The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 1966 body on newer model frame!!!!

My name is jonathan and i am currently in iraq with the Oklahoma national guard, u.s. army. when i get home in august i want to take the body off of a fleetside 1966 chevy pickup. a body like is on the C20. but i dont know what newer years of chevy truck i can body swap it with. i would like to find a truck with a 6.0L that i can have rebuilt with a new cam and some performance engine parts. but thats just background info really. what i need to know is what 66 era fleetside models i can put on what newer model chevy frames. if anyone knows anything about this or knows of a book i can get or anything that might help i would really appreciate it. i would like to use the long wheelbase fleetside. i believe it has a wheelbase of 127" but not certain. thanks very much
Jonathan

can't for the life of me think how it would do anything but make a lot of work.

first the rear has control arms and coil springs and that is the system that nascar uses they use the truck arms. now the front is basicly the same coil spring a arms the only thing you need is a stiff sway bar if you have a half ton use a bar from a 3/4 ton. if you have a 3/4 ton then one from a 1 ton will be good.

Jonathon,
I think you are taking the path seldom taken because the ease of modifying the 60's 1/2 tons without swapping frames. Your 3/4 ton has sloppy manual steering, expensive to repair drum brakes w/single master, and probably 4.10 rear gears, & likely worn out rear suspension. These reasons are why I'm thinking about swapping my 66 C20 cab onto my 93 K20 chassis keeping the injected 350 & 5spd. My 93 is 4x4 ext.cab longbed so I can't use my 8' bed. I would go flatbed. The biggest obstacles are cab mounts (probably easier than AD to S-10 swaps),brake master mounting, & gauges. I might have to use the 93 steering column. This might be feasible because I already have the two trucks.
Still, if you want a performance truck, it would be a good idea to follow everyone else. Start with a 1/2 ton & modify. 60's Chevys are cheap. Otherwise set aside a lot of time to plan & work. If you still want to swap, I would suggest 1988-1995 or so if you want fuel injection. I know the rear of the frame is wider. The 1973-1987 might be the closest in frame compatibility. 1986-87 have TBI with the older frame. Anything with the 6.0(the new series of engines) is gonna have too many obstacles.
Good luck.
Scott

ok thank you very much. that was extremely helpful. looks like i will be sticking with the older chassis and modifying it. i appreciate it.

Jonathan