8 lug swap

[ronsk10]

how hard is it to change from a 8 lug front and rear to a 5 or 6 lug setup? what is the best donors for this swap it is a 71 c-20. Thanks

[2wdBlazer]

1.Why the heck would you do that? If you lived near me, I grab that 8 lug front off ya.

2. Six lug should bolt in. No 5 lug 4x4's.

[WB72]

I just bought a 71 C-10 front-end from a bone yard. Upper and lower control arms, spindle, disks, and springs. They just cut the frame and gave me everything for $ 200.00 Canadian. I will put the pieces on and check the ball joints and replace them if needed as well as the tierod ends.

The rear end will just bolt up as well. I got a rebuilt (I checked) 3.73 POSI unit for $ 375.00 Canadian.

You can use all springs, if you want, they are different between a 1/2 and a 3/4 ton. but that is your call.

When I'm done, I will have a 1/2 ton.and it will cost about $650.00 Canadian.

Good Luck, its not that hard, once you find donor trucks.

[crazy longhorn]

I did that swap on my 69 , & upgraded to discs. You can use the 73 up c10 pcs, Just use the corresponding ball joints, & outer tie rod ends. The upper a arms will work with the 1/2 ton balljoints installed, the lowers do need to be swapped for 1/2 ton arms due to the balljoint hole sizing. I used 71-72 lower arms, & peeled the rest of the pcs from a 75 c -10(brakes, lines prop valve, master & all). the brake hoses run a little different on the 73 up trucks (pass through the frame ahead of the crossmember), & the prop valve is mounted to the 1st crossmember. it creates a little more "rework" that way, but gives a wider source of parts. Good luck,crazyL