Update front and rear to a 2000 Chevy C1500...??

[koshernerd]

I haven't had the opportunity to measure anything, I just thought about this theory a few months ago. I had a coworkers truck apart to put hubs in the front of his 2000 C1500...

My Front End Idea:

- Air Ride's StrongArm Tubular Control Arms
- CoolRide Air Springs
- Adjustable Ride Control Shocks
- 1 1/8" sway bar
- Custom Rear Mounted Sway Bar (mounts on the back of the lower control arm, custom mounts, and bushings to mount underneath oil pan)
- not quite sure about the dual front sway bar, don't know if they'll be needed

This is where I need to take some measurements:

2000 Chevrolet C1500
- Front knuckles
- Front hubs
- Rack and pinion steering
- Power Steering Pump
- Front Brake Calipers
- Caliper Mounting Brackets
- Brake Hose
- Brake Booster and Master Cylinder

use to 2000 Chevy C1500 knuckles and hubs for a number of reasons:

1) Maintenance Free Bearings
2) Floating Rotors
3) More recent brakes to allow for the use of GM OEM brake components, as well as parts availability and price. along with longevity compared to other equivalent after markets
4) Gives the ability to more easily convert front steering to rack and pinion
- (once again, I'll have to take some measurements the next time I work on my coworkers truck to get a more definite results and application)


Rear End:

- Either Air Ride's StrongArm setup for the Rear Suspension
or
- Early Classic Enterprise's Strengthened Rear Trailing arms
- CoolRide Air Springs
- Adjustable Shocks
- Custom Sway Bar

- Don't know if I'm going to need a C-notch kit done, I'm planning on lowering it, but with the Air Springs I think I should be able to level out the truck so that it wont hit. I'll probably end up doing the C-notch, just for the piece of mind, and ability to have more suspension travel that shouldn't be needed.

(I'm pretty sure that all of this will transfer over easily, my coworkers C1500 also has a 12 bolt with the mounts at the axle ends)

2000 Chevrolet C1500
- Rear Backing Plates
- Rear Parking Brake and Hardware
- Rear Calipers
- Caliper Mounting Brackets
- Parking Brake Cable

again a few reasons for this
1) Same reason with the brakes to convert and use 2000 Chevy parts and GM OEM pads and rotors
2) Convert and use a hub style parking brake
- this will require converting and using the parking brake cable for the 2000, and still utilize the parking brake leaver for a stock look and feel


Also another reason as to why I'm wanting to update the brakes and suspension to this "DSS" (Donnie Special System) is that I'll be using this truck as a daily driver, through all weather conditions and also using my truck for the main purpose it was built for, a truck. I'll be towing trailers, stuff, whatever. I want to build off the already existing engineering, and bring everything up to date. I could go with the same coil springs but with the work load, and changes in driving styles, conditions and everything else I'm going to like an air spring setup. the ability to level my truck out, and change the aspect. I'm not looking to raise and lower my truck up and down all the time, I really don't see the point in that. form follows function, I like to smoother softer ride of air sprigs, and being able to level out my truck due to load.

[smbrouss70]

I've thought about this very same idea. I have a 2004 sitting at my house so you would think I would've taken the measurements already. Maybe when I get back from Holland later this month, I'll take some rough measurements, if you haven't already.