'73-up rear end swap????? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Bamm · 07-14-2002, 11:22 PM

Will the '73-up leaf rears swap into my 67? I am taking the trailing arms and coils out and have a 3.73 rear out of a '76 or '77 truck. Would like to just put the hangers and all under my truck. Has anybody ever did this?

Longhorn Man · 07-14-2002, 11:24 PM

Other than having the parts on hand, why would you want to do this? The coil set up is far better than the leaf for street use.

Low69CST · 07-14-2002, 11:42 PM

It would probably be easier to get some axle saddles and track bar kit and put that rear end on your trailing arms.

Super Chevy · 07-15-2002, 12:15 AM

keep the coils,or youll get axle wrap under hard accelartion

Bamm · 07-15-2002, 07:40 AM

Well, I appreciate the thought, but I don't think I have to worry about axle wrap under hard acceleration.

Stock engine. Here is why. After closely inspecting my '67's rear end, I found out that the rear itself has way too much slack in it. I took it to a rear end shop and they told me that I need to go through the whole rear. Now I know the mechanic and even doing it on the side it's going to run me $350.00. Of course that's all new stuff, but when you are trying to build a truck on a budget........... Also my rear springs are shot. I heated the springs to lower it and they are noodles now. I wish it did ride like a truck!!! I also need spring perches (rust) and trailing arms (cracks). So if I add all that up, even going used on the arms, I am looking at over $600.00 or better. Now i have been given ($000.00) a '76-'77 leaf rear w/3.73's (non-posi, of course) and I am looking at leafs or stay with coils and have to knock off a bank or something. I know the ride is worse than coils and I know tracion control is worse, but they wouldn't have put them on trucks if they were that horrible........................JB

7069684X4 · 07-15-2002, 08:28 AM

Spring perches and shock mount. 73 and up had staggard shocks. Hope you got a welder or know someone who does.

Bamm · 07-15-2002, 10:06 AM

Yeah i've got access to a mig welder, no problem. As far as the spring perches mounting to the frame, couldn't you just pull a wheel center to center measurement and get the rear square and then bolt the perches to the frame?...........JB

7069684X4 · 07-15-2002, 01:25 PM

The perches are welded on.

tom hand · 07-15-2002, 02:08 PM

The leaf spring perches are riveted to the frame. I would think you could do it but it will be lot more work than you think. I thought about doing that to mine at one time because the leaf spring setup is much better for trailer pulling. When you pull the parts, look close at the shock mounts, because you might need to get a crossmember off of that truck to make the shock mounts work. Good Luck

7069684X4 · 07-15-2002, 04:17 PM

Should have read closer. I was thinking axle. If you find the spring hangers, or brackets, or whatever they're called, I wonder if the holes are already in the frame.
A lot of my front spring hangers are bolted with grade8s. No probs so far. I keep up with them to make sure they stay tight.

07-14-2002, 11:22 PM	#1
Bamm Cowboy Fan for Life!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Amelia, Virginia Posts: 2,921	'73-up rear end swap????? Will the '73-up leaf rears swap into my 67? I am taking the trailing arms and coils out and have a 3.73 rear out of a '76 or '77 truck. Would like to just put the hangers and all under my truck. Has anybody ever did this? __________________ 1967 ShortBed Fleetside 3/4 Drop 350/700R4 Tilt wheel 18 x 8 Torque Thrust II's Future mods: All new gauges & wood bed My Zip is 23002 I ship UPS, USPS

07-14-2002, 11:42 PM	#3
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	It would probably be easier to get some axle saddles and track bar kit and put that rear end on your trailing arms. __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

07-15-2002, 07:40 AM	#5
Bamm Cowboy Fan for Life!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Amelia, Virginia Posts: 2,921	Well, I appreciate the thought, but I don't think I have to worry about axle wrap under hard acceleration. Stock engine. Here is why. After closely inspecting my '67's rear end, I found out that the rear itself has way too much slack in it. I took it to a rear end shop and they told me that I need to go through the whole rear. Now I know the mechanic and even doing it on the side it's going to run me $350.00. Of course that's all new stuff, but when you are trying to build a truck on a budget........... Also my rear springs are shot. I heated the springs to lower it and they are noodles now. I wish it did ride like a truck!!! I also need spring perches (rust) and trailing arms (cracks). So if I add all that up, even going used on the arms, I am looking at over $600.00 or better. Now i have been given ($000.00) a '76-'77 leaf rear w/3.73's (non-posi, of course) and I am looking at leafs or stay with coils and have to knock off a bank or something. I know the ride is worse than coils and I know tracion control is worse, but they wouldn't have put them on trucks if they were that horrible........................JB __________________ 1967 ShortBed Fleetside 3/4 Drop 350/700R4 Tilt wheel 18 x 8 Torque Thrust II's Future mods: All new gauges & wood bed My Zip is 23002 I ship UPS, USPS

07-15-2002, 10:06 AM	#7
Bamm Cowboy Fan for Life!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Amelia, Virginia Posts: 2,921	Yeah i've got access to a mig welder, no problem. As far as the spring perches mounting to the frame, couldn't you just pull a wheel center to center measurement and get the rear square and then bolt the perches to the frame?...........JB __________________ 1967 ShortBed Fleetside 3/4 Drop 350/700R4 Tilt wheel 18 x 8 Torque Thrust II's Future mods: All new gauges & wood bed My Zip is 23002 I ship UPS, USPS

07-15-2002, 02:08 PM	#9
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	The leaf spring perches are riveted to the frame. I would think you could do it but it will be lot more work than you think. I thought about doing that to mine at one time because the leaf spring setup is much better for trailer pulling. When you pull the parts, look close at the shock mounts, because you might need to get a crossmember off of that truck to make the shock mounts work. Good Luck __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

07-14-2002, 11:24 PM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Other than having the parts on hand, why would you want to do this? The coil set up is far better than the leaf for street use.

07-15-2002, 12:15 AM	#4
Super Chevy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,025	keep the coils,or youll get axle wrap under hard accelartion

07-15-2002, 08:28 AM	#6
7069684X4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Fla Posts: 29	Spring perches and shock mount. 73 and up had staggard shocks. Hope you got a welder or know someone who does.

07-15-2002, 01:25 PM	#8
7069684X4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Fla Posts: 29	The perches are welded on.

07-15-2002, 04:17 PM	#10
7069684X4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Fla Posts: 29	Should have read closer. I was thinking axle. If you find the spring hangers, or brackets, or whatever they're called, I wonder if the holes are already in the frame. A lot of my front spring hangers are bolted with grade8s. No probs so far. I keep up with them to make sure they stay tight.

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