1967-1972 Chevy / GMC C10 Cab Swap - Repair vs Replace? 

I wondered about this as my ‘72 has some serious rust over the windshield among other places. I thought a cab swap if I could find one might be easier.

The problem some us is run into is that different states have different rules. In KS a VIN plate has to have the original GM rosett rivets or the state can remove the VIN plate and put on an assigned KS number. Any antique vehicle bought on a bill of sale, out of state title or non-highway has to be inspected by the state before it can be fully titled. Now one state south of me, none of this matters. I am like you, saving the cab when you can is always the best.

A small hand file will make the rivets rosettes...

Done many cab swaps on chevies from the 60s-80s. I put 60s cabs on 80s frames and I've put 70s cabs on the 60s king pin frames. I have 20 some acres packed we all kinds of trucks and cars and I've been swapping parts and cabs and what ever since I could walk you pop vin tags and reinstall them or as I do throw them in the glove box they are antique trucks now adays of course not many are all original no new repop cabs have vin plates and never buy a repop cab from LMC they are not square and to be right they need to be straightened yeah they'll fit and work but you'll never get the factory gaps and fit without pulling them on a frame rack I've done 2 of them and they've both been out. With all the panels out there for the 67-72 cabs and some really good repop panels no cab should be going to scrap and the reason I buy every one I come accross no matter how bad it is if the person is asking for real world prices and not Fleabay or marketplace prices and no I will not sell anything in my junkyard you want a vehicle you bring me something pre 90 worth swapping it's how I work and it's how I keep my supply of pre recycled beer can vehicles in my yard and the older the vehicle the more the swap has to interest me, I'll let vehicles return to earth they don't cost me a dime to sit nor do they eat before I sell I live on the barter system only. Many know me as the graveyard man and call me with their old vehicles and farm tractors and equipment because I'll give them a resting spot instead of scrapping and even old rotted out fenders and doors have a use if you need a patch or panel and if they are stripped and beyond use they have a spot in the hog fence so they are worth saving or picking up and all the states I've been in or through with any of my old homebrewed vehicles never once have I had a vin tag looked at to see if it has original rivets in it most people don't even know the different rivets and if they are looking that close at your vehicles gonna say you did something wrong at some point. We were into pulling tractors in the 70s and 80s and travelled all over in our home builds and even through dot checks and the few that looked at vin tags looked to see if numbers matched not at what was holding them on hell some of the older vehicles rolled out of factory with sheet metal screws in the vin tags Kaiser was a good one for that and most vehicles that used coach builders were never rivetted on.

Just cut out a section of the cab by the vin and cut the other cab and weld it in and rivets to mess with

The problem is that if you sell it , you might be found out. The reproduction parts won't be hard to spot and now you have a legal issue.

What were the differences? I had heard something was different in 72 at one time but never could confirm that.

I appreciate Melvin! I’m always glad to help the next guy save time and money. Thanks for reaching out and for watching!

Thanks for the info! That makes sense because the bolt holes are already there. I will do some research. Thanks for reaching out and for watching!

Thank you! I have a few of those on the list, but not the others. Those are some great ideas.

You got it!

Good deal! Sounds like a great truck to keep in the family! Good K10s are getting harder to find. Especially one with AC. I appreciate the comments and thanks for watching!

Restore it 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Thanks Ben!

I’m not a hater!

I appreciate it!

Sounds like some good stuff to me!

That would be nice! It’s neat that we can buy vehicles that are over 35 years old on a bill of sale here but it would be great if we could switch plates or have the DMV do it if we have a destroyed cab or something.

California always seems to have the strictest rules. That’s pretty cool your 68 built that late in the year has the 67 stuff. I know that 67 wipers switch was wired on the negative side instead of positive. That’s the only wiring I know.

Good to know. I had not heard about the 3 doors! 67s came standard with the small window, but you could order them with the big (panoramic) window as an option. The red truck in the vid is actually a C50 dump. That might clear things up a little. They still made the smaller window cabs on the larger models through 72. My guess is so that the bigger loads had less of an opportunity to come through the back glass. Not for sure though. I’m always in to learn more. I appreciate the info and thanks for watching!

@Dunkillaman - I worked for ACDelco as a field rep for over 7 years and we had RPO code books in paper form. It is listing showing the codes plus the year range they were used. The 1967 C10 RWD had an RPO code for large rear window in the cab. The 1967 C10 I have had the high-hump, 4 spd stick with large rear window in it. We were a group of less than 60 that did training and twice per year they chose a destination to hold this week long meeting. We always wanted to go to Detroit were most everything is. Several guys were contract labor while some got their checks from GM. One who lived in the Detroit area introduced a couple of us to his dad. This guy lived in several states and one truck plant in Fremont, California. He told us how the oil soaked bed wood in tank and bake in the sun. He also said the build sheet went under the seat springs as the seat was about the last to be installed plus installing cab windows was a job that he remembered as the had 4 minutes to install rear windows, 6 minutes to install windshields. He installed large windows in the 67 on the line as special order on the build sheet. Under the seat I found mine as I got the truck for free after wiring, serpentine belt change and some strange holes drilled in the bed sides. My son gave up and decided to start a Monte SS. As for 3dr, no. But IH had a 4dr with frame brackets design to bolt on equipment package for rail road wheel and hydraulics to operate them. Best of luck!

I wonder if the plug going into the fire is different because the fuse panel is horizontal in 67-68 and vertical 69-72. Good catch and thanks for the info!!

I don't think the plug or the hole is different...just the location...I put factory air from a 70 in a 68 firewall and the 70 harness was too short...but that was a few decades ago so my memory cannot be trusted...lol.. was just looking at a LMC catalog and it has two firewalls listed. 67-68 and 69-72.. from the picture it looks like the newer version has the wire harness hole lower and closer to the steering column. Hope that helps you and your viewers 🙂

That is good to know! You wouldn’t want to buy the wrong firewall patch panel. Thanks for the comments! Let me know what else you find in some of the other vids.

Exactly

Thank you guys for watching! I have been called “ It’s The Chad” for a long time as a joke from the movie Charlie’s Angels. I appreciate your input!

Stop 🛑

I really appreciate the support! There should be 2 partial VINs on the frame. One on the top driver side near the steering box and one on top of the frame under the driver side cab. You will probably need a mirror to see that one. They also may be under paint and grime.

@@ItsTheChad71 thank you very much. I will look today and as long as it's in order, purchasing the truck Thank you again

Awesome! You can’t go wrong with a 67!

Yes. 400 should have the high tranny hump, horizontal fuse panel, big window, Vin plate with GM plate below it. You might have dual battery trays on you custom camper too. I hope to have a 68 year specifics video coming out soon.

That’s cool! Hang onto that! It might have been an early 72 with the old cab. Did it have the rear view mirror holes drilled out on the bulge or the rear view glued to the windshield?

My gold truck in the video is a 72 Custom Deluxe and it was the smooth roof line.

@@ItsTheChad71 I was wrong, my bad. I looked at my 71 and thought it was my 72. Sorry for the confusion

Good to know on the month! Thanks for sharing that and for watching!

Depending on options, here are a few. Many if not all big cab trucks would have been small rear window like 67s. The front clips were completely different and boxy. The doors were similar but had a cut in the front for the front fenders. Most were power assist steering instead of traditional power steering box. Frames were bigger, longer with different rear ends. They would have had ID and clearance light on the top of the cabs as well. I’m over looking some, but that’s a start.

70 GMC cab specific? 1/2, 3/4 ton?

If you happen to find an after market panel for that section, let me know. I’m always in to learning myself!

@@ItsTheChad71 will it be honest with you they make the b pillar where when you close the door your latch is there they make that panel but they don't make that gas tank filler piece they make the whole back piece from passenger side to driver side top to the cab to the bottom of the cab and that's almost $1,000 I can't afford that so I think what I'm going to do is I'm going to find a decent cab to where the inside of the windshield ain't rusted out and I'm just going to cut the top of the cab off and down that gas tank filler piece and I'm going to weld it all on mine

No worries. Not all trucks in 68 came with them. My buddies 68 C10 doesn’t have one either. I’m surprised it didn’t being a CST. They had almost everything.

@@ItsTheChad71 Thank you do much for the information. It's been driving me nuts for years

@@renewed7809 You bet! I'm getting ready for the video on the year specific for 1968d. Hope it will help as well.

Yep. 9-13K! Crazy!

Yes they do - get a loan

@@jimmysapien9961 Right? It would be awesome to start your build with one, but I don't want to spend that much on the entire truck!

The are some differences. Since the hood, fenders and doors are different, they mount in slightly different spots. The floors around the wheels and tranny are a little different as well. You can massage them to make them fit. Also, I believe most medium duty cabs are small window like 67.

Thanks very much for your reply what I was wondering if there is any more room I'm a big guy and I'm pretty tight in my 71 c10

I will put a gas tank video on the list for the winter.

That’s awesome! What state are you out of?

@@ItsTheChad71 the truck (hot rod) was built in West Virginia, but now in MA. I have a ‘68 title. Amazing how many similarities between the “68 frame and an “85 frame. Has leaf springs with staggered shocks, and the e-brake is different……not much else different…..Nice part is front disc brakes and five lug wheel hubs. Should have a rear notch and front drop spindles, as there is only about 2 inches of suspension travel .

@@blackstoneunimog6894 Good deal! It is nice that there are so many similarities. I have robbed several square body front disc break setups for 67-70s.