I am going to pull all of the A/C components from my engine to try and clean-up the engine bay. Has anyone swapped an 87-96 under hood heater box in successfully? I want to get rid of the jumbo housing for the evap core.

Also will 87-96 tail lights and tailgate work on the 80-86? If so any mods need to be made?

There are several 87-96 trucks in the yards around here, but very few 80-86's.

 

The heater box (outside firewall) should be swappable up till 91. There was a thread a few weeks ago about this.

As for the tail lights, I have not tried swapping between the years, I am not sure they will.

 

I swapped a non-a/c box on a92 to an 85 box to put a/c onto the truck. Doesn't get much more simple, the only real difference was there is a vacuum reservoir on the 92 box that wasn't on the 85, so the back half of the box swapped. They are fully interchangeable after 87.

As tot he tail lights, haven't tried, but seem to recall they will work, but are more rounded than what is factory, so might look a bit off.

 

Tail lights will swap no problem.

The tailgate on the other hand, has to be modified to work. Or rather the bedsides.

The drivers side hinge is bigger for 80-86 than 87-96. They dont have the same bolt spacing for mounting, but can be custom bolted on.

Also, the different years use a different latch style. IIRC, the earlier bed does not have the spot for the 87-96 receiving pins, which look like the door pins.

 

Here's the lights on my truck, direct replacement, just pull the old ones, put on the new ones. The bulb holders fit and everything.

 

Thanks.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Thanks. I plan to go back to the JY in a week or two and pick-up a set of the newer tail lights, as far as the heater box, I think I will just cut off the hoses and plug them off and leave it at that for now. Just removing the outside stuff freed up a good bit of room under there.