Dually swap

[sb80514]

Ok so my k20 truck I've posted on before which is 4x4 single cab long bed I'm wanting to do a bed swap or just add fenders if possible it's 14 bolt rear and 44 front I know I can buy adapter s for the rear but how do I know if I have a one ton rear already I probably don't but curious. ..I know the front needs spacers but I'm not gunna Run dually wheels on front..and its a 79 body are all the beds the same from 73 to 87..

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[LTZ C20]

The chassis is different on a dually as well, it's narrower in the rear. The beds are different in a few places depending on the year. 73-78 trucks have a round gas filler hole, 79-91 have a square filler hole with a door. This means the fuel filler mount at the bed is also different. Tailgates are different in the 70's, there are 2 different designs, early 70's and late 70's. When the front changed in 81, the tailgate design changed again. The yield tailgate hinges are different for the designs as well. 70's design are welded on and 80's are bolted on. Checking the thickness of the frame and any RP0 codes and the Vin will help tell you if it's a 1/2, 3/4 or 1 ton. 1 ton frame are thickest. I think there are a few more things I've forgotten.

[Blazin]

1 ton single rear wheel, and 3/4 ton 14 bolt rear ends are the same except the size of the brakes.
A 1 ton 14 bolt cab, and chassis rear end is narrower, but internals are the same, brakes are the same 1 ton.
A dually rear end is completely different as it is a Dana 70, and same width as a single wheel 1 ton, or 3/4 ton rear end.
All duallys got Dana 70s.
All cab, and chassis 1 tons got 14 bolts.

Adding fenders to a fleet side bed will require cutting the wheel arch to clear dual wheels.

[big_al273]

figure out if you have a full floater Corporate 14 Bolt or a semi-floater 14b, the Full floater has hubs in between the lug nuts similar to the front the semi-floater will have a rim locating center circle but no protruding hub. The Semi-floater WILL NOT like dually spacers as it will over stress both the wheel bearing and the axle shaft witch bears vehicle weight. The full floater have Zero vehicle weight on the axle just the power from the engine, the wheel bearings will not last as long with dually spacers due to the increased leverage on the bearings but should not give you any serious issues. Personally i would look for the proper Dana 70 axle which was the Factory dually axle, it is virtually the same strength as the Corp 14 Full floater but is the proper width for duals in the pickup trucks and as such dual wheels would have no negative effects on wheel bearing life.