can we cut the front clip from the 79 and weld it to the 63 ?  

You don't have to cut anything, because the front suspension bench is only bolted to the frame on the 79 and 63. Just unbolt the benches from the said frames and put the later under the 63 frame. There's only one hole on each side that you'll have to drill, and that's not even critical. Short of the time you might want to spend cleaning, or freshening up bushings, ball-joints,etc. on the 79 unit, you should be able to switch em' out in a couple hours. Good Luck  

"You don't have to cut anything, because the front suspension bench is only bolted to the frame on the 79 and 63. Just unbolt the benches from the said frames and put the later under the 63 frame. There's only one hole on each side that you'll have to drill, and that's not even critical. Short of the time you might want to spend cleaning, or freshening up bushings, ball-joints,etc. on the 79 unit, you should be able to switch em' out in a couple hours. Good Luck"

100% correct. I just went the frame route for the leaf springs.  

I have a 62 and want to do the same thing. I'm junk yarding for parts tomorrow. Please keep us posted.  

Hey Gremlin!  Where are you kunkin' at?  I'm parting out a 1985 Chevy 1/2 ton that has the frontend that you"re looking for. It's got the power steering gearbox, pump w/brkts, tilt column, V-8 frame motor mounts. etc.  the brake rotors are 5 on 5".  I'm in eastern Ohio, near the Pa. line. Get back to me on this post if Interested.  

I'm in Florida, Tampa Bay area. I thought only up to 79 was a bolt in? Anyway, I did find a 79 complete with rotors and it even has a 12 bolt rear I might snag. I'll have to pull it but that's ok. Anyone know what the difference is in front end width, wmf to wmf between the 79 and 62?  

If there is a difference, it's not enough to be a problem. I put an 87 unit under my 65 and it looked right at home. The 65 ain't no different than the 62. Good Luck with your project. I'm just finishing mine up and puttin it on the street this week. It was one of the February's R O T M  winners. Although unfinished in the photos, it is now. Check it out. The 47 GMC Craftsman Classic  

I am thinking of doing the same thing. So you would pull the spindles, upper and lower a-arms, the cross member below the engine(bench?), the drag link, the power steering box and just swap it to the 60's truck? I think I need some kit for the power steering box to stiffen things up. Is the bench different in a 65 c10 vs. a 78 c-10. They look to be about the same. Is there a way to swap the front end to get the disk brakes and keep a six lug wheel? Is there a six lug rotor that will fit the 70's-80's spindle and caliper? Thanks for the help.  

You got it the cross member(bench) spindles,a-arms,drag link, come as a unit I think 6 or 8 bolts on each side. I put a 75 under my 63 all I did is cut the dimple for the power stering off the 75 frame and welded it to the 63 after cuting the 63 off. Just make sure you get it back in alinment with the old one.  

I have done this on many trucks, works great!!!  

I also would like to make this swap but I have a 61.  I thought that I heard that the 60 - 62 needed some mods and the 63 - 66 would bolt directly in.  Any info would be greatly appreciated.  

I don't know if they need any mods but the 60-62 frame are 1 inch shorter in hight. but they are supose to bolt right in.

The 73-87 are the same, the later being metric and will bolt right in. Another thing the 73-75 have thiner roters. When I bought droped spindles for my 75 clip they asked if were wide or narrow.