1972 chevy c30 weird project
 

Hi, guys, First thing is I want to say sorry for snapping at you guys my depression was really bad that day but I'm back on meds now and doing better.
Ok, I have a weird project in mind I have a c30 1972 chevy I love the cab but not the drive train I can't go over 60mph without guzzling gas and revving the engine.
So I picked up a frame from a 1999 chevy pickup it came for Texas so almost no rust it has a 4l80e tranny and a 5.7 Vortec so I plan to take the 72 cab and front clips and merge it with the 1999 cab floor so I have a 72 with a 1999 drive train. I plan to keep the interior the same in the 72 so it will still look old.
I know this will be a lot of work but I have the parts and no life so why not.
So what do you guys think is this ok or do you think I'm destroying a classic truck?

Re: 1972 chevy c30 weird project
 

It's yours to do what you wish. If it was me I'd put a rear in it with better hiway gearing. 3.42s are nice and you can always go with an overdrive transmission. In your case, if I had what you have I'd be looking at swapping engine and trans to get the overdrive. Then see if I wanted to change the rear. You see modern 1t trucks out there keeping up with the rest all day long

Re: 1972 chevy c30 weird project
 

I’m with Tim on this. The 72 you have will have discs on the front already and I don’t see that much gain going to the 99 truck setup.

Engine/trans swap it and find a 14 bolt dual wheel axle from a 73 and up with 3.73 or 4.10 gears depending on what cruise rpm you hope to hit.

Re: 1972 chevy c30 weird project
 

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You don't say what transmission you have, but here is what I did with my '72 C30 that had a manual 4 speed.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=673588

It is still running and driving great after 4 years and you can drive it at 75 down the interstate all day long. I don't know what my rear ratio is but it is the stock rear end.

LockDoc

Re: 1972 chevy c30 weird project
 

Thanks for the advice guys Ill think it over this won't be started on anytime soon just looking at options right now might go with plan b but well see for now the 72 is going into storage until next spring thanks for the help.

Re: 1972 chevy c30 weird project
 

I had to weigh in on this one. Drivetrain swaps can be a lot easier than what you’re talking about. These old trucks also ride pretty nice and don’t handle too terribly so as it was said you’re not gaining too much by swapping the body onto the newer underpinnings.

But if you were to swap the body onto the newer truck I wouldn’t recommend trying to do it the way mentioned above. Personally I’d keep the entire 72 cab intact and move the body mounts on the frame, maybe even use the 72 body mounts on the 99 frame. Cutting the floor out of the cab will make it much harder to keep square to the frame and there’s the possibility of the cab itself moving around if not braced properly. More to go wrong and more work in my opinion. Save that time and energy for adapting as much of the 99 stuff into the 72 cab as you can. I don’t remember the build thread that well but a member here built a 4 door crew cab and stuffed a 1998-early 2000’s Chevy full size truck/tahoe hvac under his 67-72 dash.

Re: 1972 chevy c30 weird project
 

Thanks for the input guys but this is not going to happen my boss refuses to pay me and says he's broke and closing the shop I'm going to have to sell my 72 if I can right now I'm more worried about how to pay the bills now.
You know what it's like when the boss yells at you and says he has no check for me and the shop is $3000 in the hole but he expects me to keep working and is wondering why I'm upset I don't know what but I have to find a new job now so this might be my last post thanks for all the advice guys no one in my life even cares what I have to say bye all.

Re: 1972 chevy c30 weird project
 

Hang in there, brother, we all have ups and downs. Here's to hoping a better opportunity comes your way. Keep the faith.