Lifting a 1973 c20 help

[Jeffs_sledz]

New to the forums here, but this isn't my first rodeo.

I can use some help though. I've got a 1973 Chevy c20 that's basically stock. With the exception of one ton front coils. It's currently running 33" tall tires.

My goal is a pavement prerunner running military 37's

Rear lift is easy. Shackle flip will allow me to clear the 37's easily. The front is the hard part. I'm way late to this game and I know the lift spindles for my truck aren't in production any longer. I know the 1988-1998 lift spindles will work, but that leaves me with either 5 or 6 lug brake rotors in the front. And I really want to keep my truck 8 lug.

I've heard the actual 8 lug spindles for the newer body truck can be adapted with ball joint modifications, but I haven't actually seen this done.

So my question is really about how to keep the stock 8 lug pattern while using the newer light duty 3/4 spindles. Or how I can modify my a-arms to accept the heavy duty new 8 lug spindles

Any help or advice will be appreciated.

I'll post some pics of what I'm starting with later.

[Irish_Alley]

be prepared it can be costly. i know i just figured out an estimate for someone, ill see if i can find it.

[Irish_Alley]

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=34934.msg296772#msg296772

[Irish_Alley]

i do realize that thats not the 8 lug. ill see if i can find anything about that

[Jeffs_sledz]

Thanks for the info, but as of righ now I've got everything to do it but spindles. I've got access to a light duty as well as a heavy duty 3/4 trucks for parts donation.

I'm jus hoping to not use wheel adapter/spacers on my front end

[roundhouse]

Might be easier to use a six lug 14 bolt In the rear

They are available of you look around


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[Irish_Alley]

Might be easier to use a six lug 14 bolt In the rear

They are available of you look around


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while searching last night i couldnt find anything about 5/6 lug to 8 lug conversion for those trucks. i know you can find a 5 lug to 8 lug adapter but the only point i can think about is with 8 lug is the increase in GVWR so its kind of moot cause behind that 8 lug adapter you still only have the GVWR of the 5 lug. so the only reason would be to reuse 8 lug rims.

[roundhouse]

I'd try searching  on pirate4x4

I'm sure someone on there has built a pre runner
Sign up and search a lot before you post a question
If you post a question that could have been found with a little searching
You will get insulted
But the members on pirate are probably the most knowledgeable group of fabricators on the planet

Some of the talent displayed in the build threads is incredible


I was thinking that if you can easily get 5 or 6 lug front lift spindles
The. It may be easiest to swap the back to match

Some avalanches had a strong 6 lug rear
Don't blame you for wanting to keep the 14 bolt
The 10'and 12 bolts are worthless junk and have no business under a ful size pickup
They might last under a 4 cylinder S-10 or something


Or you could get a ford nine inch built to fit anything with any Lug pattern






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[Farm boy]

I'm just wondering but if you are going for a prerunner I don't know that the stock suspension is going to make you overly happy. I may be wrong but I know the one I have rides like crap and I don't think they have more than around 6-8 inches of travel... you sure you want to put the effort into something that may very well not preform as you want/need it too?


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[Jeffs_sledz]

One of the reasons I want to keep the truck 8 lug is the fact that I have multiple different rim sets for it already. 

As far as ride is concerned, I already have a crappy ride due to the stiff 1 ton front springs.  I really just want to sit higher. And its a daily driver. It wont be a functional prerunner, just a street "poser" prerunner

So far it looks like my best option is to use adapter/spacers on the front to retain my 8 lug wheels

[Jeffs_sledz]

This is how the truck sits currently. I'm guessing its about 2" of lift in front and stock in the rear.

[Jeffs_sledz]

and this is the wheel/tire combo I am wanting to run. Old Western Wheel Turbine with 37' military tires.

[Jeffs_sledz]

Still hoping someone has done this and kept the 8 lug.

If not, I'll figure something out. And I'll post a build thread when I do

[roundhouse]

I have no knowledge of 2WD
But on the 4wd Dana 44 front axle the 6 lug and 8 lug stuff is interchangeable

I swapped 8 lug spindles , hubs and rotors onto a Dana 44 replacing the 6 lug stuff

Did you spend a couple hours searching on pirate4x4 ?

I can't believe someone on there hasn't  done the mods you're looking at
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