78 C10 questions

[Gnarlyrider27]

Okay so I have a 78 Chevy C10 heavy half. It was my first car I ever bought and been a work in progress. Well I just found on facebook a guy selling a 88 Chevy 1500 4x4. Missing body parts but everything else is there. I want to put my 78 cab and everything else body wish on that frame. Do I have to do a lot of mods and cutting on the frame and mounts or should the cab bolt up and stuff. Buying the running truck for 250 bucks which is cheaper then buying all the stuff to convert it plus I want the newer engine.

[74CustomK20]

It can be done, but it is a ton of work. All the wiring and the frames are very different. If ya got a welder and a torch anything is possible, but it will be a ton of work from what I've seen.

[Gnarlyrider27]

So would it just be easier to do a motor swap and just use my frame and keep it 2wd? I mean I could do the work at my work but would have to be on a weekend so unsure how long it could take.

[cadillac_al]

It's much easier to refurbish your 78 C10 frame unless it's broken or bent. If you are doing it for the 4x4, well, it's so much easier to buy one. If you don't mind the wimpy independent front end 4x4 then you might as well buy a whole truck with the nicer cab or extended cab.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Gnarlyrider27

Okay so I have a 78 Chevy C10 heavy half. It was my first car I ever bought and been a work in progress. Well I just found on facebook a guy selling a 88 Chevy 1500 4x4. Missing body parts but everything else is there. I want to put my 78 cab and everything else body wish on that frame. Do I have to do a lot of mods and cutting on the frame and mounts or should the cab bolt up and stuff. Buying the running truck for 250 bucks which is cheaper then buying all the stuff to convert it plus I want the newer engine.

Your body is not go to be an easy fit on that frame, but anything is possible. The savings will soon disappear.
If the running gear is in good working order buy it for the engine, transmission and transfer case. I'm not up on the 88-98 4wd but I know its common to convert them to solid axle rather that IFS.

If you really want a 4wd try looking for a 73-87 for a donor. It might be worth it in the long run.