Front body/radiator mounts RELOCATE?

[KennedyHill]

I’m putting an ‘87 body on a ‘74-‘75 frame. The ‘87 is long wheel base and the older one is short. I wanted a short bed.

The older frame has more of a rounded nose while the newer frame has an open, slanted nose that bolts up to a bumper bracket. As you can see in the pictures, there is about an inch difference from center to center and the body mounts are different. If I keep the old ones, I’ll have to modify them to receive the new style body/radiator mounts.

Here’s my question: Does this really matter? Do I need to adjust the mounts to make up for the 1” difference? Will this affect my fender and quarter panel location?

 

[KennedyHill]

It’s probably not quite an inch difference

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I wouldn't use that rivet as a measurement point. Can't say for certain.

I would measure center of the body mount to the fender mounts on the cab or to somewhere on the firewall

 

[scape]

Yes it will make a difference. I just swapped an 85 long bed body over to a swb 79 frame. I used the 85 core support brackets and found out that I had to redrill the holes for the brackets to get it all to line up. I would recommend getting your front clip on and somewhat adjusted and then mark your core support bracket position. I also tried the method of cutting the front bumper brackets instead of the frame rail. No luck getting the bumper to align, so i cut the frame like the later models and the bumper fit perfectly.