Swap question

[62 gmc step]

Hey guys, I have a 62 GMC stepside. Someone offered me a good deal on a 78 Chevy that needs too much work to fix. It has a 350/TH350.

Is it possible to swap the front subframe and rear end into a 62? How much fab work would be required.

Thanks for any help

Ryan

[protrash64]

Pretty much bolt on except for welding new axle perches and you may have to get creative with the motor mount stands. Also, I'm guessing, a trans mount will have to be made.

I'm sure others will add specific stuff.

[markeb01]

Here's a link to a how-to on the front suspension swap:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=366850

And here's a link on the engine/trans mounts:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=369663

[62 gmc step]

Thanks for the responses, and the links! I appreciate it.

Has anyone swapped a 78 rear end?

[Captainfab]

The rear ends from '71-'87 are 1.50 inches wider than your original one. I'm going to assume that your GMC has leaf springs on the rear? If I remember correctly, there is about .50 inch difference between the spring pads from the '62 rear to the '73-'87 rear ends. You may have enough side to side movement with your springs to make this work without cutting and welding. However the correct way would be to move the spring pads to the correct location. The '78 rear end will have the shock mounts in a different location than the '62 as well. It would probably be easiest to move the shock mounts on the rear end to the '62 dimensions. Then there will likely be driveshaft and e-brake cable issues to deal with as well. IMO it would be a worthwhile upgrade to bigger brakes and likely better gearing.

Originally Posted by 62 gmc step

Has anyone swapped a 78 rear end?

[tapeworm]

do it!


Sorry for the image, I just couldn't resist!

Does the truck run and drive?
The parts for my last project all came out of a running and driving donor. Best thing I ever did; I knew everything was in good running order before it got put into the project. Also, no hunting around for parts at seperate places. Drive it come, and tear it apart in the driveway

[markeb01]

You might want to verify exactly what rear end you have right now. My 1960 GMC short stepside originally came with a coil spring suspended Dana 44 rear axle. Some of the 3/4 tons came with Dana 60's. I'm not sure what was standard for GMC in 1962. The Dana 44 remains very popular in the Jeep and 4x4 community, so there are readily available gear sets and it's pretty beefy. I had my axles redrilled to 5x5 pattern, the axle stub turned down to fit the 5 lug 73+ brake drums, also added the later self adjusters. The Dana 44 has a very distinctive removable cover:

http://coloradok5.com/axleguide.shtml

If you have a Dana 44 it might be worth keeping, and could turn out easier to convert to 5 lug rather than swapping out the rear end.

[62 gmc step]

Thanks for all the responses guys! I think I'm gonna do it!

[tapeworm]

Sounds great!!

just as marke01 mentioned, it may be easier to convert the rearend you have. Mine has a 12 bolt, and I may end up having Moser weld and redrill the axles.

Regardless with what you do with the rearend, you can use the motor, tranny, crossmember, booster,ect