C10 body mounts same as K10? Removing cab with engine hoist?

[handloader90]

So I found a reaaalllly nice cab in the junkyard, its an '81-'87 C10. Is the C10 cab a direct bolt in to my '76 K10 frame?

Is everything pretty much the same between the two cabs besides the tranny hump?

My K10 cab has rust in some bad places and it would be worth the money to just swap them out. The junkyard wants $215.00 for the cab.

What's the best/easiest way to remove the cab that's currently sitting on my frame? I don't have access to a shop but I do have an engine hoist.

Junkyard Cab:

 

[skunked]

yep, my cab is a C20 on a 79 K10 frame.

Does the yard have a hoist to load it? That would be hardest part.

 

[handloader90]

They said the have forklifts.

 

[sweetk30]

body mount bushings are 73-80 and 81-up also blazer/suburban/truck/crew cab specific .

but cab to cab swap the bolt pattern is the same . just use body bushings for the year the frame is .

I also have 2 70's frames with 80's bodys on them no problems.

and a 2" body lift more than clears the 2wd low hump .

might get away with a 1" and tiny massaging or trimming .

if it matters to you that cab is a/c . non a/c cab has different pattern for blower box and hoses for heater core . grab that box that's still barly there even if you remove the a/c guts . might make your life easyer . or just a simple tin plate to change the patter/holes or old firewall section .

 

[skunked]

I should also mention that the 2wd hump clears the TH350 with an NP203 or NP205 with some 1" pucks.

 

[handloader90]

Not concerned with AC or heat really. I only have an aftermarket heater that I have to drill two 1.25" holes for hoses and 3 small holes for mounting.

I would like to use no more than 1" of body lift and cut the C10 cabs tranny hump out and work the bolt-on one out of my '76 in.

 

[sweetk30]

if cutting hump then no body lift.

 

[renpens]

Sweetk30, just for clarification say an 80 blazer body will fit a 90 blazer frame by using the 90 bushings? This 90 body is great until I got to looking at the cab. I can poke my finger thru almost everywhere. Someone in the past sprayed foam into the entire top which held moisture and therefore rusted big time. Found real nice 80 Cheyenne body for a replacement. Easier to replace the entire body than graft on a top.

 

[Stomis]

Just as an aside you are aware that the 73-80 front end does not work on an 81-87 cab right?

 

[renpens]

Roger that. The 80 body came complete with front clip. Even tho I like the 81 up hood hinges the 80 hood is straight and unmolested. Have only driven the 90 here on the mountain. But the 4BT with 700r runs great. 4" lift easy ride springs. The ride is great even on the rough roads.
Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[campfire]

Roger that. The 80 body came complete with front clip. Even tho I like the 81 up hood hinges the 80 hood is straight and unmolested. Have only driven the 90 here on the mountain. But the 4BT with 700r runs great. 4" lift easy ride springs. The ride is great even on the rough roads.
Thanks for the quick reply.

You have a thread for that 4BT conversion? It looks neat in there.

 

[renpens]

No thread. I can post alot of photos and answer questions. The 4BT fits quit nicely in the compartment. I need to tidy up some of the auto trans lines. It has a block heater and will start up immediately in the coldest weather. Even after sitting for days. I am currently placing a 96 dodge cummins 6BT in my M1028. I have taken alot of photos along the way. I have looked at quit a number of chevy/cummins builds but none are complete, leaving out the small details. The big stuff is easy, when the small stuff requires the most time to figure out. Photos are just of the top side. The bottom is more important. Let me know if you want a total photo shoot of the conversion. I do not mind. May help many people in their conversion.

 

[campfire]

No thread. I can post alot of photos and answer questions. The 4BT fits quit nicely in the compartment. I need to tidy up some of the auto trans lines. It has a block heater and will start up immediately in the coldest weather. Even after sitting for days. I am currently placing a 96 dodge cummins 6BT in my M1028. I have taken alot of photos along the way. I have looked at quit a number of chevy/cummins builds but none are complete, leaving out the small details. The big stuff is easy, when the small stuff requires the most time to figure out. Photos are just of the top side. The bottom is more important. Let me know if you want a total photo shoot of the conversion. I do not mind. May help many people in their conversion.

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Yes, I am interested in detailed photos of either of your conversions. I don't like V-engines, I much prefer inlines. If/when one of my V-engines dies, I will probably make the switch. The B-series engines seem to be the most commonly available and most widely supported conversion candidates. I love how open and spacious the engine compartment seems after ditching half the engine.

 

[4xfrankie]

what about using the engine hoist to mount the cab? I work alone most of the time , can't find friends around here that are worth a damn.Was contemplating using a hoist myself to mount a body on a frame.How would you go about doing this?If you use a strap around the roof to hoist it , wouldn't you risk bending the cab?

 

[campfire]

what about using the engine hoist to mount the cab? I work alone most of the time , can't find friends around here that are worth a damn.Was contemplating using a hoist myself to mount a body on a frame.How would you go about doing this?If you use a strap around the roof to hoist it , wouldn't you risk bending the cab?

What model of cab are you looking to lift? There's a discussion about cab lifting in @76zimmer's crew cab thread. I have seen a few cabs picked up by the roof, and I would not do that unless it was bound for the scrap yard.

 

[4xfrankie]

I am going to put an 89 cab on a79 k5 frame if that makes any sense. The 89 cab is already off and I made a dolly out of wood bolted to the body mounts with wheel casters on the bottom so I can move it easily.Iam thinking about just jacking the cab up in the air about 4ft jackstands, and just sliding the K5 frame undernieth(pretty light) and position the frame centered ,so Ican fabricate the frame/body mounts. Thanks for the build thread references.

 

[campfire]

I am going to put an 89 cab on a79 k5 frame if that makes any sense. The 89 cab is already off and I made a dolly out of wood bolted to the body mounts with wheel casters on the bottom so I can move it easily.Iam thinking about just jacking the cab up in the air about 4ft jackstands, and just sliding the K5 frame undernieth(pretty light) and position the frame centered ,so Ican fabricate the frame/body mounts. Thanks for the build thread references.

I'm assuming this is a single-length pickup cab? If so, this has been done before, and your method should work fine. Not sure which build thread to refer you to, but I'm sure you can find some if you look for Trazer builds. @swettysblazer is in the middle of doing this right now, you might check out his thread.

 

[4xfrankie]

Yeah it was a regular cab 1500/ sportside bed . gonna have to weld new mounts up Idont think il use the step side bed . don't see too many using 88-98 cabs on 73-91 k5s , I looked all over the web , and only found two, the rest have 73-87 cabs. The sportside frame cracked in half on one side , k5 frame just sittin lookin all perty, 89 sittin lookin lonely , Idecided to marry em

 

[campfire]

Yeah it was a regular cab 1500/ sportside bed . gonna have to weld new mounts up Idont think il use the step side bed . don't see too many using 88-98 cabs on 73-91 k5s , I looked all over the web , and only found two, the rest have 73-87 cabs. The sportside frame cracked in half on one side , k5 frame just sittin lookin all perty, 89 sittin lookin lonely , Idecided to marry em

Start a build thread with pictures. This sounds like a neat project.

You'll have some unique problems that the 73-87 guys don't have, as your new frame rails are several inches closer together than what the cab is expecting. So the mounts will hafta be monkeyed with. Should be fun, if you like fab work.

But it can't be that hard.

 

[4xfrankie]

Start a build thread with pictures. This sounds like a neat project.

You'll have some unique problems that the 73-87 guys don't have, as your new frame rails are several inches closer together than what the cab is expecting. So the mounts will hafta be monkeyed with. Should be fun, if you like fab work.

But it can't be that hard.

already got the mounts figured out.1/4 inch thick square tube 6x6in , bottom cut out at an angle. things are afoot long even.can't decide wether Iwant to weld them to the frame or not. Ithink I will make a flange out of 1/4 inch flat and drill holes and bolt em on,but can't decide.after every thing looks square and Igot a rolling chassis I'l tie em in to rock sliders and a roll cage .all this will be done outside in the back yard-aint got agarage yet, so when spring comes ,and its all comin together I'l post pics.