Help front suspension was stolen

[j_lee223]

While over seas somone stole my front suspension the only thing thay left was the crosmember thats it So I bought a 1970 longbed on crags list that i am now parting out. My big question is do i have to change the crossmember or can the wish bones bolt straight in?? if so what are the mesuarments i need to get? im guessing that driver and passenger have to be square? can some one point me in the right direction. Thanks!



thats the truck
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=487118

[OhOneWS6]

What year is the truck you are putting the suspension back in? What year is the suspension from? I believe it is pretty much a bolt on deal if you take everything from the control arm shafts out. You will want to use the earlier pitman arm. The 73 up pitman arm is shorter and will reduce your turning radius. Once you move it all over the alignment shop should be your first stop.

[j_lee223]

Im putting it in my 67 and the suspension is a from a 1970, which is disk so that turned out to be a plus. Sounds like a dumb question, but why would i want to use the earlier pitman arm? Isn't it better to have more then less? or why is that bad?

Thanks for the help!

[OhOneWS6]

Longer arm means more travel. More travel = quicker steering. The shorter late model arm does not have enough travel to go lock to lock on the 72 and earlier trucks either. Is the suspension off that 70 5 lug? 5 lug disk did not come around until 71.

[j_lee223]

ok i got it now 73 pitman arm. It is a 5 lug so it should be a 71. Im still overseas so i have only seen the truck in pics.

[long69]

that sux, when i came home from my first cruise in '73 someone had stolen the drive shaft out my '66 chevelle ss396. just went to a junk yard for a replacement slapped it in there with the junk yard u joint --first time at 65 mph blew up my tranny. sold it after that. thats when they could be had for $500. replaced it with a 66 gto at a whopping 600 dollars.

[OhOneWS6]

Originally Posted by j_lee223

ok i got it now 73 pitman arm. It is a 5 lug so it should be a 71. Im still overseas so i have only seen the truck in pics.

You want the earlier 72 and older pitman arm not the later 73 and up. The 73 up arm is shorter than the 72.

[j_lee223]

Man that really sux, i would have gone crazy if i had walked out and found my truck like that. For me mom was the one to eased in the bad news. I got really lucky tho I never considered buying a parts truck but being station in Japan going on 2years theres no way i can look for parts. I just hope that it is bolt so I can put in on and go.

the truck ended up costing me 700 i think?? but i did need a few parts, if you know anyone interested in parts my dad should be able to ship anything small parts.

[OhOneWS6]

Your parts truck has the 69/70 Grill. Either it is a 71/72 with 69/70 grill or more likely it is a 70 and someone has done a 5 lug conversion on it. There are several ways to convert them. No matter how it was done, it should just be a bolt on deal for you.

[brad_man_72]

going from drum to disc requires a different master cylinder and the use of a porportioning valve. There's a sticky in this forum about this swap.

[j_lee223]

That sticky was helpful. Thanks for all the info, the support here gave me some peace of mind for when i get home.