The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop question for Altenative , body and frame Modification **** verse chev

My question is this, I have an 80 chev 1/2 ton, fleetside longbox, good power train, body not so good, been looking for some time now but no find on a a good 48 to 58 gmc body to put on the frame, run across a 56 **** , a 1/2 ton shortbox would this work? what mods are involved? I've seen how chevy frames and so forth under a **** Body in magazine articles. Anybody knows anything or do's and don'ts, let me know would appreiate the help and comments. Thank you.

Honestly, forget it. There are a FEW frame swaps that make sense, this one doesn't. They take a LOT of fabrication, LOTS.

Find the truck you want, and update the suspension with modern add ons.

Martinsr is right. The wheelbase is too long and the frame too wide. It is far easier and cheaper to buy a decent truck and do the suspension upgrades that are on the market.

And, while you are working on the "new" truck, you can keep driving your rusted out '80. Unless you want to do an engine transplant.

I dont claim to know a lot about these old trucks but I put a 39 GMC on a 1980 c10 short frame and its a blast to drive.Had to weld two angles across the dip in the frame at the cab for mounting it and moved engine back 6 inches and rear forward about 2 inches. I got power steering power disc breaks and I think due to the engine being back more than before it drives great.It does take a while to mount everything. I did it because the truck was a basket case when I got it,dont destroy a good original truck.
Gary

Thanks for the heads up guys, appreciate it, but one more question, can I reverse the process, could I put the 355 into the 56, any measurements or ideas where to put the motor mounts, tranny mounts etc? Again Thank you.