3/4 ton front end suggestions
 

Hey guys,

So I have finally gathered up most of my parts to start building my 56, and I am wondering what you guys might have for suggestions for a front end in my truck. I am thinking about going with the 8 bolt reared I already have, and would like to keep the truck 2wd if I can. The frame is a 57 3/4 ton long box that I will be shortening down, as it is already a pretty stout frame.
I have a complete running and driving 04 Chevy 1 ton express van that I bought for the powertrain swap into my 56.
Any thoughts on a 8 bolt front end I could swap into this truck would be greatly appreciated.

Re: 3/4 ton front end suggestions
 

The easiest one to swap is going to be from a 73-87 Chevy. They are pretty cheap and relatively easy to find.

Re: 3/4 ton front end suggestions
 

I have read of some guys narrowing the cross member of the 73-87 2wd trucks to install them in order to get tires tucked more, is that needed if the truck will not be slammed down?

Re: 3/4 ton front end suggestions
 

The rearend from the Express is a little too wide for your truck. The one I had was 70" WMS-WMS.

Keep your front axle on the 57 and do a disc brake swap like Nick is doing, with your van components.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=586788

Re: 3/4 ton front end suggestions
 

I used the 73-87 clip on my 50 but narrowed it so it doesn't look like Dumbo. You should be fine because the TF's are wider than the AD's.

Re: 3/4 ton front end suggestions
 

My '57 truck has the front clip from a '68 Chevy truck.

Re: 3/4 ton front end suggestions
 

I do have a 1980 C20 parts truck that I could rob the clip out of, just have to wait for the 5 feet of snow to melt so I can get to it.
Anything drastic have to be done as far as steering linkages when narrowing the clip?

Re: 3/4 ton front end suggestions
 

The narrowed c-10 front ends are to tuck the tires and make the frame width match the
AD frame, the later trucks already have a wider frame than the AD pickup. Putting a c-10
or C-20 front end in a 56 would take a lot of frame changes- negating the bolt in reason to
use the c-10/20 front ends.