What To Do ?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SIXTYEIGHT · 09-15-2003, 03:06 AM

Hello i have a problem i started with a 68 chevy that has a 307 i than purchased a 72 GMC 1500 custom. I planned on putting the 350 in the 68 but found out the cab's are difrent where the tranny goes the gmc look's roomier. Now i took all the fender's of the 68 grill and all and plan to put them on the 72 but then it wont be a 68 plus the 72 has the leaf suspension in the rear . Let's say it will save me time to switch body part's to the 72 than to buy a auto tranny for the 68 and switch the engine and buy a new radiator to have it eccept automatic tran's (the sixty eight is three on tree and 72 four on the floor)cool rime's!!!
what also bothered me is i want to drop it and the leaf thing is making me think plus im new at this ADVICE PLEASE!!!!Oh im planning on putting an auto tranny on the 72 too but it gives me time to save and still drive it while im saving the other way id have to wait!!...

SIXTY EIGHT MOTOR DOES NOT RUN!!!!

hgs_notes · 09-15-2003, 04:19 AM

The size of the tranny hump doesn't matter for engine swaps. Put the 350 in the 68. Since you have the front clip off it already, the swap should be a piece of cake. Then just put the 68 front back on the 68, lower it and your set.

Find out why the 307 doesn't run before you trade them out though. It may not be an engine problem, but electrical or fuel delivery problem. If thats the case, the 350 might not run either after the switch. Then, if you can get the 307 to run, put it in the 72.

As far as the tranny thing goes, if you're switching to an auto matic later, it doesn't really matter which truck you use. Just pick the radiator out of either truck, which ever is in better shape, bring it to a radiator shop and have them install the side tank from an automatic radiator. Or just check a yard and buy one. They're not thatt hard to find. FYI, I ran my auto with just an external cooler for quite awhile with no trouble. The only real advantage to a radiator cooler is that it warms the tranny up faster in cold weather.

To finish it all off, either get the steering column from the truck that you get an automatic crassmember and radiator from, or if you go with a floor shifter use the column from the four speed truck.

You end up with a 68 with a 350 and auto without a column shifter and lowered with coils and a pretty much stock 72 with a 307 and rear leafs.

sameyrasmea72 · 09-15-2003, 05:18 AM

The big hump is used for 400 transmission or for floor shift. If you want/need the large hump on the 68 cab you can cut the floor then buy the hump (which is just bolted on by the way) from someone here on the board.

Welcome to the board from another newbie from Texas. I Guess it depends on if you want two complete trucks or one. The 72 frame would have some advantages over the 68 because of the disc brakes on the front. I don't Know how difficult it would be to change it from leaf to coil springs, but some of the pros here can tell you. If you use the 72 frame and put on the 68 frontend, you can still use the vin tag off the 68 and have it registered as a 68 chevy. Then you could lower it and still have the good brakes. Then save you $$$$ and do the tranny swap later on. I like the 72 cab because of the moulded door panels on the 72 doors/regulators, windshield mounted rearview mirror and plus later on when you decide to drop in a big block, you already have the big hump for the 400 tranny. jk

SIXTYEIGHT · 09-15-2003, 05:32 AM

I forgot to mension the 72 has front disc brakes with that booster thing and set up for five lug wheel's and clean windshield with a chip that was fixed but not garanteed to be swapable without running all across. The sixty eight has no windshield all brakes are drum's six lug i know well i think these thing's are swapable to the sixty eight but my question is is it worth to swap all these thing's when i can swap the pure fender's and grill ? are the leaf's hard to lower is the frame worth staying with the only dif. are the swing arm's right?

Custom 68 · 09-15-2003, 10:43 AM

Dont forget if you are swapping front ends you need to swap all of it including the core support. They are different on the 68 to the 72. I like the looks of the 68 best but the 72 is a very close second. Just keep asking questions you will get it.
good luck
Dave

09-15-2003, 03:06 AM	#1
SIXTYEIGHT Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: WA Posts: 4	What To Do ?? Hello i have a problem i started with a 68 chevy that has a 307 i than purchased a 72 GMC 1500 custom. I planned on putting the 350 in the 68 but found out the cab's are difrent where the tranny goes the gmc look's roomier. Now i took all the fender's of the 68 grill and all and plan to put them on the 72 but then it wont be a 68 plus the 72 has the leaf suspension in the rear . Let's say it will save me time to switch body part's to the 72 than to buy a auto tranny for the 68 and switch the engine and buy a new radiator to have it eccept automatic tran's (the sixty eight is three on tree and 72 four on the floor)cool rime's!!! what also bothered me is i want to drop it and the leaf thing is making me think plus im new at this ADVICE PLEASE!!!!Oh im planning on putting an auto tranny on the 72 too but it gives me time to save and still drive it while im saving the other way id have to wait!!... SIXTY EIGHT MOTOR DOES NOT RUN!!!! __________________ LET'S ROLL Last edited by SIXTYEIGHT; 09-15-2003 at 03:08 AM.

09-15-2003, 04:19 AM	#2
hgs_notes GEARHEAD Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MN Posts: 6,126	The size of the tranny hump doesn't matter for engine swaps. Put the 350 in the 68. Since you have the front clip off it already, the swap should be a piece of cake. Then just put the 68 front back on the 68, lower it and your set. Find out why the 307 doesn't run before you trade them out though. It may not be an engine problem, but electrical or fuel delivery problem. If thats the case, the 350 might not run either after the switch. Then, if you can get the 307 to run, put it in the 72. As far as the tranny thing goes, if you're switching to an auto matic later, it doesn't really matter which truck you use. Just pick the radiator out of either truck, which ever is in better shape, bring it to a radiator shop and have them install the side tank from an automatic radiator. Or just check a yard and buy one. They're not thatt hard to find. FYI, I ran my auto with just an external cooler for quite awhile with no trouble. The only real advantage to a radiator cooler is that it warms the tranny up faster in cold weather. To finish it all off, either get the steering column from the truck that you get an automatic crassmember and radiator from, or if you go with a floor shifter use the column from the four speed truck. You end up with a 68 with a 350 and auto without a column shifter and lowered with coils and a pretty much stock 72 with a 307 and rear leafs. __________________ If no one knows what you're doing, they can't tell you you're doing it wrong HG's Dream Car Build - Shelby Cobra Kit Build your own adjustable track bar 71 Long Fleet C/10 72 Jimmy 4x4 (Junkyard Jimmy) HG's Plow Truck '78 K35 Dually Bigass Farm Truck HG's thread of miscellaneous stuff

09-15-2003, 05:18 AM	#3
sameyrasmea72 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,443	The big hump is used for 400 transmission or for floor shift. If you want/need the large hump on the 68 cab you can cut the floor then buy the hump (which is just bolted on by the way) from someone here on the board. Welcome to the board from another newbie from Texas. I Guess it depends on if you want two complete trucks or one. The 72 frame would have some advantages over the 68 because of the disc brakes on the front. I don't Know how difficult it would be to change it from leaf to coil springs, but some of the pros here can tell you. If you use the 72 frame and put on the 68 frontend, you can still use the vin tag off the 68 and have it registered as a 68 chevy. Then you could lower it and still have the good brakes. Then save you $$$$ and do the tranny swap later on. I like the 72 cab because of the moulded door panels on the 72 doors/regulators, windshield mounted rearview mirror and plus later on when you decide to drop in a big block, you already have the big hump for the 400 tranny. jk Last edited by sameyrasmea72; 09-15-2003 at 05:25 AM.

09-15-2003, 05:32 AM	#4
SIXTYEIGHT Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: WA Posts: 4	HMMM... I forgot to mension the 72 has front disc brakes with that booster thing and set up for five lug wheel's and clean windshield with a chip that was fixed but not garanteed to be swapable without running all across. The sixty eight has no windshield all brakes are drum's six lug i know well i think these thing's are swapable to the sixty eight but my question is is it worth to swap all these thing's when i can swap the pure fender's and grill ? are the leaf's hard to lower is the frame worth staying with the only dif. are the swing arm's right? __________________ LET'S ROLL

09-15-2003, 10:43 AM	#5
Custom 68 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,944	Dont forget if you are swapping front ends you need to swap all of it including the core support. They are different on the 68 to the 72. I like the looks of the 68 best but the 72 is a very close second. Just keep asking questions you will get it. good luck Dave __________________ Dave 1968 Custom Chevy with turbo charged 5.3 gen III 4l80e swap 1967-71 GMC 3/4 ton long step 4x4 (not sure what year exactly?) "A good friend will bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "that was frekin awesome". "If it doesn't fit force it...If it breaks then it needed to be replaced anyway!"



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