Almost ready to change my brake setup but need some help

[old_1966_GMC]

its been a few months sence i havent got a chance to get on here like i used to everyday and research the thread well any ways i have a problem im ganna be swaping from drum to disk today only problem is i dont have a engine hoist so i was tryin to see wat can support my engine mean while i take the crossmember off and put the other new one i have from a 76 c10 will i have any problems if i just unbolt the bottom bolts from the engine mouts that are bolted to the crossmember will the engine mounts be able to support the engine still even though they are still bolted on the frame i hopein this make sence to u guys any help would be thankfull

[Clyde65]

You dont have to take the cross member out from under the truck, just remove the upper/lower a-arms, spindles, rotors and all that. bolt on the new stuff from the 76 that you removed from the 66 and get it aligned.

[old_1966_GMC]

well i have my setup on wheel already i was just thinkin of rolling out the old and roll the newer one in but sence i dont have a engine hoist i was just wonderin if the engine mounts can still support the engine sence they will still be bolted onto the frame

[cb1965]

yes. thats how i did it. i still used a jack to support the engine just to be safe

[old_1966_GMC]

dothank for that in that preaty much covers it so i would have to unbolt the bottom bolts from the engine mount theput a peice of plywood or similar jacke it up a bit and put jack stands to support it rigth am i sayin this correct or did i miss something

[cb1965]

correct. the jack is just to relieve some of the weight off the mounts.

[old_1966_GMC]

so i wont have any issues even though the tranny is still connected thanks for the help i can finally go out and work on this sence the rain finally stoped after almost a month worth of rain wat a relief

[cb1965]

there should be no issue with the trans. still attached. just make sure to

secure the truck propperly and you should be good. good luck with it and

enjoy!!

[markeb01]

I left the engine/transmission in my truck when I swapped the front crossmember. I just bolted some scrap pieces of frame rail to the old 1958 motor mount holes in the front of the block, and allowed the ends to rest on top of the frame on each side. It sat like that for a month while I worked on the suspension, without any problems at all.

[stsalvage]

only one problem with the 1973--90 chevy front ends all the bushing are all pressed in.Not like the 1967--72 front ends that have screw in bushings making them so much more easyer to change and maintain I was going to do it with my 1966 until a friend of mind told me of the difference

[old_1966_GMC]

i was able to rest the engine on the jack yesterday that came to be preatty easy then havein to try and lift. Everything is comeing along the only problem was i wasnt able to put the upper and lower arms on the stock cross member i tryed going to a few auto parts store sence the U bolts from the newer one were not the same i didnt have any luck findin the rigth one so i just ended up switchin the cross member out my progress yesterday i took the old and was only able to bolt in the newer crossmember yesterday that was all i was able to do

[Captainfab]

You should have been able to drill out the holes for the lower control arm U-bolts to accept the later model larger diameter U-bolts. No matter now, since you have the entire later model suspension, crossmember and all. The '73-'87 suspension is a better design IMO with the rubber bushings on the control arm shafts.

Originally Posted by old_1966_GMC

i was able to rest the engine on the jack yesterday that came to be preatty easy then havein to try and lift. Everything is comeing along the only problem was i wasnt able to put the upper and lower arms on the stock cross member i tryed going to a few auto parts store sence the U bolts from the newer one were not the same i didnt have any luck findin the rigth one so i just ended up switchin the cross member out my progress yesterday i took the old and was only able to bolt in the newer crossmember yesterday that was all i was able to do

[old_1966_GMC]

all thats left is to drill out the rest of the holes so once everything is bolted up i can just put the rest in with out a problem now i just have to figure out what to with the old parts i have now i just dont wanna toss em in the trash sence these are still good to somebody out there talk to u guys later

[old_1966_GMC]

So next step is to get measurments on the rear axles where should i take measurments from and wat should i look for when doing this i will also go from 8 lug to 5 lug
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[Captainfab]

When searching for a rear end, you will want to measure wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface (WMS). Some guys insist om measuring backing plate to backing plate, but that is very inaccurate. If your GMC has leaf springs in the back, a rear end from a '73-'87 should bolt up. I think the spring pads are slightly different in the spacing, but there is typically enough movement in the springs to bolt them up. The '73-'87 rear ends are 1.5" wider than an original C10 rear end for your truck, but many guys convert to them. You will just need to buy your wheels with the correct backspacing to achieve clearence with the bed sides.

[old_1966_GMC]

Well i was able to remove the bed from the truck today really get frustrated when doing things urself well at least i was able to get it off i was finally to see wat was under that bed so my truck has leaf spring everything looked preatty good so far so i guess its time to look for the rear end wats type of rear end should lookk for also was kinda confused on where to start the measurements ill try to post some picks of wat ive done so far when i get my internet workin again
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[old_1966_GMC]

Well im ganna be cleanin my frame up preatty soon i was wonderin wat was best way to clean the inside of the frame and also has anyone ever sprayed undercoatin on the there frame wat are the ups and downs
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[blackedoutharley]

If you have access to a sand blaster that will clean the frame the best. if not a bunch of oven cleaner and a pressure washer does fairly well.

I would skip the undercoating. Make sure its clean, prime it and paint it.