later model running gear?

[WORNBRAKES]

I have the chance to pick up a 75 1/2 ton with a 5 lug pattern real cheap. I am wondering if it will fit my 69 without to many problems. I will have to either convert the rear end to coil or convert the truck to leaf, but does it all measure the same? Will the front end slide in? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mario

[Blue68]

I have a 75 front cross member under my '68. Fits good. I don't think you would know unless I told you or you looked at the bolt placements. You can run the rear as well, and you have pretty much two options. One is to swap over the leaf springs and the other is to weld on the perches available from Early Classic and use the trailing arms. (I'd go with the trailing arms, but that's my opinion.) As far as fit, I think the leaf spring rears were a little wider due to thicker brakes. But you can offset this with your new 5 lug wheels by having them a little deeper. If the rear is in good shape and especially if it's posi, I'd do it. Make sure of what the gears are so you can replace your speedo gears if needed.

Check out http://www.classictrucksweb.com/tech/0304cl_rearswap/

[Palf70Step]

I haven't done it yet...but there is some short articles about it on the groups main page

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/tech...ension_1b.html

Pretty much a bolt in. I thin i mentioned that you mioght have to drill one bolt out on the saddle changeover.

For rear...I dunno...But I have heard that even on our trucks, the axle width is different between step and fleet models. Haven't run across the need to check into it.

I would imagine other than the spring change, that the axles would be clos enough to the same since the beds are all interchangable width wise.

You might be able to swap the guts out of the rear axle to get the 5 bolt setting into yours.

[gizmo]

I used a 73 3/4 ton front end under my 69. I used the steering components, A-Arms and the Spindles. I bought new Rotors and Calipers and I bought new brake hoses for the 73 . I left the original 69 cross member under it and I never had any problems at all. I just had it alligned a couple of weeks ago. The guy that did it never complained and he said that everything was fine.

[WORNBRAKES]

Thanks for the feedback. It is just as I exspected. The only problem is that yesterday afternoon, the for sale sign was out of the truck. I guess someone else liked the price to. Maby next time.

[kaycee]

I put a front end from a 74 1/2 ton under my 69 slipped right in no problem had to make a hole on each side alittle bigger but that was it EASY SWAP.For the rear I used the axles out of the same 74 AND MADE A 1/2" spacer plate for each side of rear end this plate goes between the backing plate and rear end housing.NOW it is a 5 lugger NO PROBLEM SO FAR

[Blue68]

Wow kaycee! Why is it we've never heard of this simple solution before? I guess since you don't have any leaks the axles must be the same diameter. Surely, the 1/2 inches sticking out beyond the axle bearing isn't going to affect carrying capacity.

Did you have to replace the brake lines or did you find an extra 1/2" in the existing lines/hoses?