'73 cab/body on modern frame?

[slotard]

A friend of mine is probably selling his 2000 Chevy 2500 work truck before too long. It has a 6.0, auto tranny (I guess 4L80E?), 8 lug, has a few dents but everything works great.

He claims he gets close to 20mpg on the highway, while I get barely over half that. I'd love to have a modern powertrain and tranny rather than a carb and 3 speed.

Has anyone swapped an older cab onto a modern frame? Here in CA vehicles 1975 and older don't get smogged, which is a big advantage but I'd like the modern powertrain. I understand it won't be trivial but I'm wondering how possible it is.

[andrewmp6]

Its a really big job you will have to fab up a ton of stuff to get it to look right.I would just swap in the 6.0 and 4l80e its a lot less work and will be cheaper to do.

[v30crewcab]

from what i've heard california titles off the frame, so you might get into a mess later on doing a newer frame swap. better to just put it all in your frame.

[Flatpat]

Swapping the motor/trans is pretty easy, plenty of people have done it and there is a lot of information on this site on how to do it.

[slotard]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

from what i've heard california titles off the frame, so you might get into a mess later on doing a newer frame swap. better to just put it all in your frame.

Is there even a VIN on the frame?

[KrazyRay]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

from what i've heard california titles off the frame, so you might get into a mess later on doing a newer frame swap. better to just put it all in your frame.

Not always. I have brought in several undocumented Chevy trucks into DMV and got them titled using 2 separate areas with vin numbers on the cab. The last one I did was a 73 and we found the vin on the door jamb and on a sticker on the door. They will also accept the vin on the spid sheet and the one on the frame.

[SCOTI]

Another vote for just swapping the drivetrain. Keep it simple. The newer chassis isn't going to impact mpg's vs the older if the gearing is similar.

Also.... What is "close to 20mpg's"? I've never heard anyone comment their 6.0/4l80e 3/4-ton truck got 'great' mpg's. Usually 12-14 in town & 16-ish on the road w/no load.

[chevyman95]

I hate to be the naysayer here but I highly doubt he is actually getting 20mpg. We couldn't even come close to that in any of ours we had for work

[andrewmp6]

A engine and trans swap can be done in a weekend with the right swap parts,Throwing a body on a frame its not designed for is months of work to years.And yes a frame has a vin all cars and trucks have hidden vins something like 5 to 8 places depending year and make.

[slotard]

He said he gets close to 20 when he sticks to 55-60, empty... that's as fast as I'm going now due to gearing anyway.

I guess I'll look for a complete engine/tranny/wiring harness instead - or how much wiring do I need?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by slotard

He said he gets close to 20 when he sticks to 55-60, empty... that's as fast as I'm going now due to gearing anyway.

I guess I'll look for a complete engine/tranny/wiring harness instead - or how much wiring do I need?

Depends on your approach. I feel its best to get the complete un-hacked harness for motor & trans.

[85supersierra]

As far as wiring goes your best bet is to go to Howellefi.com and get a harness. it will turn a couple days work into 5 min. I used them with my 8.1 swap and it was all plug and play.

[andrewmp6]

The 4.8 and 5.3 truck motors are cheaper because most go after the 6.0 or bigger.