picked up an 84 parts truck

[jmedero]

Ok so I got an 84 parts truck today for $75!! No engine or trans, and front fenders, hood, doors and bed are gone. A couple of questions I have as to what I can use for my baby.


1. with the front suspension what can I actually use to convert to a 5 lug disc?

2. the rear is a leaf spring set up and mine is a coil set up. Can I just swap out the "guts" of the rear to make my coil rear housing a 5 lugger?

3. booster and mast cyl will just bolt in place or do I need modifications?

I plan on junking the rest of the cab, dash, frame and front grill support. Is there anything else I should think about taking before I get rid of the rest?

[Chevy Fleetside]

No you can't swap the guts from the rear end. You can get some weld on perches for the rear end and do it that way but you will need a kit also for the panard bar. It is easier to get a rear end from a 71 or 72. If your truck is a 63-66 then you just need the control arms and the rest of the steering componants along with the steering box. If it is a 60-62 then you will need the who crossmember. The power brake booster will need some fab work don't to where it connects to the pedal. The rest will bolt in with a few holes to drill.

[1966gmc]

Actually you can just swap out the ball joints to 84 joints in your original control arms if I remember correctly.Thats the way im planning on goin this winter when I attack the 5 lug conversion.

[steverino66]

Originally Posted by jmedero

Ok so I got an 84 parts truck today for $75!! No engine or trans, and front fenders, hood, doors and bed are gone. A couple of questions I have as to what I can use for my baby.


1. with the front suspension what can I actually use to convert to a 5 lug disc?

2. the rear is a leaf spring set up and mine is a coil set up. Can I just swap out the "guts" of the rear to make my coil rear housing a 5 lugger?

3. booster and mast cyl will just bolt in place or do I need modifications?

I plan on junking the rest of the cab, dash, frame and front grill support. Is there anything else I should think about taking before I get rid of the rest?

SCORE!
1. I used an 83 and swapped over the entire crossmember - have to drill a couple of holes, but it will bolt to your frame, a-frames and all - there are a couple of members here who have power steering adapter kits if you want the power box.
2. That rear is wider - you can get replacement 5-lug axles from CPP; some have re-drilled the 6-lug hubs for 5-lug, but others don't advise doing that
3. With slight modification of the mounts, the booster and MC will bolt up, the pedal rod has to be lengthened a couple of inches; I've seen kits for that but I just had the old pedal end and the newer booster end welded together to the right length
I'm sure I've left out a lot of small details, but it's all do-able. I took the whole tilt column, power steering lines, any brackets/hardware for all the above (84 is metric, older truck SAE)

[jmedero]

what would be the reason of doing the whole crossmember instead of just the parts swap?

So if i did ball joints of a 84 on my current arms the rest will bolt up?

I will def be taking the power st off of the truck and using it. Like I said before the engine is gone so no pump or lines but the box is there.

[Chevy Fleetside]

So what year is your truck?

[jason65]

I put 84 balljoints, spindles, etc and that rear axle kit from cpp on my 65. Now the rear end is way to narrow when looking at the front. I guess I'll just run a different offset wheel on the back. I don't know that if you swap the cradle you will have the same prob of not.

[jmedero]

Mine is a 66 lwb and the parts truck is an 84. So should I do the control arm swap or just the ball joint?

[gulfcoast66]

Keep the drag link from the 84 and install it so you dont have to worry about tie-rod ends matching up.

[gulfcoast66]

[IMG][/IMG]Heres a pic of the idler arm istalled.

[jmedero]

thanks gulfcoast66. Do you have any more pic's? Advice?

[Chevy Fleetside]

If it is a 66 then you don't have to swap out the whole crossmember. You can use your stock control arms if you want. The later control arms used rubber bushings for a smoother ride. I say don't drill for the idler arm untill after you install the rez kit for the power steering box. That is about all the pictures I have for now. You can also use the sway bar. You will need the mounts that are rivited to the frame also.

[jmedero]

Can I use the tilt st wheel out of this truck? Is it worth losing the classic feel?
Also is an automatic truck and Mine is stick. I will be changing to automatic so..... heck i dont know.