calling anybody thats gone from 73-80 to 81-87 front end

[wilkin250r]

I'm not 100% certain this gap is supposed to be here, but then again, my hood only sits about 1/8 inch above my fenders, my gap at the windshield looks pretty close, my gaps at the doors look decent, so maybe that's just the way it goes.

[wilkin250r]

Any other details you need pictures of? Different angles? measurements?

I would post pictures of the opposite side, but I don't see much point, it looks so similar.

[frog210]

I know you might not be able to, but
you have any pics of where the radiator mounts to frame area
like the bolt hole?
Hoe bout a pic of the gaps your talking about
gonna do my swap Friday
so just getting the details

[wilkin250r]

I don't know how much my radiator mounting will be able to help you, I have a 3-inch body lift on this truck so it's not going to be exactly the same. You can be off almost half inch and still be okay with a 3-inch spacer in place.

The second shows how my hood matches up. The gaps aren't 100% uniform, which doesn't surprise me. There are several issues that the previous owner did that I would have handled differently, so details like this aren't a big surprise. But you can see by the third picture it's not really that bad from a few feet away.

[frog210]

hey wilkin250r
what year is your truck?

[wilkin250r]

Good question. It seems to be a combination of several different years, but I don't have a detailed history of the construction of this truck. I got the truck in trade, I was only into the entire project about $250 when I acquired it. For a price like that, I didn't ask too many questions at the time.

The frame is a 79 3/4 ton, and imagine the cab is as well. I found the original VIN plate for the dash that matches the frame VIN, but it's not attached, so it's possible the cab is different. It's definitely pre-80, that can be seen by the front firewall.

I found a different vin on the front fenderwell, as well as the door, that corresponds to a 1984 1/2 ton, but I think the front fenders might be yet a third truck, it looks like the original paint is white, rather than the yellow of the cab and doors.

[frog210]

for a truck with different year parts
it looks good and everything's better with trade lol
Im going to see if maybe i can screw the hood support instead
of welding it(don't have a welder)
What you planning to do to your truck?

[wilkin250r]

It's a slow process. My first step is pricey, new tires are going to run about $3000. If you look close, the rear axle is on jack stands, because the rear tires don't hold air for more than a couple hours. And they're so old, cracked, and dry rotted that plugging or repairing them is simply not an option. It's also geared all wrong, it's got 3.73 gears in it. Even a small uphill slope and it doesn't have enough power to get out of it's own way.

New tires and 5:13 gears are my first step, and then I'll take an autobody class at the local community college. The classes are pretty loose, it's not a rigid format. They let you bring in your own car, and if you want to learn chop tops, they teach you (not that I'm going to chop the top). If you want to learn basic panel repair and sheet metal fab, they teach you. If you want to learn paint, they teach you, all on your own car.

I'm toying with the idea of a 700R4, because I like the idea of overdrive, and possibly even a doubler transfer case, but time and budget will tell on that kind of stuff. At a minimum the tranny needs a rebuild because it will roll while in park, so I may just upgrade it rather than rebuild it.

[frog210]

Thats very cool man
I second the idea of a 700r4
just put a temporary transmission till you get what you want
Learn how to chop the top lol

[ChevyGearHeads]

i got pics' of my new 86 cab hope it help's good luck

[frog210]

When i First was looking for my truck i was looking for 81-87 and just do the conversion
to an 82
but all the square front ends where either over 3000( i only had 2200) and i needed a truck to go to work, or they needed alot of work
I found my 74 for 1500
ive put time and money to get it how it is now, but im still not liking it
when im done with the truck its going to be custom
Im thinking of holding on to my 74 clip for the future
not gonna lie, but i see a ton of round eyes in my area, not that many square front ends
a bunch of them are 1975 and up
but i do see a good amount of 73-74s

[wilkin250r]

Originally Posted by frog210

Thats very cool man
I second the idea of a 700r4
just put a temporary transmission till you get what you want
Learn how to chop the top lol

The current one works fine as temporary transmission. I just have to remember to set the parking brake, but other than rolling in Park, it works and shifts just fine.

Forget chopping, if I do get creative, I'm going to do a lot of work on the front fenders. Right now there just isn't enough room for the tires that I have, but I can't bring myself to use smaller tires. I also can't just hack the fenders out, the little flares around the wheel wells are classic Chevy lines, they're timeless and beautiful, I can't just cut them off. So I might get creative and enlarge the whole fender well area with a lot of cutting and welding to keep those flares.

[frog210]

Like tubbing the wheel wells?

[ChevyGearHeads]

i'm putting the 86 cab on a 80 short bed frame and running a glass hood with pin's i'm useing the 80 front end i think they look good.

[wilkin250r]

frog, we're looking forward to pictures and details...

[frog210]

okay well i started and have taken off the fenders, hood, radiator support, bumper
by myself, with basic tools
started at 12-4

i have a question with the radiator and ac condenser
the radiator and condenser from my 74 should work on my newer front end right?
do i use the condenser from the 74 on the newer clip
or would i have to use buy one for my new clip?

[frog210]

okay well i was trying to open the hood and cant
i got the new clip all assembled hood core support fenders
but how do i get the hood open?
I dosent have a cable
ive spent about a hour trying to open it

i have seen these two post
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=355772

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...pen+stuck+hood

im going to try and do the unbolt the bolts just cant find the swivel ratchet piece
when i pry it up like in the post
i just see two bolts not four like in the post
i need some advice on how to open it, cant do nothing else
on and its starting to look like its going to rain, i dont have no carport or trees fml
just put a tarp on the engine all the wire(the few it has lol) dizzy
put a bunch of bricks to hold the tarp down
what a great day

[J Knight]

edit

[frog210]

This is where im at for now
this is a pretty hard, tedious thing to do by yourself and no trees or carport or shade
when i first started off i was getting some shade from my neighbors tree then i lost all shade in 2-3 hours
i then pushed it up the drive way by myself lol (that was fun too) put it next to the house so i can get some shade
I got a bunch of baggies and wd40 for the bolts
on my passenger fender under the battery trey by the radiator support i found alot of rust

*anybody that wants to do this i recommended having some one help you, but can be done by yourself)
*I thought i would just be able to unbolt the radiator support without having to take the grill or lights off i was wrong
there are bolts hidden that are pretty hard to get, if you have a swivel you might be able to do it easier, i didnt lol

the last pic is of it being covered up
the sky turned black and it thought it was gonna rain just my luck fml
i had looked at the weather channel and it didnt say anything about raining and is pretty rare in texas lol
after a hour or two, you could see the sun set i was like figures

tomorrow is another day
but i am having a problem getting the hood from the other front clip open
any suggestions

[wilkin250r]

I don't know any solution to the hood problem, but if you'd like I can take some pictures of my hinge so you can get an idea of what's in there and how to tackle it.

[frog210]

I just want to remind everyone that im 19 have a job am the only guy here at my house and i have basic tools
so if i can do it any one can do it it just takes time lol time

First pic is of when i put my new fender on
Second pic i figured out how to do the hood, if your cable brakes or your hood dosent open for some reason, pop your hood open with some wood till you have like half and inch of space get a 1/2 ratched with extension and swivel and you can unscrew the two screw in the pic and it will come out success
Third pic is of me trying out the radiator support
Fourth pic once i put the support on i wanted to check the amount i might have to move, i measured it i think i have to move it 1in back
Fifth pic another pic of the spacing between using the 74 core support location
Sixth pic another pic of the spacing
Seventh pic show how much the grill and front stick out from the front of the fenders
Eight pic i tried drilling out the rivets spot welds what ever you call it with a drill and wasnt getting anywhere, remembered i had a dremel went to home depo bought some cutting blades for the dremel, it works pretty good in these tight spaces, only thing these cutting disk last for like one rivet it takes a few minutes per rivet, once i got it around, got a cold chisel with a hammer hit it for a few minutes and the heads popped off
Ninth pic me sticking a screwdriver between the radiator support and frame and hitting it in with a hammer, got both of the bottoms out
Tenth pic is showing the other side of the support you can see where i got both of the bottom out, the top needs a little more cutting
Thats where i stopped because it got dark
i had been working on these rivets and hood latch this whole day
I need to get this done by tomorrow so wish me luck
how have yall gotten these rivets out?

[frog210]

Okay guys well i got the radiator support done and fenders i just have a question
when i took the radiator supports off i mounted the radiator support on with just the fenders so i can now where to drill the new holes on the frame for the supports
I had to move the holes on the frame in(like to the engine) but when i took the supports of so i can see how far it was there only like 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch tops between the new holes and the old ones
My Gaps between the doors look spaced good
so i know i dont have a big gap
everything is bolted up and looks good, maybe the 74 frame and the 82 clip weren't to different??? In hole locations?
I went to home depot to get some bolts for the new core support my 74 bolts where 1" to 1 1/2" to short, went and got two 1/2" inch by 8 inches(there really long lol)
also bought some 3/8 inch bolts for the radiator supports
Not bad for my first front clip swap

[JCampbell]

It’s coming along.

…and don’t sweat the negativity. This place has its share of kats who think you should build your truck to their specs and find it appropriate to let you know you when you fail to do so. Front end swaps always flush these types out.

BTW, this is the easy way to do it...

[frog210]

Wish i had your machine and your help lol
it always make everything easier with a helper




My quarter as a spacer lol

[JCampbell]

What's up w/ your windshield? Get a little pissed trying to line everything up?