Swapping front suspension help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Andy4639 · 10-18-2019, 07:36 AM

I found this frame and want to know who has done this before and what I need to know.
1986 Chevy Truck frame from crew cab long bed, 2wd
Hubs are 16", 8 lug. with disc brakes.
I want to swap the disc brakes out to my 67/68 ramp truck.
What am I getting into? The price on it is right. $100.00 for all of it. After I get the brakes stuff I'll take the frame and scrap it I guess and get a little of my money back.
So what do I need to do take the whole front out of the 86 frame and just install it are tear it a part and just swap ball joints out of mine to 86 and put it all back together.
I already have power drums. I just want the disc for hauling stuff. The front wheel cylinders are dripping so I'm gonna have to rebuild the fronts anyway so why not do the swap is what I'm thinking.

**LockDoc** · 10-18-2019, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy4639

I found this frame and want to know who has done this before and what I need to know.
1986 Chevy Truck frame from crew cab long bed, 2wd
Hubs are 16", 8 lug. with disc brakes.
I want to swap the disc brakes out to my 67/68 ramp truck.
What am I getting into? The price on it is right. $100.00 for all of it. After I get the brakes stuff I'll take the frame and scrap it I guess and get a little of my money back.
So what do I need to do take the whole front out of the 86 frame and just install it are tear it a part and just swap ball joints out of mine to 86 and put it all back together.
I already have power drums. I just want the disc for hauling stuff. The front wheel cylinders are dripping so I'm gonna have to rebuild the fronts anyway so why not do the swap is what I'm thinking.

It can be done either way. I usually swap the complete x-member but I have always had the engine/trans out of the frame when I did it. You might want to read through Kieth's (member lolife99) thread on "Drum to Disk Conversions" just scroll down to your configuration.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

The thread is a sticky at the top of the suspension forum.

Not sure if it includes the 1 tons but they shouldn't be that much different than the 3/4.

LockDoc

Andy4639 · 10-19-2019, 10:07 AM

Thanks Doc!

CANUCIT · 10-19-2019, 10:30 AM

What lock doc said

I swapped a 85 into my 62 (complete x member) and it was not that bad
hardest part was rebuilding the a arms and I did put on a disc big brake kit

Andy4639 · 10-19-2019, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CANUCIT

What lock doc said

I swapped a 85 into my 62 (complete x member) and it was not that bad
hardest part was rebuilding the a arms and I did put on a disc big brake kit

Why did you rebuild the a arm's. The new ones are old ones?

CANUCIT · 10-19-2019, 11:35 AM

The 85 donor, new bushings and new ball joints, then I put in dropped spindles and dropped springs

Andy4639 · 10-19-2019, 11:56 AM

OK gotcha!

I'm not planning on dropping it so I hope the parts will be good to go as is.

Andy4639 · 10-20-2019, 07:09 PM

Went and looked at the front end. I'm getting the whole front assembly with sway bar for $100.00. I'll take it a part clean everything up and hopefully put it all in the ramp truck by spring!

So after I looked at the Serial number again I decided this is a 1 ton.

S # decoded.
CE397B101551

C= 4x2 2 wheel drive
E= V-8
3= 1 ton
9= Cab platform stake rack 127” long bed
7=1967
B= Baltimore plant
101551= sequence Number

hounddogs! · 10-20-2019, 11:21 PM

Check the threads above to be sure of fitment, but I recommend doing the entire x-member.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=587600

Andy4639 · 10-21-2019, 01:48 PM

Went over this morning to start taking it a part and he already had it ready to load. He hooked it to his tractor and set on the ramp truck for me.

**biketopia** · 10-21-2019, 02:03 PM

If you don't have them on your truck, you need the little spacer brackets from the frame the sway bar bushings mount to.

Andy4639 · 10-21-2019, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biketopia

If you don't have them on your truck, you need the little spacer brackets from the frame the sway bar bushings mount to.

Yes I know. I will have to order some he wouldn't let me have them.

10-18-2019, 07:36 AM	#1
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Swapping front suspension help I found this frame and want to know who has done this before and what I need to know. 1986 Chevy Truck frame from crew cab long bed, 2wd Hubs are 16", 8 lug. with disc brakes. I want to swap the disc brakes out to my 67/68 ramp truck. What am I getting into? The price on it is right. $100.00 for all of it. After I get the brakes stuff I'll take the frame and scrap it I guess and get a little of my money back. So what do I need to do take the whole front out of the 86 frame and just install it are tear it a part and just swap ball joints out of mine to 86 and put it all back together. I already have power drums. I just want the disc for hauling stuff. The front wheel cylinders are dripping so I'm gonna have to rebuild the fronts anyway so why not do the swap is what I'm thinking. Attached Images __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

10-19-2019, 10:07 AM	#3
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Re: Swapping front suspension help Thanks Doc! __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

10-19-2019, 10:30 AM	#4
CANUCIT Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: JOPLIN MO Posts: 59	Re: Swapping front suspension help What lock doc said I swapped a 85 into my 62 (complete x member) and it was not that bad hardest part was rebuilding the a arms and I did put on a disc big brake kit __________________ 1962 chevy short and wide 2015 z71 1967 SS Chevelle

10-19-2019, 11:35 AM	#6
CANUCIT Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: JOPLIN MO Posts: 59	Re: Swapping front suspension help The 85 donor, new bushings and new ball joints, then I put in dropped spindles and dropped springs __________________ 1962 chevy short and wide 2015 z71 1967 SS Chevelle

10-19-2019, 11:56 AM	#7
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Re: Swapping front suspension help OK gotcha! I'm not planning on dropping it so I hope the parts will be good to go as is. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

10-20-2019, 07:09 PM	#8
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Re: Swapping front suspension help Went and looked at the front end. I'm getting the whole front assembly with sway bar for $100.00. I'll take it a part clean everything up and hopefully put it all in the ramp truck by spring! So after I looked at the Serial number again I decided this is a 1 ton. S # decoded. CE397B101551 C= 4x2 2 wheel drive E= V-8 3= 1 ton 9= Cab platform stake rack 127” long bed 7=1967 B= Baltimore plant 101551= sequence Number Attached Images __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. Last edited by Andy4639; 10-20-2019 at 09:54 PM.

10-20-2019, 11:21 PM	#9
hounddogs! Restoring it $200 at a time... Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NE Kansas Posts: 886	Re: Swapping front suspension help Check the threads above to be sure of fitment, but I recommend doing the entire x-member. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=587600 __________________ Charter member of the 'Put the dimmer switch back on the damn floor where it belongs' Society '68 5.3L-4 speed LWB C20; grandpa bought it for the farm in '71. Now LS 5.3, rather than 327. DD '09 Pilot Weekender '65 Skylark 300-4V-4 speed Wife's '07 Lexus ES350; 117 actuator motors and I can't see the engine. Son's '04 F250 SuperCab 6.0

10-21-2019, 01:48 PM	#10
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Re: Swapping front suspension help Went over this morning to start taking it a part and he already had it ready to load. He hooked it to his tractor and set on the ramp truck for me. Attached Images __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

10-21-2019, 02:03 PM	#11
biketopia Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Warrenton VA Posts: 1,008	Re: Swapping front suspension help If you don't have them on your truck, you need the little spacer brackets from the frame the sway bar bushings mount to. __________________ 71 c-10 Long Bed, under the knife for a No Limit Engineering Wide Ride Chassis Pack and coil over static drop. 07 Silverado Classic 2wd 95 Camaro 427SBC/TH350



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