[gyjackson]

Sorry guys.....I will try to get some pictures made....I haven't been on top of that....I used the complete drivetrain (motor, 4-speed trans., transfer case, front and rear end) from a 1980 chevy 4x4. I took alot of measurements after stripping the body off both trucks. Here is what I found. The width of the frame on the 72 differs only 2 inches in one place on the 72 (at the front mounting point of the rear springs). With the 72's running gear in place I measured the centerline of the 72's rear axle and the centerline of the front spindles and transferred the mark across the frame (with a plumb bob and a straight edge). With the 72 frame rails on stands, i moved the axle assemblys from the 80 (complete with springs and hangers attached) under the 72 frame and lined the axles up with the marks I had on it's frame. From there It was just taking time to square it all up and get the 80 mounts attached to the 72 frame. On the Front Springs.....I had to cut the dimples out of the 72 frame where the e-brake cable attaches (this is where the rear leaf spring bracket goes through the frame), The front of the spring was just a matter of aligning the bracket, clamping it and drilling the holes after removing the 72's core support bracet (the 80 will work in its place and also provides the spring mounting point), also there are L shaped brackets used on the 80 in conjuction with these brackets. They will need to be moved to the other side of the bracket to use them on the 72. Now for the Rear Springs......the rear mount was a direct fit, just clamp and drill. On the front mount, a little fabrication if you used the new model mount. (keep in mind I was converting from coil springs, if you are using existing leaf springs you should be able to bolt it right in the existing bracket) I chose to slice completely through the bracket on the same plane as the bottom surface of the frame. Let the springs dictate where the bottom half of the bracket needed to be, then weld it back together (I also added gussets for strength) Now for the rest of the story.....I took measurements to see where the engine stands should sit. Once that was figured out. I put the 4x4 crossmember in, clamped it in place, drilled and bolted it in place. The engine stands had to be trimmed to the heght of the 72 frame (so they will fit inside it at the top) then they were bolted to the 4x4 crossmember. Once it was in place, I cut out the very front crossmember on the 72 and replaced it with the one from th 80 (which also supports the front brackets of the front springs) I then set the 80 engine, transmission, and transfer in as one unit. Once the engine was sitting on the mounts, I bolted the 80 trans. crossmember to the trans., jacked it up till it hit the frame and drilled holes and put the bolts in.....Mysteriously the driveshafts worked with no mods!! I used all grade 8 bolts in place of all the factory rivits that were cut off and punched out. I'll try to get some pics soon and get 'em on the board