What 73-87 parts will work on my 69?

[Tink]

Well, we are thinking of 'downsizing' our fleet... since the 85 is a 2wd LWB and the 69 is a 2wd LWB, we are thinking of combining the two... plus the 85 has a good motor and the 69 has a good tranny. Unfortunately the motor in the 69 is no good w/o sending the block to be machined... sat too long and the coolant ate the back cylinder walls. Thankfully, it hasn't been bored, so it can be saved for later when we've got the money for it.

Looks like we can use the driveshaft off the 85 and I gather front brakes will work, how about power steering? What else can be used?

[steveshow]

the newer front sway bar will fit the older truck, but you have to drill or torch the frame stands off as well. PS box. not sure what else...

[Tink]

Thanks...

I forgot to add in my first post - what about the brake booster and master cylinder? I have the ones from the 85 and ones from a 76 K5... would one be better than the other?

[sameyrasmea72]

I think the whole front end can be modified and used to turn your truck into a 5 lug/ disk set up.

[70GMCer]

The whole front suspension, including the K frame, fits without any mods. The steering box works, but takes metric hoses. The shoulder seat belts work with minor bending of the mounting bracket.

[Tink]

I didn't even think of the seat belts... thanks, 70GMCer. The seat in our 85 is actually from a 67-72, but I'm thinking of using the buckets I pulled out of my old 76 K5...

[Palf70Step]

Krue just put a MC from the 80's on his 69 so it will work (with a few mods I'm sure). Most of the mechanics you can keep between the two. I'd even keep the later read end, you could weld the mounts from you 69 onto it and have the newer rear on the 69 also.

[steveshow]

I forgot that the pumps switched to metric around 79-80. A few yrs back I swapped a power box off a 76 onto a 72 with no mods.