to do a body lift in order for the 67-72 cab to clear the kick-up on the 73-87 frame.

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Besides some of the stuff already mentioned, one big thing is the frame kick-up for the gas tanks. You will need to do a body lift in order for the 67-72 cab to clear the kick-up on the 73-87 frame.

true, I haven´t even thought of that! I removed the saddle tanks in favor of a rear mounted one, so kind of forgot about that.... but rather than a body lift, I´d more likely notch the cab. I don´t like body lifts!

thanks for pointing out the frame difference!

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by K20chevy

true, I haven´t even thought of that! I removed the saddle tanks in favor of a rear mounted one, so kind of forgot about that.... but rather than a body lift, I´d more likely notch the cab. I don´t like body lifts!

thanks for pointing out the frame difference!

That will take a big Notch. It will raise the floor a goo deal (least where the seats are. Only ones I saw do it successfully were 4x4 folks withe the body lift.

What is wrong with the original frame?

You can take everything off the 73-87 and pretty much bolt it to the original frame, then you won't have to deal with all of this mess.

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That will take a big Notch. It will raise the floor a goo deal (least where the seats are. Only ones I saw do it successfully were 4x4 folks withe the body lift.

What is wrong with the original frame?

You can take everything off the 73-87 and pretty much bolt it to the original frame, then you won't have to deal with all of this mess.

There is nothing wrong with an original 67-72 K20 frame. But I have modified my 78 K20 frame so much, that it would be more work to transfer everything over to the 67-72 frame than just swapping the body.
Problem is, on my truck, basically NOTHING is stock or original..that makes it difficult.