73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => Topic started by: STOMPERBULLY on February 23, 2008, 10:38:26 am
-
HI GANG ! I'VE GOT A SWAP QUESTION. I OWN A 1979 C30 4X4 THAT HAS A VERY RUSTY UNDERCARRIAGE, BUT A SUPERB DRIVETRAIN.THIS WINTER THE "SHACKLE TO FRAME MOUNT BOLT" ROTTED OFF THE FRAME LETTING THE SHACKLE SLAM THE BOTTOM OF THE BED. THERE IS NOT MUCH STRONG FRAME TO "SECTION" TO. I HAVE A CHANCE TO BUY A 1978 C30 DUALLY FRAME. ARE THEY ALIKE ? REMEMBER STRAIGHT AXLE 4X4--DUALLY COIL FRONTEND. THANKS
-
First let me say welcome from New Hampshire.
(1) Not trying to be nitpicky but C means 2 wheel drive. So I am going to go ahead and assume you have a 79 K 30.
(2) You say 78 dually. Is it a dually or a cab and chassis? The cab and chassis has a longer wheel base that a pickup. The dually has the same wheel base as it is a pickup.
I have seen, but never done a 4x4 front end into a 2 wheel drive frame. Your rear spring shackles on the 4x4 are taller / hang down below the frame farther than the 2 wheel ones. You will end to swap them or your front need will be higher than the rear. You might have to drill the holes for the cross member, and the motor mount cradles. Another option if you are into fabrication is to mount the front axle with coil springs like the strait axle front end F150s of the 70s.
-
Stomper, Are you asking, Can you undo the 4x4 front axle assy. roll it over to the C30 frame. Unbolt the 2wd crossmember,ect. & slide the 4x4 axle under it? If so, It appears Yes. I have not done this, however years ago I planned to do it. I checked the frame measurement specs on both frames. The rails (in their basic form,shape & height from a datum line) are the same, however the holes to do the mounting are not there. The steering box,shocks mounts,brake hoses,cab mounts appeared to be the same. My memory says that there is an (oval?) hole in the same place on each of the rails, you may be able to use for measuring to line everything up. You will need to transfer the rad. support/4x4 spring mounts, transmission crossmember,motor mounts,ect. In the rear, the easy way out would be a lift block or else you would need to change the spring hangers. That's the basics, as I said I did not do this, so I can't say "I know it works & it's a piece of cake" but all things I checked, told me it was doable. Now worth it? That may be a different story. Good Luck, Lorne