3/4 ton to 1/2 ton.

[desert-rat]

For my '69 GMC 2500. Can I swap to a 1/2 ton suspension?? I heard the rear leafs on a 1/2 ton are a shorter length. What about the front suspension?? I also wanna swap rear axle 8 lug to a 1/2 ton axle 5 lug and the front to 5 lug, too. I also wanna lower the truck 2"/4" for a level stance. I know this may be asking alot but the truck has been in my family since the 70s and was handed down to me so a 2500 is what I have. Thanks.

[desertnick69]

Why not keep it that way?

[desert-rat]

I wanna lower the truck but aftermarket only shows 1/2 ton lowering kit. Why not a 3/4 lowering kit, too?? I also like the way the 5 lugs look.

[streetstar]

Doesn't a 3/4 ton also have a different frame? -- a 1 ton has a considerably beefier frame than a half ton in a lot of applications


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I'd personally keep the 3/4T a 3/4T since its a family heirloom and look around for what you really want for a driver --- there's no crime against having 2 trucks

[MidLifer]

My truck is a "Frankentruck" that went the other way, from 1/2 to 3/4. It started its life as a coil spring truck so I can't say about the leaf length but the front end swap is definitely possible.

Have to say I'm a fan of the 3/4 ton stance though so I kind of agree that you should leave it as is. But i get what you are doing. Good luck with your project!

[desertnick69]

I have a 1969 C20 that my Uncle bought new, he then sold it to my father, who sold it to me. It has trailing arm coil rear suspenstion with 4:11 gears. The front brakes have been converted to disks and for the life of me I would never think of making it a 1/2 ton truck. I guess that I have hauled too many large load on the old brute to think of it as any thing but a work horse. I thought that some one made a kit for 3/4 tons? maybe not!

[notsolo]

Got some 3/4 ton love going on, Frame should not be a problem, might be a bit taller.Find an 71-87 with 5 lug, Swap out the front cross member, add drop spindes, for the rear axle add lowering shackles.

[landarts]

ECE has drop spindle and springs for 3/4 to 1/2 ton. https://www.earlyclassic.com/node/638

[MidLifer]

71/72 3/4 tons had disc front brakes stock. But that doesn’t solve your 5 lug problem.
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[desertnick69]

Originally Posted by MidLifer

71/72 3/4 tons had disc front brakes stock. But that doesn’t solve your 5 lug problem.
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Well it would for the front half of the truck. You have a number of different discs available with this spindle.

[CG]

Plenty of guys on the board have lowered their 3/4 tons that amount and more. Looks good and they keep the extra oomph a 3/4 gives you. Its a great look with white steel wheels and small caps. And there are other options for wheels in 8 lug.

But if you really are looking for a better selection of aftermarket wheels you will need to go to five lug. Its just going to cost you more money to do it that way.

Have you done a search using the google search at the top of the page? Make sure you check the dot in front of 67-72chevytrucks.com . You might search lowered 3/4 tons, or lowering 3/4 tons, or maybe 8 lug wheels? You will find lots of stuff, I did a quicky search to see if things would come up for you.

[Rufas]

I converted my 70 GMC 2500 to a half ton. I used drop spindles for a 1/2 ton with disk brakes and replaced all ball joints using 1/2 ton parts. All parts bolted in with no mods.

In the back I replaced the leaf springs with RideTech Strong Arm rear suspension. I removed all the leaf spring hangers too. I also removed the 3/4 ton rearend and replaced it with a rearend from a 72 1/2 ton C10.

Truck is bagged on all for corners.

There is no need to replace the cross member from a newer truck.

I don't remember if I replaced the tierod ends or not. That was 20 years ago.

[desert-rat]

Thanks all for the replies. I do now know you can convert to 1/2 ton suspension and to 5 lugs.

[stsalvage]

Boy If people really understood GM.

GM wanted you to be able to swap things easy.

This is not Ford OK ford was the problem child

The frames on the 1960--72 from a 1/2 to to a 1 ton truck

Frame is the SAME.

Now Let me tell you all a little story.I worked for a Race shop for 3 summers.

They build BAHA 1000 Race trucks from 1969-1987.

I went to work for them as a kid back in 1979.You would never use a 1/2 ton ball joint for off road use.if you do the first big rock you hit doing 40 mph you you shear that ball joint right off and you go for a ride.

The trucks they had at the shop where a few 1972-77 chevy trucks.some where 1/2 tons but mostly the cheap ones they could find where the 3/4 ton or 1 ton trucks.

I was a kid all i did was clean the sop No hands on work.But what i saw some of these guys do.i picked up on.

OK you have a 3/4 ton truck you want better gas mileage plus you want a lighter package.

Most guys will say you have to change front ends and rear ends.

Let's look at the front ends.I've been working on nothing but 3/4 ton truck for the last 10 years.

Things i found out the upper shafts for the upper bushings have a bigger bolt where your shims for the alignment are.

You run into a problem the 3/4 ton and 1 ton have a bigger upper and lower bar's the holes are bigger for the screw in bushings.

People still freak out when they run in to this Problem.Morons and they call them selfs free thinkers ya right.

Well if you ever looked at a stock 1/2 ton spindle where the ball joint gose there a sit load of Metal up there.

Now take a reamer and try not to take to much metal out or you fk up a nice set of spindles.

Or you call CCP an ask if they have a set of 1/2 ton or drop spindles that will fit a 3/4 ton or 1 ton ball joint.Problem Fixed.

Any of you guy ever been in a 1/2 ton truck and sheared off the upper or lower ball joint.I've had 3 of them go on me.

You guys with Really lowered truck should invest in 3/4 inch ball joints never seen one brake but on a 36000 tool truck 1 ton.

Now on the leaf springs.

GM is not into spending any more money then they have too 1 spring fits every thing if you have a light truck you get 3-4 leaf springs a 3/4 ton depends on what it will be doing.some come with 4 with a big helper leaf witch mean's a Litter short big Fat one at the bottom.

Now my 1968 longhorn has 7 leaf springs that rear end Dose not move.this is the truck with 8 1/2 foot bed I will show a pic for some of you that don;t know what a longhorn is and some of you that have never seen a 1968 396 400 ac with roof light truck before.Yes they existed.I've seen a 1967 longhorn a white one

This just came to me I need to check to see if my 1/2 ton rear end in my 1971 chevy truck with leaf spring is narrower where the spring preaches are cus the 1973--87 frames are 2 inches wider cus there bumpers don't fit are trucks.

Need to check on that.

Best thing for any one trying to do a swap the rear end from a 1973--87 would be best cus they where all leaf spring.


Now the guys that have coil springs you guys are in a bit of a pickal.

You have 4 options.

1 change over to leaf springs all the holes are there to do it buy a rear end and buy the peaches for the leaf springs for 1/2 ton.

2 buy a 6 lug rear end 1964--70 and do the axle's and spider gears witch is 400.00 to 600.00 after shipping or tax.

But the front ends should never have to be swapped.Just means you have a 3/4 ton Ball joints on your 1/2 ton spindles.Me i rather have a thicker meatier ball joint if your going to slam your ride.Lots of pressure in on them ball joint at those ark degree's