The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk chassis swap?

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for swapping chassis on my 1964 C-10 SWB. I was just going to do a disc brake conversion but have since decided that I would love to make more of an everyday driver out of it. I want to go with the 350 T.B.I. motor so I would need to go 1987 or newer but was unsure of the wheelbase comparison on the '87 or even on the '88 and up body style. Also I was wondering if anyone may have done this before could possibly give me some advice on how much and how hard it was to fabricate all of the body mounts. Thanks. in advance.

I HAVE NOT DONE IT BUT IM REALLY THINKING BOUT DOING IT I DO KNOW THAT MY GRANDADYS 88 CHEVY IS BOUT 10 IN NEARER IN THE BED THEN MY 64 CHEVY

Joe, I would have to go with at least a '87 donor truck to get the T.B.I. engine. I know that the front suspension would swap but these trucks are alot harder to find. So mostly I was wondering about the 1988 and up style trucks. Does anyone know if the suspension will swap or if the dimensions would work for a chassis swap? Thanks.

No the suspension will not swap. The GMT 400 chassis ('88-98) has the control arm mounts wlded to the frame rather than bolted. Also, the wheel base is longer by avout 3". Even the '73-'87 chassis has too long of a wheelbase for use under a '60-'66 body. I'm with TMTC, do the bolt in front suspension/brake swap, keep the coils in the back (better ride), then get an engine from the salvage yard form the later truck. I can understand getting a complete doner, but you'll be ahead doing the swap separately than trying to find a 1 yaer only truck as a doner.
PS- you only really need the spindles for the disk brake conversion, and ball joints from the later truck.

An '87 is now a 20 year-old truck and likely to need new bushings and possibly other parts in the suspension anyway. If you are going to need to disasemble to replace the parts anyway, why not do that work to update the older frame?

You won't have to change the wheelbase or modify body mounts, and since the same suspension design was availble from '63 through '87 newer designs are easily adapted.

Separating the engine choice from the suspension choice lets you choose your motor and suspension based on the best pieces.

You can put a throttle body engine in a 64 using an aftermarket stand alone wiring harness and controller. You can even buy the whole fuel injection system aftermarket. I agree, update the original frame, less body mods to go wrong,
Scott

Thanks for all the help. I think I may have a perfect donor located. It is a 1990 model suburban. Still the old body style but has the fuel injected motor. Is there anything different on a suburban than a pickup that I should know about. I looked up part #'s for the ball joints and tie rods and they are the same but the idler and pitman are different. Also the steering gearbox looks to be mounted differently is that the case? I could just swap the spindles but would like to use the steering gear if possible. These suburbans seem to be a dime a dozen and are not much more than a salvage fuel injected motor with trans. and this way I can test drive the motor and trans. before buying. Thanks again in advance.

Scott, Where do I get this harness and controller you talked about. I was planning on using the harness from the donor and probably many hours of tracing and splicing into my original harness. Your way sounds much, much easier.

Just wanted to update the post to see if anyone had answers to the last couple of questions. thanks.

Sorry, haven't had a lot of time today. I would get a Custom Trucks or Classic Custom Trucks type of magazine and look through all of the different vendors listed and contact the ones that apply. Painless and Ron Frances are top notch wiring companies, there's several more.

On the front suspension swap, a 90 'burb or truck would not be a good choice. You'll need something pre '88. The front end from 88 and up are integrated into the frame and won't unbolt and swap over to your frame. Stick with the '72 - '87 era trucks for an easier swap.
That's just my opinion, others may vary,
Scott

While the pickups changed in '88 I thought the 'burbs changed at least a or two year later. If the 'burb has the '87 and earlier body style I would assume it also has the earlier suspension, but it would be worth crawling under it to compare.

thats funny im into the old stuff to get away from fule injection and stuff thats on the newer cars i like the old easy stuff i do like a big engine with a 4 speed but i like working on the old stuff guess ive been forst to work on the new stuff latly all those sender units and cumputers and stuff braking down ha!!!

Yes, 'Burbs stayed on the old body to '91, along with the K5 Blazer and the 4 door cab and some Chassis cab pickups. There is still the wheelbase discrepensy and the body mounts are different, but you could still use the engine and front suspension components.