Advice - Cab swap or motor/trans swap

[mccurrkm]

I am in the process of gathering parts for my build. I have an 85 Chevy c10 that was my first truck bought by my parents. It has sentimental value to me so I want to fix it up. I want to do a LS swap to get it back on the road. I bought an 86 with a 6.0 lq4 and 4l80e already installed and running. This truck is a project truck that still needs a lot of interior work and body work. The engine is already in and running and the drive shaft is done and has a posi traction rear end. I want all of this in my old truck. I may be having a garage finish the work for me since my time is limited.....would it be easier/cheaper to swap my cab/bed/front clip to this frame or should I pull both running gears out of each and swap them?

[usmcchevy]

I would rather swap drivetrains.

[BR3W CITY]

Swap the drivetrains...its easier and there is much "permanent" stuff you have to do to get an LSx motor in...you'll just be recylcing parts from one truck to the other.

Just don't attempt to do it all at the same time.....even if you need to end up with 2 running trucks..Having 2 projects seems to multiply the stress and difficulty of both lol

[mccurrkm]

Thanks guys...I just need to end up with my old truck running. I don't care about the other parts at all. It will probably all end up for sale cheap on CL or something.

I just didn't know which way would be the best way to go if I'm having a local shop do it charging me by the hour. I don't have the space to do it.

[usmcchevy]

It will be less expensive for a shop to swap the drivetrain. This should be pretty routine work for them, swapping a body isn't something they would do all the time.

[crazy longhorn]

I agree, it would be cheaper to swap the drivetrain....crazyL

[Clyde65]

If you have the time, ask them if you could do some of the dis assembly so you can save some money. a friend of mine did that and although he worked outside, it saved him probably half for he and I to pull the motor and trans, label everything, clean the engine bay and replace a few parts that were used up. then the shop put the motor and trans in in one day.

[mccurrkm]

Thanks guys! I found a shop about 2.5 hours from me that does this routinely. I was reading the "Fred" build and found the owner of the shop on there. We talked about it today and looks like we are going to use the truck I just got as a donor and put all the parts I want/need off it onto my 85. Depending on taxes, I'll be getting started in about a month.

[mccurrkm]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

If you have the time, ask them if you could do some of the dis assembly so you can save some money. a friend of mine did that and although he worked outside, it saved him probably half for he and I to pull the motor and trans, label everything, clean the engine bay and replace a few parts that were used up. then the shop put the motor and trans in in one day.

Good idea! I talked to a shop today and I am going to pull the old engine and trans from my truck before taking it to them. I will do as much as I can to try to save some $$. I got the whole truck running for $2000 which is less than the motor and trans would have cost me. I won't need many more parts at all so I will just be looking at mainly labor charges.

[Clyde65]

Good luck my friend. I know $ is tight for alot of us.