front cross member change out?

[into69z]

I want to change ou my 69 front drums to later model disc-the best idea I have heard is to swap up to a 91 suburban front cross member (12 bolts I think) and be done with it! No messing around with changing springs and such-no streering changes-has anyone done this particular swap? any problems? I gotta know soon-it's 1/2 price day and pick-a-part this weeekend and it's stuffed with clunker burbs....thanks

[dave2953]

You don't have to pull the entire crossmember. I did this with the exact same year burb you're talking about and just bolted to newer arms to the existing crossmember. You can swap the crossmembers, however, if you choose. I think there are 2 holes that have to be drilled and all the others bolts up. 73-87 trucks will work for this swap, as well as 88-91 suburbans.

[into69z]

Originally Posted by dave2953

You don't have to pull the entire crossmember. I did this with the exact same year burb you're talking about and just bolted to newer arms to the existing crossmember. You can swap the crossmembers, however, if you choose. I think there are 2 holes that have to be drilled and all the others bolts up. 73-87 trucks will work for this swap, as well as 88-91 suburbans.

Dave2953-are you talking both upper and lower a-arms? did you have to change any other pieces link steering linkage? any other swaps that need to be done to make it right? thanks

[extd56]

I changed the front suspension of my 1967 from a 8 lug drum brkake to a 5 lug disc brake from a 79 Chevy truck. I unbolted the old crossmember complete and bolted in the new one. I had to drill 2 new holes and enlarge two others, a great swap.

[2tons of fun]

do it, well worth it, and you can swap in some good motor mounts instead of the pos factory type.

doing it with a dualy swap right now.

[Dustydog]

Do you replace the master cylinder and brake booster from the donor vehicle as well?

[2tons of fun]

dont need to but you can.

i have swapped the m/c both time becuase the m/c was shot on both trucks i have done this to.

if anything you should swap out the diverter/prop valve, on the drum drum setup it was split 50/50 because the front couldnt take as much as disc can. just grab the one from the donor, it will have 2 lines for the front instead of one but you can just block the one off. last time i replumed the whole system and ran all 3 lines fromt he factory mount next to the master. this time i am going to mount the prop ont he crossmember like 73+ and run them from there, it will save some tube and look cleaner.

i am going to keep the small booster on this truck to clear the valve covers better but the last truck had te bigger booster.

[into69z]

Originally Posted by 2tons of fun

do it, well worth it, and you can swap in some good motor mounts instead of the pos factory type.

doing it with a dualy swap right now.

2tons-did you use the same year donor motor mounts(like, if you used a 91 burb, did you use the 91 motor mounts?0 I have a big block truck-any complications? Thanks

[2tons of fun]

Originally Posted by into69z

2tons-did you use the same year donor motor mounts(like, if you used a 91 burb, did you use the 91 motor mounts?0 I have a big block truck-any complications? Thanks

yes, the 67-72 mounts are garbage and i refuse to use them. the day i got the truck i wanted to swap them out.

the bases dont line up dead nut to where the motor need to land, i just slip the whole deal in, bolt the tranns to the cross member then the motor will show you were to drill for the mounts.

both truck have been bbc, one was a half ton swap the other is a 1ton/dually swap.

[extd56]

Sure did