Swap cabs and front clips

[82chevy350]

i have a 1982 siverado lwb
and i could prolly get a 1977 swb but i want to keep my 82 cab and front clip are these interchangeable

 

[f1shman]

You can swap them, but depending on the circumstances you might run into some issues during the swap.

The biggest problems that arise from these swaps is the floor pans. Some trucks (mostly 4wd models) came with a much larger transmission tunnel than others. If you are swapping a cab with a small tunnel onto a powertrain that requires a large tunnel, you'll have clearance issues. You can get around it by either cutting the larger tunnel out of the previous cab and welding it into the new one or by running a 3" body lift kit on the cab with the smaller tunnel.

The second issue will probably be the front bumper. The 77 bumper just won't look right with the 82 nose. To retain the 82 bumper you'll have to do some creative cutting on the front portion of the frame rails to ensure the bumper brackets bolt on properly.

Last but not least, while you have the cab off you might as well change the body bushings. Make sure you order them to match the model year of the frame and not the model year of the cab.

 

[Swims350]

If it was me and the 77 cab and front end wasn't junk I'd use them but I like the round headlights better.

everything else has been covered, bushings, front frame, etc.

As for the floor from what I gather on 4x4's and stick shifts, maybe only stick shift floor shift has the high hump, not sure on the column shift sticks,

 

[82chevy350]

Well its a 2wd and i have seen people cut the front of the frames on the 77 to be able to accept the newer bumpers

Well the reason i wanna use my 82 even though the cab corners are gone is because i have fixed all the wiring and it was my first truck so it has some sentimental value to me

so would this all be a direct bolt on

 

[82chevy350]

http://fortsmith.craigslist.org/cto/1930267233.html

i really want this truck though

 

[Mike D]

A 4wd truck will have a factory 2" body lift higher than the 2wd truck of the same year.

 

[Swims350]

wow another guy from wv, that's cool, don't think factory had body lifts though, maybe taller body bushings.

 

[kleedus]

this is a 4x4 cab on a 76 2x4 frame.

the low one in back


i cut off the front 4'' of the 85 frame and the 76 frame and put the 85 frame on the 76 to swap bumpers

 

[HotRodPC]

Well its a 2wd and i have seen people cut the front of the frames on the 77 to be able to accept the newer bumpers

Well the reason i wanna use my 82 even though the cab corners are gone is because i have fixed all the wiring and it was my first truck so it has some sentimental value to me

so would this all be a direct bolt on

Not to mention you already have the 82 Titled and registered. If you are going 2wd to 2wd frame, the only 2 issues I am aware of is #1 the bumper which you are aware of, and you must use the mounts that go with the frame, or is it the body??? Now I don't recall, but check that out. Its one of the other. You MUST USE the correct mounts. Just not positive now, but I think you'll use the 77 mounts that match the frame with your 82 Body.