Swapping Bodies

[hjaqv76]

Hello, new here with a question. I have a '90 extended cab 2wd C1500 w/bad engine and a '92 extended cab 4wd C1500 w/bad body. If I swap bodies will the 2wd body fit the 4wd chassis and what will be the biggest problem I'll encounter along the way? Thanks

 

[evilunclegrimace]

It will fit, you will need to cut the floor pan for the 4WD shifter and swap some of the 4 WD harness over

 

[Nad_Yvalhosert]

It's not impossible to put a c-series cab on a k-series frame, it's just easier to swap the good engine into the good truck.

 

[someotherguy]

You'll encounter a small hiccup at the passenger side firewall hole where the wiring harness goes through to the ECM. It's shaped different (1988-1990 is square; 1991-up is rectangular.) There's a plastic block attached to the harness that looks like a disconnect but it's not; it's a hard grommet of sorts that retains the harness at that point on the firewall. So.....choose your path on dealing with it.

Figuring out the logistics can get tricky. Many will use a 2 post lift to get the cab off the chassis then roll the chassis out. But then you have to get the cab you're discarding off the lift and out of the way so you can roll the donor truck in to get the good cab.

My thinking is get the one you're discarding removed first, so you don't have to worry about damaging it while manhandling it out of the way so you can roll the good donor vehicle in; once the good cab is on the lift, you roll your destination chassis back in and lower the good cab back down on it.

Richard

 

[Drunkcanuk]

If you swap caba, make sure the right VIN stays where it has to.

 

[someotherguy]

If you swap caba, make sure the right VIN stays where it has to.

So in other words, only buy a donor that has a good title that you can transfer into your name. I can hear the debate starting already about moving VIN tags.. don't do it.

Richard

 

[evilunclegrimace]

You'll encounter a small hiccup at the passenger side firewall hole where the wiring harness goes through to the ECM. It's shaped different (1988-1990 is square; 1991-up is rectangular.) There's a plastic block attached to the harness that looks like a disconnect but it's not; it's a hard grommet of sorts that retains the harness at that point on the firewall. So.....choose your path on dealing with it.

Figuring out the logistics can get tricky. Many will use a 2 post lift to get the cab off the chassis then roll the chassis out. But then you have to get the cab you're discarding off the lift and out of the way so you can roll the donor truck in to get the good cab.

My thinking is get the one you're discarding removed first, so you don't have to worry about damaging it while manhandling it out of the way so you can roll the good donor vehicle in; once the good cab is on the lift, you roll your destination chassis back in and lower the good cab back down on it.

Richard

There is no reason to be concerned with the wiring harness pass through on the fire wall as the harness will go with the cab.

 

[someotherguy]

There is no reason to be concerned with the wiring harness pass through on the fire wall as the harness will go with the cab.

OP: "I have a '90 extended cab 2wd C1500 w/bad engine and a '92 extended cab 4wd C1500 w/bad body"

So he'll have a '90 body on a '92 chassis. He could keep the '90 harness, but there will be some minor differences between it and the '92. So there's some work to do either direction he chooses.

Richard