car suspension interchange?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mindhive · 03-16-2004, 09:21 PM

I just got a 70 short 1/2 ton 2wd and a 80 something caprice wagon. I was wondering what you guys think of trying to swap in the front suspension a-arms, brakes, springs, power steering,etc without grafting in the car crossmember. Also, any thoughts on the rear end to keep the lug pattern the same? Could I just change swap the axles? I would think they are about the same with. I plan on using the truck like a car so suspension capacity isn't really an issue, besides the wagon weighs about 500 lbs more than the truck so I think the parts could handle it if they fit. I searched for info but came up empty handed.

Tim

Low69CST · 03-17-2004, 12:32 AM

I don't see you gaining much by putting in a caprice suspension. If you were going to graft in a suspension, i'd get a corvette front suspension like they sell for street rods. As for the rear, unless you want indpendent rear, theres no real need to change our suspensions. They are such a good design NASCAR uses them!

mindhive · 03-17-2004, 12:43 AM

My truck has manual steering and manual drum brakes. I was thinking there is also a possibility I would get some lowering out of the deal. I am on a tight budget and already own the caprice parts.

Tim

Low69CST · 03-17-2004, 12:47 AM

I understand everything about tight budgets, but also, i've tried to do alot of riggin like you have talked about. When you start mismatching problems you never imagined to start to emerge. In my opinion, i'd try to part out the caprice and save up money for some drop spindles to fit your truck from ECE and then head to the junk yard for the rest of the peices to fit. Would be easier and cheaper in the long run.

mindhive · 03-17-2004, 10:09 AM

Any body else want to puy their $.02.

Tim

cdowns · 03-17-2004, 02:52 PM

LOW69 gave you good advise

mindhive · 03-17-2004, 09:36 PM

You know I really don't know what to say right now. I asked a question and got advise instead of an answer. I am really disappointed with this experience. Is it because I am new to the board. I really thought I would get some answers here. I do respect those with more knowledge than me and appreciate the advise but what I want to know is there anybody who has any experience with this type of situation and can give me an answer? Will ANY parts of the brakes, steering or suspension interchange? In my experience there could be any number of parts that will interchange to help me towards my goal of getting power steering, power disc brakes and maybe even lowering my ride a bit with other car parts.

beaterC10 · 03-17-2004, 11:40 PM

Some of the parts might interchange. I put disks on a 63 a few years back and used some wagon parts. The big cars used some of the same brake parts, (rotors, calipers, bearings, etc) and some of the same steering parts. It depends on what suspension option the wagon came with.

The only way I found to determine the interchange was by studying a chassis parts catalog. Basically run the part numbers down and see what is common between a wagon and a truck.

Some of the catalogs will list the the details on thread size, ball joint taper, etc. This might give you some clue what will interchange as well.

For the master cylinder you should probably compare wheel cylinder size, shoe size, rotor size. etc.

I know for sure though some of the wagons used the same rotors, calipers, and bearings.

It seems also that the the steering parts became beefier through the years. Parts used on a 3/4 ton application on an earlier truck often seemed to be used on 1/2 ton application on a later truck

Hope this helps some.

pickup6772 · 03-17-2004, 11:45 PM

MINDHIVE, YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE CHICKEN SOUP OUT OF CHICKEN SH#$. THE PARTS DO NOT INTERCHANGE. ALL YOUR RIGGING IS GOING TO DO, IS TURN YOUR TRUCK INTO A DANGEROUS WRECK. BEING NEW IS NOT THE PROBLEM HERE, BEING THICKHEADED IS!!! WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP YOU FROM KILLING YOURSELF, AND OTHERS. IF YOU WANT A PRETTY DIRECT SWAP, FIND A WRECKED 71-72 1/2 TON 2WD, AND GET ALL THE DISC BRAKE PARTS FROM IT. DO NOT SCREW AROUND WITH THE MIX, AND MATCH SYSTEM I HOPE I SPEAK FOR THE OTHERS, WHEN I SAY WE WILL NOT TAKE PART IN HURTING OTHERS.

mindhive · 03-18-2004, 12:25 AM

Hey, no need to yell. All I wanted was an answer. I don't want to get into a pi$$ing contests and I don't want to jury rig anything. I just wanted to know if any of the parts interchange maybe I can save a few bucks. I appreciate the fact you want me to be safe and I will do just that. I just got a response that didn't answer my question, no reasons or anything. Sorry if I offended anybody but I just want an answer.
I hope this can end now I am sorry if I got out of line.

BTW I am happy with all the tech on this board and thank you all that have good info to share.

Tim

03-16-2004, 09:21 PM	#1
mindhive Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mountain Home ID Posts: 85	car suspension interchange?? I just got a 70 short 1/2 ton 2wd and a 80 something caprice wagon. I was wondering what you guys think of trying to swap in the front suspension a-arms, brakes, springs, power steering,etc without grafting in the car crossmember. Also, any thoughts on the rear end to keep the lug pattern the same? Could I just change swap the axles? I would think they are about the same with. I plan on using the truck like a car so suspension capacity isn't really an issue, besides the wagon weighs about 500 lbs more than the truck so I think the parts could handle it if they fit. I searched for info but came up empty handed. Tim

03-17-2004, 12:32 AM	#2
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	I don't see you gaining much by putting in a caprice suspension. If you were going to graft in a suspension, i'd get a corvette front suspension like they sell for street rods. As for the rear, unless you want indpendent rear, theres no real need to change our suspensions. They are such a good design NASCAR uses them! __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

03-17-2004, 12:47 AM	#4
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	I understand everything about tight budgets, but also, i've tried to do alot of riggin like you have talked about. When you start mismatching problems you never imagined to start to emerge. In my opinion, i'd try to part out the caprice and save up money for some drop spindles to fit your truck from ECE and then head to the junk yard for the rest of the peices to fit. Would be easier and cheaper in the long run. __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

03-17-2004, 02:52 PM	#6
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	LOW69 gave you good advise __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

03-17-2004, 11:45 PM	#9
pickup6772 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: MASTIC BEACH, long island, ny Posts: 362	MINDHIVE, YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE CHICKEN SOUP OUT OF CHICKEN SH#$. THE PARTS DO NOT INTERCHANGE. ALL YOUR RIGGING IS GOING TO DO, IS TURN YOUR TRUCK INTO A DANGEROUS WRECK. BEING NEW IS NOT THE PROBLEM HERE, BEING THICKHEADED IS!!! WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP YOU FROM KILLING YOURSELF, AND OTHERS. IF YOU WANT A PRETTY DIRECT SWAP, FIND A WRECKED 71-72 1/2 TON 2WD, AND GET ALL THE DISC BRAKE PARTS FROM IT. DO NOT SCREW AROUND WITH THE MIX, AND MATCH SYSTEM I HOPE I SPEAK FOR THE OTHERS, WHEN I SAY WE WILL NOT TAKE PART IN HURTING OTHERS. __________________ MIKE '67 C/10 2WD LWB '89 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS COUNTRY TILL THE DAY I DIE

03-17-2004, 12:43 AM	#3
mindhive Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mountain Home ID Posts: 85	My truck has manual steering and manual drum brakes. I was thinking there is also a possibility I would get some lowering out of the deal. I am on a tight budget and already own the caprice parts. Tim

03-17-2004, 10:09 AM	#5
mindhive Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mountain Home ID Posts: 85	Any body else want to puy their $.02. Tim

03-17-2004, 09:36 PM	#7
mindhive Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mountain Home ID Posts: 85	You know I really don't know what to say right now. I asked a question and got advise instead of an answer. I am really disappointed with this experience. Is it because I am new to the board. I really thought I would get some answers here. I do respect those with more knowledge than me and appreciate the advise but what I want to know is there anybody who has any experience with this type of situation and can give me an answer? Will ANY parts of the brakes, steering or suspension interchange? In my experience there could be any number of parts that will interchange to help me towards my goal of getting power steering, power disc brakes and maybe even lowering my ride a bit with other car parts.

03-17-2004, 11:40 PM	#8
beaterC10 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,277	Some of the parts might interchange. I put disks on a 63 a few years back and used some wagon parts. The big cars used some of the same brake parts, (rotors, calipers, bearings, etc) and some of the same steering parts. It depends on what suspension option the wagon came with. The only way I found to determine the interchange was by studying a chassis parts catalog. Basically run the part numbers down and see what is common between a wagon and a truck. Some of the catalogs will list the the details on thread size, ball joint taper, etc. This might give you some clue what will interchange as well. For the master cylinder you should probably compare wheel cylinder size, shoe size, rotor size. etc. I know for sure though some of the wagons used the same rotors, calipers, and bearings. It seems also that the the steering parts became beefier through the years. Parts used on a 3/4 ton application on an earlier truck often seemed to be used on 1/2 ton application on a later truck Hope this helps some.

03-18-2004, 12:25 AM	#10
mindhive Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mountain Home ID Posts: 85	Hey, no need to yell. All I wanted was an answer. I don't want to get into a pi$$ing contests and I don't want to jury rig anything. I just wanted to know if any of the parts interchange maybe I can save a few bucks. I appreciate the fact you want me to be safe and I will do just that. I just got a response that didn't answer my question, no reasons or anything. Sorry if I offended anybody but I just want an answer. I hope this can end now I am sorry if I got out of line. BTW I am happy with all the tech on this board and thank you all that have good info to share. Tim



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