My 69 2wd frame converted to 4wd

[low900rr]

I was gonna wait til I got farther along with this but figured it might be useful for someone else. Upon searching and searching and asking lots of questions here I never did find anybody that added leafs to a frame that had coil springs originally in the rear. The front is no problem.........many thanks to diy4x for the awesome and super beefy fgb52 kit. I started out with my 85 K5 with a 12" superlift kit on it, dana 60 front and 14 bolt rear. The body was shot so I pulled the motor and trans and traded for the 69 chevy with no suspension under it, just body and frame. Ok so the diy kit in front needs 8" rear 73-87 springs so I had to find another set since the front 12" springs wouldnt work. I sold the 12" fronts and picked up another set of 8" rears(12" lifts use 8" rears with blocks unless you do a shackle flip). Ok now onto the rear. The rear of the 69 frame bumps out cause of the coils so I took some measurements off the k5 frame after it was tore down and figured out the frames are the same width measuring behind the cab of the 69. The k5 frame was shot so I cut the back half off a friends 74 long bed frame he tore down. Took some carefull measurements to figure out the wheelbase and started cutting. The 74 frame is hair taller but no big deal. Heres some pics of the start of it, the frame isnt done yet and will get more attention where the frames are joined. Hope this is useful for someone and please excuse my mess. I dont have much room around the driveway having 64,66 and 69 chevy pickups. Now for the pics.

The K5 before teardown

The 69 when I picked it up

Diy4x kit and 8" rear spings

off with the old



on with the new

[low900rr]

[onlyifihadachevy]

Why didn't you 3 or 4 link it and build a tube rear, the it would be a softer ride and you could put bags on it so when you tow it would be stiff. but, why does everyone have the tires facing the opposite way so that the lugs push the mud under the tire and not away from it. O and nice truck can't wait to see more.

[Mudder]

One thing. Make sure you can get the distributor out. I would mount an old block with heads and intake just to make sure before you go too far. You may want to make some adjustments to where the cab sits. Looks like you have it going.

[low900rr]

The cab wont need any adjustments at all. I never moved any of the factory body mount brackets. Its sitting where it was back in 69.

[low900rr]

anybody know if an engine crossmember from a 67-72 4x4 is a direct bolt in on a 2wd frame. I have a crossmember from a 73-87 4x4 but its gonna require some frame cutting and im trying to get around that.

[Burt4x4]

Originally Posted by low900rr

anybody know if an engine crossmember from a 67-72 4x4 is a direct bolt in on a 2wd frame. I have a crossmember from a 73-87 4x4 but its gonna require some frame cutting and im trying to get around that.

My first guess = yes it will but that is a guess
I was able to get a 73+ engine crossmember to fit in my 72K5 frame without cutting the frame, I did have to drill a handfull of holes and modify the brackets that fit into the frame. I got the idea from this aritcal:

Top left is the 67-72 x-member I had in my 72.
Bottom left is the bracket I cut, I made two cuts to the top of the bracket so I could bend it down and squezze it into the frame.

Kinda dark with all the black paint.
If you stare at is long enough and look for the gold G8 bolt heads you can see the x-member & then engine mounts (ORD comp mounts).
Anyway....
Good Luck and happy Friday

[Gene]

Thanks for the info! I was thinking of using the engine crossmember out of a 91 burb, and now I know it will work with a few mods.

[low900rr]

where did you find the article??? Have a clearer picture of the writeup??? thanks

[padresag]

Originally Posted by low900rr

anybody know if an engine crossmember from a 67-72 4x4 is a direct bolt in on a 2wd frame. I have a crossmember from a 73-87 4x4 but its gonna require some frame cutting and im trying to get around that.

I did bolt in one out of a 67 into my 64 but that was 4x4-4x4. I did check the measures on a 65 2w/drive frame and the measurements were the same where the differences on a 2w/drive and a 4w/drivw are in that stretch between the frt and rear springs. the 4 x 4 is 2" deeper than on a 2w/drive in that section
ron

[c10-72 II]

Any updates? Been wanting to do the same to a extra 2wd frame I have. But would like to keep the coil springs in the rear. Prerunner style