Dropping a 61 body on a 80's frame?

[Thayer03]

Has anyone done this? I will be starting this project this winter


and I want to drop it onto a late 80's long box frame. Are there kits for the cab mounts and such?

Randy

[Baer]

I bought my 60 already converted. It has a 74 gmc shortbed frame under it. When I bought it they had messed up mounts beside the radiator and the back of the cab was welded to the frame(welds were broke). I went in and extended the frame supports for the front of the cab and bolted it up. Had to manufacture the rear mounts for the back of the cab. I love it. It has power brakes, power steering and 5 hole lugs. Only thing I don't like is the way those model pickups rode low to the ground. I want to put mine on a later model 4x4 frame. Just gotta find one first.
If you take your time you should have no problem.

[lilpup69chevy]

i seen a 65 chevy long bed on a 73-87 2wd frame it kinda looked like the bed sat higher in the rear or maybe the guy who built it just didn't know what he was doing

[trkklr77]

1 the frames are the same widths in the places that count

2 the 73+ frames are about 8" longer than the 60s frames


i used the 66 body mounts on a 75 frame, i just used the 75 rear cab bushhing on the 66 mount [the 66 mount is outside the frame 73+ are inside] to give me a base line starting point.

the frames of the 60's truck are also a straight shot from the rear axle to the rise for the front susp, the 73+ drop down 4"ish between the rear cab mount and the rise in front. i used the 66 mount flat on the frame and made a body lift tube to adjust for evenness.

the 60's front clip mount is 3"ish closer to the fire wall than the 73+ and about 3" lower. i made an offset and rise bracket to connect the 2.

i was doing this on a 4x4 setup so body highth was not an issue, you might have a few more problems being a 2wd.

[Demmit_Hemmit's 65]

I think trkklr77 is right.....That's the way I thought you'd have to do it.................I'm putting a 61 shortbed on a 98 frame and there is a couple inches of difference between where the bed and box will sit...........I'm going to raise the cab to make up the difference................Hemmit

[Thayer03]

Thanks for the info guys! That's great to know.

[iride]

Hi all
I have done it 2 ways both were a 4x4.
1st one I cut the frame on the 60s frame between the front and rear cab mounts and did the same on the 70s frame with lots of measuring I welded and plated them together then I had all the mounts from the back of the cab back being original I just modified the front ones where needed. I also have to say that it was a 60s gmc with leafs in the back

2nd project I did I kept the original frame and changed the front crossmember to the 70s 4x4 stlye and changed the leaf spring mounts to the 70s style in the rear
both worked well

[Fastrucken]

Guys, can you tell me why you would consider this frame swap when it seems that we could use just about anything from the 60-87 truck for suspension? There is no sarcasm or any "tude" in my tone, just really curious.

Graham

[Frizzle Fry]

Good question. I could see doing a newer frame like hemmit though.

[Fastrucken]

I could see a 99+ because thoes trucks seem to ride smooth

[trkklr77]

i dont realy see the point for a 2wd but a 4wd the 73+ setup is better and more to swap the susp than the body. the only thing i see is for geting the coils setup and away from the torsion bar type.

[Demmit_Hemmit's 65]

I had a 98 GMC 1500 and really liked the ride that's why i considered using that year frame for my project............Hemmit