serious question on swap

[daylton]

okay i have 1979 Gmc Jimmy it runs i drive it daily, however it needs body panels BAD. Front fenders, doors and grill which will turn to be pricy.... (dont have a lift yet) 3.73 gears

it is going to be a daily driver and an offroad truck.

heres the other part i found a 1980 Chevy Blazer perfect body, lifted 4 inches, 4.11 gears and a posi rear, new drivelines no motor or trans.
for 550

should i do the swap of the engine and tranny???

 

[daylton]

im a marine, and i work at the auto hobbyshop on base.. so time is a little tight
everyone here is either for or against it (about 50/50)
the ones that say no say its too much work
the ones that say yes say its worth the money your going to save, but you might destroy body parts wheeling which is an obvious observation)

 

[K85 Octane]

I say go for it. $550 is cheaper than fixing all the other stuff on the '79. Plus you can try to sell it t get some money back. Swapping an engine and tranny isn't that hard, especially with some help and a cherry picker.

 

[daylton]

okay that is what i was thinking, also working at the auto hobby shop i have a garage to work at with a cherry picker i will post pics up here shortly

 

[chulisohombre]

do it.it only takes me a day or two to do that kind of swap.ive used a bay at the army base i used to be stationed at.it was awesome and they had all the tools i needed.i think i only payed 5 bucks an hour for the bay.if you work there,you already know that though.haha.id totally go for it.550 aint bad for a good body and frame.

 

[daylton]

okay and with this should i buy a sm465 or should i stick with an automatic
i like driving standard but never wheeled with one everyone is telling me to stick with the auto

 

[chulisohombre]

Its really a personal preference,but I like my 465.bulletproof and reliable as hell.it has the 6:1 fist gear and in 4 low I could get out and walk beside my truck if I wanted.just chugs along over rocks good 4 me.

 

[ashman]

okay and with this should i buy a sm465 or should i stick with an automatic
i like driving standard but never wheeled with one everyone is telling me to stick with the auto

imo, stick with what you got for now. get the swap in and done for just the $550 it's going to cost you. once you get your daily driver back up and running, you can start thinking changes/upgrades. don't let the "might as well" bug get ya!

(it will eventually anyway )

 

[82355]

I would do the engine/tranny swap.

As for the automatic to 4 speed, do you have an SM465 donor?

Martin

 

[daylton]

my buddy is rebuilding his whole truck and is getting rid of his n he said if i want it im first in line... i might get it and just hold on too it for awhile n see if i will do it,
and the might as well bug got me already i was looking at the interior and just decided to randomly rip it all out so now i have a front seat and nothing else lmao

 

[82355]

I would swap the SM465 in at the same time then. No point in doing two tranny swaps. Just make sure you have EVERYTHING. Pedals, linkages, brackets, driveshafts, etc.

Martin

 

[daylton]

thus is true