swapping out a 6 lug to a 5 lug, what all do i need to change?please hurry

[Nate003]

Hi everyone, I am about to go take off the front susp. off of a 72 1/2 ton 5 lug disc and put it on a 67 1/2 ton 6 lug drum front end, I'm curious as to whether the control arms are the same? what all do i need to pull off the 72 to make it work on the 67? I apprieciate it.

[67pro-street]

I recently did this exact same thing to my 67. I recommend that you just drop the whole crossmember on both trucks. that way all you have to do is unbolt the old crossmember and then bolt up the new one. When i did it, i didnt get the brake lines off of the donor truck, and the ones on my 67 were different, so i suggest taht you also take off the brake lines. (there is a brass fitting on the left side of the crossmember, so unscrew it from there and you will be fine. And then there should be a butt connector piece for the line going to the back so if you unbolt that one over there also then you should be fine). Lasly, you will need to switch the proportioning valves. I think thats about it. If you dont run into any problems, it should take you about a full day to do. It took me two days because i had to run new brake lines, and i had never done anything like this before. anyways, hope this helps and i hope i didnt leave anything out.

67pro-street

[MrGoodpliers]

If you choose not to swap the whole crossmember, be aware that the ball joints are different for these two trucks. Either yank the control arms too, or install new '71-'72 ball joints.

[Vince M]

One of the bolt holes on the side of the frame (each side) has to be filed a bit to line up with the later model crossmember. It's not hard. Just take a round hand file and slot the hole to fit. It's not off by much but the bolt wont fit if the hole is not slotted.

[Nate003]

thanks guys, i didn't get any reply's by the time i was leaving to go do it, so i called up WES and he gave me the advice to drop the whole crossmember, and forewarned me about the filing, dropping the whole crossmember is a excellent idea. I also grabbed the brake lines and the power steering and sway bar and power brake booster and master cylinder. thanks tho for all your replies, i apprieciate it.

[Blue Beard]

One thing I was told.........

If you're leaving the motor in the frame and changing the front cross member....the engine mounts to this area..........so you'll need to support the motor while its being done....

[Nate003]

yeah it would be a good idea to support the motor, I just took the motors out, was pretty fast because nothing was hooked up and there was no exhaust. just unbolted the motor mounts.

[taser]

thought this might help
http://www.jeepgod.net/d44625.html

[robby]

maybe I am having a brain fart but I can't visualize "just drop the front crossmember" I took off the upper and lower control arms off of a 72 not long ago with the disc brakes in case I wanted to do that swap and I took off each side two top nuts from the control arm, four nuts off of the "U" bolts for the bottom arm and the tie rod end, and the brake lines. won't that work?