Front Axle swap

[Equipman]

Hey Folks,
I'm certain this has been asked many times on here.
I'm planning on swapping my front axle from my 69 K10 with drums to a 74 front axle with discs. What can or what could be expected when I do this? Will there be problems mating any of the steering components? I'd like to gather all the parts I need before I attempt the swap.
Any info would be great.
Thanks!

[Foureye71]

Originally Posted by Equipman

Hey Folks,
I'm certain this has been asked many times on here.
I'm planning on swapping my front axle from my 69 K10 with drums to a 74 front axle with discs. What can or what could be expected when I do this? Will there be problems mating any of the steering components? I'd like to gather all the parts I need before I attempt the swap.
Any info would be great.
Thanks!

All gm front axles bolt in the same and the steering is the same. Only difference with square body 4x4s is the sway bar mounts on the u bolt plates. You'll need a disc/drum prop. valve as well.

[slocityk20]

IMO when you do a axle swap the most important part is getting your leaf spring perches in the right spot. You will need get a scarfing tip and cut the perches off and weld them in the proper location giving you the proper yoke angle. Might need to relocated shock mounts as well. Make sure you google what your yoke angle needs to be to give you the proper driveline angle. On my rear axle swap I believe it was like 1 degree up. As far as proportioning devices Id say run it and see what it does. I thought I was going to have to put one in my K20 but I ended up not.

These are just my thoughts and maybe give ya a few things to think about. I am in no way an expert. Good luck my friend!

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by slocityk20

IMO when you do a axle swap the most important part is getting your leaf spring perches in the right spot. You will need get a scarfing tip and cut the perches off and weld them in the proper location giving you the proper yoke angle. Might need to relocated shock mounts as well. Make sure you google what your yoke angle needs to be to give you the proper driveline angle. On my rear axle swap I believe it was like 1 degree up. As far as proportioning devices Id say run it and see what it does. I thought I was going to have to put one in my K20 but I ended up not.

These are just my thoughts and maybe give ya a few things to think about. I am in no way an expert. Good luck my friend!

On the rear that is quite possible depending on what the axle came out of. The front axles on these trucks and sqaure bodies are all pretty much the same mounting wise So all you have to do is bolt it up. There shouldn’t have to be any cutting or welding.

[67ranchhand]

I just swapped mine about a month ago and it bolted right in with no issues. I have to figure out the sway bar mounting yet, as the front crossmember is different than the square body, but very easy swap. I had to buy both drag link ends to go from the steering box to the pitman arm. Get 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive brake hoses. I got some from rockauto for a 76. They fit good and I even put a 2” suspension lift on while I was doing the swap. Don’t forget the proportion valve for disk drum. I had to change the brake lines from 1/4 to 3/16 also.

[special-K]

The '69 has different steering. I'd swap a '70-up steering box/pitman arm/adjustable drag link assembly.