78 clip onto 91 crew cab. help !

[travlinman]

Hey guys happy holidays.
Question for everyone. I have a 78 crew with a rotted cab and just got a 91 R-30 crew with zero rust and want to swap everything over.
Will my front clip bolt up or what modifications 2 I'll I have to do to make it fit?
Anyone ever done this or attempted it?

[travlinman]

Wow no one knows or has any ideas? With All the trucks here with all the knowledge figured someone would know something.

[73kay]

I have a 76 c10 and replacing the can with a 86 cab. Generally it should work and your fenders should still bolt to the newer cab. You will need to transfer your windshield wiper assembly parts over to the new cab and your cowl vent screen. Just be mindful that the newer cab screws will be metric and your old cab uses American or whatever it's called. I just transferred over the old bolts to keep everything the same. I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong but the crew cabs should be the same as the single cabs.

Ps. You will need the frame body mounts from the year of your frame NOT the cab if you get new ones. Hope this helps.

[travlinman]

Thanks 73kay.
It at least something to go on. I didn't want to take everything apart only to find out it wouldn't work an bolt it all back together.

[RPOZ11]

I sort of did this.
Removed a square nose off of an early cab and went back to the early nose.
Here is a start...
Wiper system will be different.
The switch and wiper motor are different as well.
I will suggest looking at the wiring harnesses not being compatible unless you splice away and make it work.
Hood mounting.
Hood hinges are early style.
The early hood mounts differently.
I ended up welding in plates where the later model hinges go thru the cowl area.
Plastic vent screen in the cowl area is different.
Late model frame horns in the front will be different if you want to install the early bumper.
Brackets etc are all early model.
Not sure if later model bumper brackets will work with early bumpers.
Core support is different.
Especially if you are running the 454.
Radiator is different.
AC stuff is different.
I can go on but its best you have a donor truck to swap from.
I did it the hard way.
Check my link in my signature.
Let me know if you need anymore suggestions.

[travlinman]

RPOZ11.
thanks that is alot to think about. I do have 2 complete trucks a 78 crew and a 91 crew that I can get parts from. My 78 cab is rotted so I picked up a complete 91 crew for cheap 700r4 overdrive and power windows/locks. Both are 454. Just trying to figure out if it can be done or if it's even worth it to try. I really prefer the older round eye look but I could get used to the rectangle lights if it's not worth the hassle.

[Flatpat]

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/19...p-grille-swap/

[RPOZ11]

"Chevy Grille Swap - Front Clip Conversion
Posted on July 1, 1999"

The black and white photos tell me that must have been from the 70's or early 80's.

Those photos are a start.
The 454 radiator uses a wider mount on the core support.
You'll need that core support to install the 4-row correctly.

The grill uses different back support brackets thru the 70's years.
I had to learn that by comparing different years to my 73 C20.
The 75 grill has a different hood latch than the other years.

I suggest you pin down the year look you want to live with and focus on all the parts needed.

There are a few guys on this site who dismantle and have good used parts if you are missing anything in your build/swap.

If I can be any help, just let me know.