1970 cst 4x4 to 2wd conversion

[ortegamotor]

does anyone have info on converting a 4x4 to 2wd with out changeing the frame out.i have removed everything off of the 4x4 frame and i am ready to install all the rear suspention first. i plan on useing trailing arms , and a front cross member off of a 1969 1/2 ton 2wd frame.any info would be appriciated. Tony Auburn,CA
1967 C-10 SWB
1969 C-10 STEP-SIDE
1970 CST BLAZER

[bouncytruck]

Welcome to the board. That is a nice looking truck.

There have been several threads in recent weeks about converting from 4wd to 2wd. Ya might try doing a search.

My understanding is you will have to do some drilling and a bit of fab work for the trailing arms. If you are going to bag it, you'd have to do the fab work anyway.

[krue]

You may want to find the front xmember out of a 71-72 or 73-87 2wd to upgrade to disc brakes in one move.

[bouncytruck]

Excellent point Krue!

[LUV2XCLR8]

From West TN

[Rokcrln]

The front is real straite forward but the rear is a bit more work. A 4x4 frame is straite over the reart axel and a 2wd curves at that point. The easy way is to keep the leaf springs and just do an spring under axel swap. The next easy way to go would be bag it and make your own mounts. Parts to grab off a donor rear end would be the trailing arms, cross member that arms bolt to, shock cross member above axel (this will need a small amount of fab work), panard bar and upper mount and a rear end if you want to run the stock panard bar. Or use your rear end and buy new perches, and an adjustable panard bar and make an upper mount. It is all easy but just takes time.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[gringoloco]

I agree with Rokcrln. Do it this way for a 'stock' look. You could also do a parallel four-link. Might be easier. There will definitely be welding required for this. Rear flip kit would be the easiest by far.

I am very close to doing the setup that Rokcrln described. You will need an airbag bracket that either bolts or welds to outside of the frame. I am leaning towards these from Air Ride:



Also do a search on username bigbluthng. He has already done a lot of the work and has a picture site with his progress.

Look in the Blazer progress folder- http://community.webshots.com/user/bigbluthng

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

shock cross member above axel (this will need a small amount of fab work)
Kevin
LFD Inc.

This is the only part I am unsure of as of now. You could build your own crossmember for shocks, or modify a 2WD one. I am looking at a few ideas.

I'll post some pics when this all comes together.

[Jason915]

I really don't understand the madness behind converting a 69-72 K5 from 4WD to 2WD. But I guess if I were to do it I would find a complete donor chassie.

[bouncytruck]

Originally Posted by Jason915

I really don't understand the madness behind converting a 69-72 K5 from 4WD to 2WD. But I guess if I were to do it I would find a complete donor chassie.

Hum, good luck with that!

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

Hum, good luck with that!

2wd frames are few and far between

[FuelCellGuy]

Originally Posted by LUV2XCLR8

2wd frames are few and far between

Yes, they are. I lucked out on mine. I believe it ended up costing me around $400. Nothing but the frame rails were good. Good luck!

[jamie72]

i know where there are 2 2wd blazers,i`m just waiting to find a decent tub to put on one,im my area that harder than converting one.
good luck on the conversion, there are a few guys that have done it here,maybe a few will chime in.

[Jason915]

You guys are kidding right? I see 2wd trucks all over the place around here. I know where at least two trucks sit and don't even move that I'd bet if I knocked on the door someone would sell the truck to me. I can find adds in the thrifty nickel every week for 69-72 C10's for cheap. Now 4WD trucks are hard to find especially for a donor vehicle

[Medicanman71]

the kid that lives past my parents on our private gated road has a reaalllll cherry 67-72 swb 2wd. Two tone white cab on top, red on bottom. Really really nice truck.

Before i moved my truck down here where i'm living, i had the susp. and new tires done. It sat in my parents driveway about a week after each. Then i drove it down here. Before that it was stock heigth. Around this time i saw he was selling his down at the corner gas station. I couldnt believe it. I don't know the kid... but i know his dad is the owner of the local chevy dealer and they built it since he was a kid blah blah blah etc etc.

Well... don't you know it... he kept the truck, but now it's a 4x4 and about as tall as my blazer..... what a poser


anyways, a 2wd to 4wd conversion.... that's something you don't see nearly as much. I'd take a picture of it but i think it's in an air tight bubble, in the bat cave, the 99% of the time it's not being used.

[hotrodhomi]

Originally Posted by Jason915

You guys are kidding right? I see 2wd trucks all over the place around here. I know where at least two trucks sit and don't even move that I'd bet if I knocked on the door someone would sell the truck to me. I can find adds in the thrifty nickel every week for 69-72 C10's for cheap. Now 4WD trucks are hard to find especially for a donor vehicle

truck frames are not the same as blazer frames. 2wd Blazer = rare

[ortegamotor]

first off i want to say thanks to all of you guys for chiming in on this conversion.i currently have the truck stripped down to the frame and have a doner 69 2wd frame that i taken all of the cross members off of. i will use just about all that stuff for the convertion. i wish keep the suspension close to a stock 2wd set up, but i will drop it with Air Ride technoligies cool ride and their 4000 compressor set up.i will also use Early Classic lowered spindels,and adjustable panhard bar.basically i will set it up just like my 1969 c-10 , but lower. i also have 4 wheel disc brake set up for it. i plan to document all my work with photos and notes so if anyone else whants to do this the info will be there for you. thanks again for all of the good ideas and i look forward to speaking with all of you in the near future. Tony , AUBURN CA

[bouncytruck]

Sounds like you have a really solid plan. Post some pictures of your c-10 too!

Definately document your progress. I've toyed with the idea of converting my '72 to 2wd. As of now, it is just an idea. I don't have the time, money or the space to take on a project like that right now.

[Tom Vogel]

You are doing the right thing going with bags. Youre going to love it. I promise. Tom from Paso Robles Ca. 72 2wd Jimmy with bags.

[72CSTC5]

Welcome from a fellow 2wd Blazer owner. Good luck with the buildup and feel free to ask as many questions as you would like. You are going to have to do something with the bolt in trans cover as well. You may look at maybe building your own trailing arms that bolt in to the from spring hanger and then adding a built in bracket for air bag mount. Just a thought.

[raggedjim]

I've always had the thought that a 2wd truck frame could be cut down and used under a blazer. If you can cut a lwb to a swb frame why not a lwb to a blazer? I think it would work...

Rg

[bouncytruck]

It probably could be done, but you'll need to fab in the blazer body mounts too. I'd guess it would be less work to just put the suspension on the 4wd frame.