Front crossmember swap? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

motolover · 01-26-2020, 10:55 PM

I have a 1966 gmc 1/2 ton pickup and I am looking for the easiest cost effective way to get disc brakes and power steering. I have heard you can you the front crossmember from a 73-87 pickup, are Van's also the same? And input is much appreciated! Also looking to fit a 454 in but that may be a whole other can of worms!

**DPowers** · 01-26-2020, 11:01 PM

FAQ section has all kinds of good info.

flashed · 01-26-2020, 11:06 PM

Im pretty sure 72 and up cross member is a direct bolt on , I plan to do one in the near future on my 65 shorty Bellsouth truck . The power steering is a little more involved but doable .

SkinnyG · 01-27-2020, 12:46 AM

'84 'Burb crossmember fit my '61, but I had to drill some holes. And if I'm going to drill holes, I might as well move the crossmember forward 1". Which I did.

And section it, too.

J Williams · 01-27-2020, 12:53 AM

I just completed a swap like this. I have a 63 C10 that I stuck a 78 C10 front crossmember in. Real easy swap, everything but 1 bolt hole on both sides of the frame matched up.

**Chevy Fleetside** · 01-27-2020, 12:51 AM

You can bolt on later model control arms on the 63 and up trucks. You do not have to swap out the cross member.

AcampoDave · 01-27-2020, 08:58 PM

Vans are NOT the same. They have a wider stance both front and rear.

**Clyde65** · 01-27-2020, 09:01 PM

73-87 c10, Suburban will work great!

motolover · 01-27-2020, 09:25 PM

Ok thank you guys for the very useful information I really appreciate it! So Van's wont work but suburbans will? How bout would blazers or Jimmy's?

**Captainfab** · 01-27-2020, 10:47 PM

Any 1/2 ton 2wd truck based front suspension will work. So yes a 2wd Blazer or Jimmy will work. Regarding the full size vans, the spindle, rotors and calipers will work on your original control arms with a ball joint swap. The van control arms are basically the same as the C10 truck control arms, but the shafts are weird, with a tube on the outside with rubber in between. At least the set I have from a '85 G10 van are. The van steering box will not work as they are backwards from a truck box even though they look the same.

Installing a big block is not that difficult. I've done it about 28 years ago and many, many others have as well.

I do make the steering box adapter plates as well and many other products.

01-26-2020, 10:55 PM	#1
motolover Registered User Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: tottenham Posts: 9	Front crossmember swap? I have a 1966 gmc 1/2 ton pickup and I am looking for the easiest cost effective way to get disc brakes and power steering. I have heard you can you the front crossmember from a 73-87 pickup, are Van's also the same? And input is much appreciated! Also looking to fit a 454 in but that may be a whole other can of worms!

01-26-2020, 11:01 PM	#2
DPowers One foot in front of the other Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Parrottsville, TN Posts: 5,442	Re: Front crossmember swap? FAQ section has all kinds of good info. __________________ DP's 66 Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=361556

01-26-2020, 11:06 PM	#3
flashed Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: canton ga Posts: 12,724	Re: Front crossmember swap? Im pretty sure 72 and up cross member is a direct bolt on , I plan to do one in the near future on my 65 shorty Bellsouth truck . The power steering is a little more involved but doable .

01-27-2020, 12:46 AM	#4
SkinnyG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Beautiful BC, Canada, eh?! Posts: 2,265	Re: Front crossmember swap? '84 'Burb crossmember fit my '61, but I had to drill some holes. And if I'm going to drill holes, I might as well move the crossmember forward 1". Which I did. And section it, too. __________________ 1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, turbo, LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate Last edited by SkinnyG; 01-27-2020 at 01:22 AM.

01-27-2020, 12:53 AM	#5
J Williams Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Paul idaho Posts: 263	Re: Front crossmember swap? I just completed a swap like this. I have a 63 C10 that I stuck a 78 C10 front crossmember in. Real easy swap, everything but 1 bolt hole on both sides of the frame matched up. __________________ 63 C10

01-27-2020, 12:51 AM	#6
Chevy Fleetside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,782	Re: Front crossmember swap? You can bolt on later model control arms on the 63 and up trucks. You do not have to swap out the cross member. __________________ "A man and his truck, what a beautiful thing" 65 Short Fleetside BBC 65 Long Fleetside 283 3 on the tree for now. my build thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=259536

01-27-2020, 08:58 PM	#7
AcampoDave Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: central California Posts: 2,774	Re: Front crossmember swap? Vans are NOT the same. They have a wider stance both front and rear.

01-27-2020, 09:01 PM	#8
Clyde65 1965 Chevy C10, 2005 4.8L/4l60 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 8,546	Re: Front crossmember swap? 73-87 c10, Suburban will work great! __________________ Clyde65 Rebuild of Clyde http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post8338184 69 Aristocrat Lo Liner build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post7561684 *support our troops!*

01-27-2020, 09:25 PM	#9
motolover Registered User Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: tottenham Posts: 9	Re: Front crossmember swap? Ok thank you guys for the very useful information I really appreciate it! So Van's wont work but suburbans will? How bout would blazers or Jimmy's?

01-27-2020, 10:47 PM	#10
Captainfab 60-66 Nut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Posts: 23,252	Re: Front crossmember swap? Any 1/2 ton 2wd truck based front suspension will work. So yes a 2wd Blazer or Jimmy will work. Regarding the full size vans, the spindle, rotors and calipers will work on your original control arms with a ball joint swap. The van control arms are basically the same as the C10 truck control arms, but the shafts are weird, with a tube on the outside with rubber in between. At least the set I have from a '85 G10 van are. The van steering box will not work as they are backwards from a truck box even though they look the same. Installing a big block is not that difficult. I've done it about 28 years ago and many, many others have as well. I do make the steering box adapter plates as well and many other products. __________________ Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE



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