Swap 83 C20 Body onto 86 K20 Frame

[Bigchev]

I am in the process of buying a 86 chevy k20 with a hydraulic clutch setup i was curious if that will be a problem when i drop my 83 C20 body onto the frame the 83 has the mechanical clutch but both trucks are running
the SM465 just one is 2WD and the other is 4WD The first and last picture is the body i want to put on the k20 frame the three pictures in the middle

 

[bucket]

It might be easier to swap bellhousings and clutches too, rather than swap pedal assemblies and drill/patch a bunch of holes in the firewall.

 

[Bigchev]

Are you saying just convert the hyrdaulic system to mechanical?
Do i need to do anything different to the transmission if i do that route?

 

[bucket]

Is the goal to switch bodies and still have two running trucks? If so, keep the clutch setups with the matching bodies.

If you are just building one truck how you like it, use the clutch setup you prefer. I like the hydro setup myself. If you don't really care, go with the mechanical setup because the hydro stuff is worth more to resell.

 

[Bigchev]

my goal is to get my trucks body and motor on the K20 frame i just want the 4x4 so i can get into some better wheelin in the mountains a shop gave me a bid 1000 to do the swap for me is that a good deal? i just want my truck built i could care less about the other one and the 86 cab is for sale has a clear title ill be picking the truck up saturday most likely

 

[HotRodPC]

Whatever you want to do isn't going to be a problem. It's just a matter of deciding which clutch system you'll want. Do you want to keep the mechanical Z bar linkage you have now, or do you want the hydraulic set up that's sin the K20? If you're using all your current stuff in your current truck, same linkage, same bellhousing and all, then no problem.

You biggest issue here will be, you'll need to cut out and swap the center transmission humps in the 2WD cab to accomodate a transfer case. So you'll cut the hump out of the 86 K20 and tack weld it in the C20 cab.

What you're actually doing here, is a 4x4 conversion vis Frame Swap which is the most sensible way of doing so.

 

[kleedus]

i would swap to the hydro clutch you will like it better and the pedals and are not hard to swap. its easier than swaping the bell housing and z bar linkage.

and i would just put a body lift on to clear the t case that way no cutting or welding is needed on the floor.

i put a 2 wheel drive cab on my 4x4 1 ton 4 speed 205 and it had room but not much

 

[Bigchev]

well my cab has the transmission tunnel that bolts up so i was going to go look for a 4x4 one here in town that bolts up and i wanna keep the mechanical stuff seems more practical plus i just had the clutch and everything worked on at the beginning of the year or should i leave my 2wd transmission tunnel and sllap on a 2" body lift to go with the 4" lift it already has?

 

[bucket]

Fairly certain the SM465 2wd trucks got the high hump, so clearance won't be an issue.

 

[HotRodPC]

Fairly certain the SM465 2wd trucks got the high hump, so clearance won't be an issue.

Yep, that's what I was thinking. Didn't realize that at first. I really need an SM465 cab for more than reason huh??? Can't believe of all 9 of the squares I had at one time, not a damn freakin one of them was a manual trans cab.

I wish I was closer to WY, this sounds like an easy swap, and he was quoted $1000 to get it done.

 

[HotRodPC]

I think you might need a chain saw to be able to move this truck. Looks like it's been there awhile.

 

[Bigchev]

thats okay itll be worth it im getting that 3/4 ton truck for a steal the guy said 400 bucks and its mine i just have to drive 2.5 hours out of town to pick it up and tow it back since the snow is coming fairly quick and im busy with school im store it for a bit tear it all down put new flouid in the gears rhino line the frame and hopefully have enugh saved up to get my cab rust repaired and painted while i get the swap done

 

[HotRodPC]

WTF??? Did you just use the 4 Letter S word??? It's September bud, way to early to be talking that kinda weather.


yes, $400 for a 3/4 ton 4x4 Conversion is a steal. You'll get that $400 back selling parts after the swap.

 

[X-cabsquarebody]

Hydro clutch, in my opinion is worth keeping. Especially on a 4WD. Linkage on mechanical clutch can bind if you get the truck in a bad twist. Easy swap. No better way to learn then jumping in with both feet.

 

[kleedus]

you can keep the clutch that you just had put in. just use the 86 hydro bell housing and swap the pedels from the 86. its real easy i done it to my 85 it was a automatic and i put a nv4500 in it.

the hydro clutch will be better in the long run.

i cant remember is the manual tranny floor the same 2 wheel drive and 4x4. i know they are high hump but i thought the 4x4 had a hump over the t case.

its been about 8 years since i put the 2 wheel drive cab on my wrecker. i will have to go crawl under it and look at the t case to floor clearance