![]() |
Register or Log In To remove these advertisements. |
|
|
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Ok so long story short I’ve seen all the threads on this but back in the 80’s someone cut the rear shackles for my truck and I want to be able to find a set that I can put on. It came with the G50( heavy rear spring ) option and still has them. The person also took off the trailing arms and jacked it all up. What I guess I’m needing is an idea on would it be easier to find a set of stock shackles and bolt them back up and find some lowering springs or what. I’ll take a pic of the madness someone did on it. I’ve raced it many many times and would like a nice street/strip setup that looks factory but lower
Posted via Mobile Device |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
laying low
![]() Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Searcy, Ark. USA
Posts: 13,267
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Welcome aboard Dalton. Trailing arms and shackles too? Yeah you need to load up some pics and we should be able to offer some help.
__________________
Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Quote:
Posted via Mobile Device Last edited by Dalton8688; 10-07-2018 at 09:52 PM. Reason: Unfinished |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Bump
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Guess no one has any ideas;(
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Before you dismiss the idea that we don't know, take some pictures and give us a few days. We all have busy lives and rome wasn't built in a day. You will find your answer here, as we all love these trucks.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Centennial, CO
Posts: 2,951
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Yep, shoot a pic on here and we will help you out
__________________
ClusterTruck: 68 C10 Bought in 89, wrecked in 03. Slow low $ rebuild started '17. 6.0 & TKO http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=788602 93 K1500 Short Step, 350, NV4500, EBL flash ECU. Vortec heads & roller cam someday... 05 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. 3” lift & 6-speed 02 E320 the insurance total “free car” 13 Tahoe LTZ |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Proprietor of Dale's Corner
![]() Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Vacaville , CA
Posts: 16,126
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Pics would really help. I've never seen a truck with leafs and swing arms. I'm a bit confused.
__________________
"Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Maybe he is thinking the overload spring for trailing arm trucks..............maybe.........
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Haven’t been able to get the pic yet but it has the g50 option and you can see where some moron cut the trailing arm mounts off the crossmember with a torch and then relocated the shock from the inside of frame out to inside the frame. Trust me it’s all weird to me cause I’m not used to seeing this side of it. I’ve always stayed more towards the motor end 😂
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: nevada
Posts: 649
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Ok so are the control arms gone? Mines a coil over with an overload spring. If it helps ill take a picture of it so you can see what it should look like. If you originally had a leaf spring set up, I'm no help.
__________________
2003 Dodge 2500 1969 C10 2014 Camaro SS/RS/1LE |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Yeah send a pic of yours
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: nevada
Posts: 649
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Hope this helps
__________________
2003 Dodge 2500 1969 C10 2014 Camaro SS/RS/1LE |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Proprietor of Dale's Corner
![]() Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Vacaville , CA
Posts: 16,126
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Is your truck leafs or coil springs? They didn't come with both. Maybe they converted a coil spring diff. to a leaf spring set up. Pics would help us help you.
__________________
"Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
laying low
![]() Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Searcy, Ark. USA
Posts: 13,267
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
There is some misused terminology happening here. The trucks either had coil springs on trailing arms or they had leaf springs and no trailing arms. Although the overload option is a single leaf mounted behind the axle on each side to help support the weight when the truck is heavily loaded.
Just to be clear. The coil spring pictured is just that, a coil spring with a separate shock absorber. A "coil over" is a coil spring and shock absorber combo as one unit. To be of more help to Dalton he has to provide pics of his current suspension to get a clear answer to what he has and what he needs to put it back correct.
__________________
Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Hey guys I’m going tomorrow to get the pics of it. It’s been raining cats and dogs out here. On the carrier crossmember you can see the studs where the rivers have been cut off that went to the trailing arms. All I know is the added leaf spring option brackets from the factory are no longer recognizeable except the two rear ones that someone didn’t take from the original spot and mangle in to a half a way of lowering the truck. I went and looked at a 71 short bed today and it had the coil on trailing arms. I’m pretty sure Boog is right mine had the trailing arm and still retains the factory shock brackets someone has just made their own shock support brackets and I believe removed the trailing arms, coils, shocks and the single leaf and went with a 6 leaf setup and lowered it as cheap as possible
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Here’s the pics. You can see on the axle where they’ve cut off a bracket and then on the carrier housing they torched the bolts off of the rivets for trailing arms. Also look at the front bracket for the leaf they’ve cut it and added a 6 leaf setup. Seems it won’t post them. I’ll see if I can message someone them and they can add them for me.
Last edited by Dalton8688; 10-14-2018 at 01:00 PM. Reason: Pics |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Here’s the pics
Last edited by Dalton8688; 10-14-2018 at 02:38 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: nevada
Posts: 649
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Looks like someone turned a half ton into a three quarter ton. If you want to go back to coil springs it might be easier to buy an aftermarket cross member. Then again it might be easier to find a half ton frame and put your stuff in that. Might find someone on here that has changed out control arms for aftermarket and get a good deal on original parts, and then you could bolt in place. Nothing’s impossible, just depends on what you want to do
__________________
2003 Dodge 2500 1969 C10 2014 Camaro SS/RS/1LE |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Yes it’s strange. I’m gonna go to aftermarket carriers crossmember and coils. Why they took the single overload springs off and cobbled it like that is beyond me but it didn’t make the ride smoother just lower. To be honest I’m not looking to keep it all original I mean on the outside maybe but underneath I don’t care. I’m going to do the long/shortbed conversion and try and find me a decent setup for street/cruise/strip. Funny part is the guy with the fast Farm Truck on the drag racing show came up with farm truck after ours was already a drag racing and cruiser truck
![]() Last edited by Dalton8688; 10-14-2018 at 06:47 PM. Reason: Not done |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#21 |
laying low
![]() Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Searcy, Ark. USA
Posts: 13,267
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Well I see you managed to get your pics loaded. Good deal.
I'm not real familiar with 3/4 ton suspension. I know they were available in leaf or coil spring configuration. I'm not sure about 3/4 ton lowering kits. I may be wrong but those spring hangers look more like later model hangers, maybe 73 to 87. If that's the case those should be easier to find. Or cut the welds loose on your existing hangers and move them up on the frame to lower it some. Keep in mind the rearend center section's closeness to the bed floor and shocks bottoming out is possible.
__________________
Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
I think I’m just going to cut the old hangers off and like you said they do look more modern but the strange part is they have the factory rivets. I don’t honestly care if it’s lowered at this point I just want the frame shortened and I want away from the leaf spring suspension. I’m going to try and nab that aftermarket carrier crossmember or see if I can rob that one of that truck in the salvage yard. If the guy at that you pick it place was more helpful I was going to buy as many parts as I could off that truck if he would have helped me moved it to my trailer
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: nevada
Posts: 649
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
So you dont have to move the cross member, measure 4" from the rear cab mount, make a mark. Measure a foot from that mark and cut that section out. There are different ways to make the cut, but I did a straight cut and used Chanel to sleeve the inside of the frame. Then measure a foot back from the original cab mount location and that's where your rear cab mounts will go. Youtube full of different ways to cut the bed sides.
__________________
2003 Dodge 2500 1969 C10 2014 Camaro SS/RS/1LE Last edited by rjs53; 10-14-2018 at 11:53 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#24 |
Proprietor of Dale's Corner
![]() Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Vacaville , CA
Posts: 16,126
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
Holy cow....that has been cobbled together. I'm not sure what the easiest fix wold be. I'm just going to let others with some ideas that can really help you chime in.
__________________
"Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Alma, Arkansas
Posts: 15
|
Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question
It really was. Dad bought it back in the mid 80’s and by that time someone had already messed it up like that. He bought it from some Hispanic gentleman I believe in Oklahoma and when dad got it he ripped out the shag carpet the guy had put in it and a new seat cover and drove it back and forth to work until about 1995 then my older brother and sister used it to go back and forth to school and then my twin brother and I got it and it was dads dream for us two twins and him to make it a short bed and make it as factory looking as possible. Sad part is I don’t think dad ever did look under that thing to see what a mess someone made. To him it was just a truck but to my brother and I it was our way of showing what a work in progress looks like. So we built a 400 small block and beefed up the trans and off we’d go 16 year olds to car shoes and burnout contests and drag races with the truck we built. In the end everyone has a story to tell about their trucks but this one seems to just keep going and going.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
|
|