Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

Any tips tricks etc

So far I have collected..

-2.5" Western drop spindles
-Kyb drop shocks (P/N from here)
-Brake pads (summit house brand, is there something better etc??)
-1 stock replacement rotor
-Bearings

It has the factory swaybar 1 1/16" Id like to upgrade to a larger one..

Plans are to disassemble sandblast and put back together with Moog or similaiar front suspension parts. Im going with PS, not looking for dropping alot of $ but dont want to skimp. Looking for a list or something with P/N.

I saw ECE has a package but maybe would it be cheaper to go thru someone else for the same stuff?...

Recommendations for sway bar (Pretty sure my 68 bar came off a 1 ton) Need to upgrade my acct back to blue sometime soon.

Thanks guys any info is appreciated.

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

Also Im cutting the trailign arm crossmember for exhaust cutouts, should I weld a pipe in there for re enforcemtn?

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

also whats the best paint and what options do I have?..

bed liner
spray paint
powdercoat (this is out for $)
tractor paint
rustoleum
por15
summit frame paint
eastwood frame paint

Thanks

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

Have you had this sway bar on already or plan to put it on? Almost everyone I know that runs the HD factory bar is pleased with the results. Of course that includes new bushing and usually coincides with a rebuilt front suspension.

That seems to be the most common way to do it. I would use the same method myself.

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

I use POR15 for a lot of stuff, so much so I got a dealer account to save money. I also do my own powdercoating because it is cheap to do and durable. Built my own oven, started with the crappy Eastwood HotCoat gun, then upgraded to a pro style gun.

I painted my brake calipers with POR15 just for fun.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...1-30181044.jpg

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

The 1 ton bar is on my blue 68 lwb.

My 69 swb has a factory 1/2 ton sway bar. Is it worthwhile to look for a thicker 1 ton or aftermarket bar (of course new bushings too)?

Can I POR 15 bare raw metal? Can I use por 15 on calipers/rotors with the high amounts of heat?

Thanks

What other things can I do to help handling/performance on a budget (mostly stock front)

Planning on cutting the rivits on the trialing arms and sandblasting insides then welding the seam up and grade 8 bolts in place of rivits

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

if you are using drop spindles with stock springs the drop shocks are not needed are probally wont work properly

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

Im planning on cutting the front stock springs or getting a 2" drop spring

Somewhere between 4-5" front drop. I like rake but not sure if I want so much rake that its too much to drive..

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-D52-728A

These are the pads I ordered...I dont wanna spend a fortune on stuff but dont want to wish that I would've bought different stuff etc

Is there something better? He said Id have to go with a drilled/slotted rotor for a higher quality pad?..

Thanks

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

I use Raybestos brake and chassis parts exclusively. I think ECE does too. I think it's the best stuff on the market. I would find a 1 ton sway bar for sure. U pull it style junk yards are full of them. Enjoy.
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Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

Did you end up welding a reinforcement?

I 'm curious on this as well and am wondering if it is a must to reinforce it after drilling through them.

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

What front shocks do I need for 2" drop spring or cut front shocks (thinking about a 3.5" or so front drop combined with spindles)

I have ECE front shocks (dropped) but thinking maybe something else woudl work better?..

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

I'd just use the same ECE shocks you have now. They're probably the silver KYB GR-2s. They always ride great for me whether I'm running cut front coils or lowered front coils.

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

I found the P/N online its supposed to be the same shock ece has for their drop kits

Im all about saving $. Will cutting the coils be the same effect (ride etc) as $100 dropped springs?

thansk

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

cutting coils is just fine, just cut one full round out of the coils and your set.

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

Agree.

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

thats what I did on my ol blue truck but going to try to do this one nicer better etc

Still need:
Suspension rebuild stuff (balljoints tie rods etc)

Also, I dont have any (or much) of the steering stuff tierod ends to pitman arm. Should I just order new stuff?

Is there a list with P/N or anything for rebuild components for a 71 72 chevy 2wd 1/2ton?

right now I just have the small swaybar debating going with a larger one if I can find it..

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

I scored a complete front-end rebuild kit off the 'bay for a little over $200. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-1974-19...item4abe3e0b3f http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-1972-CH...item564e8b37fb

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

do you know what brand or usa or china?

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

You'd be hard pressed to buy just the ball joints in an American made source for that money. I recently completely rebuilt a suspension with all top of the line stuff and had way over 500 dollars worth of Moog parts in the job.

I'm kind of a snob when it comes to using top quality parts though. Quality first, price is second priority to me.
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Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

I figured it was china etc

If im going to build it the way I want, Im taking my time and doing it how I want

Thanks for the imput txfirefighter your full of knowledge (good knowlege that is) lol

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

What part numbers did you come up with for the shocks, if you don`t mind.

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

If you get ece's 4.5/6 drop kit...the shocks are kyb 344068 and 344055. You can get those 1/2 price via amazon or ebay

I got mine thru summitracing, about 25 each

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

kool, thanks.

Re: Rebuilding 71 crossmember..
 

Do the Caster Mod!

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=501241