Putting leaf rear on coil rear frame?

[fade94]

I am getting a 69 short frame that I will be putting my 71 stuff on. However, the 71 is a leaf rear. Does the 69 frame have the holes for the leaf mounts? Has anybody done this swap? Got pictures? How about pics of a 69 frame, rear section, side view.

[72402]

Don't have pictures and not sure about the holes, but the frames are the same. Even if you have to drill the holes, it shouldn't be a big deal. You can make a template off your old frame if you need it.

[GloryHound]

The Holes should be there! Just use 8 grade hardware. The frame rails were mass produced to accomidate either suspension set up. The coil spring set up is close to a Nascar set up and better for hot rods while the leaf spring is more stable with a load or when towing.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by fade94

I am getting a 69 short frame that I will be putting my 71 stuff on. However, the 71 is a leaf rear. Does the 69 frame have the holes for the leaf mounts? Has anybody done this swap? Got pictures? How about pics of a 69 frame, rear section, side view.

I seem to recall some 'beads' in the frame rail/s that surround the front leaf hangers on my leaf equipped frame that arent there on my coil equipped frame. In other words, leaf frames have slightly different reinforcements where the leaf specific mounting brackets go. Other than that, they are the same (shape/width).

I could prob get some detailed pics to show what I'm referring to if my description was clear as mud.

[lloyd k]

youve got to take the bumpstop bracket off,im pretty sure its on the outside of the rails

[Longhorn Man]

I just have to ask....WHY would you want to go to leaf springs???

[Joe67]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I just have to ask....WHY would you want to go to leaf springs???

That is what I was thinking, just get a rear coil frame and enjoy the ride

[fade94]

The reason for the switch is this. The 71 is a long bed with leaf springs and I want a short bed. The 69 frame is stripped bare which is ok, since the 71 is a driveable truck and I am going to put the body on the short frame. I have located a bed already so I just need to switch my stuff over. Other than the leaf spring mounting and the breake lines, it should be pretty straight forward.
I am getting this frame for a good price. (thanks huggercst!) I have located a short coil frame but it has a 6 lug rear and is way more than what I am buying this frame for. I will also be pulling a trailer with this truck and the leafs will definately help out in that area.
Scoti- pics would be great. You are correct about the beads on the frame rail on each side of the leaf bracket.

[Joe67]

Gotcha. Hopefully everyting you need to transfer it over is there already

[fade94]

I drive the 71 now, so swapping should only be a weekend thing that my son and I can do. I will pull the front clip as a unit. Pull the cab. Pull the motor and trans and go ahead and replace the gaskets on the motor with FelPro Permadry gaskets (leaks now). Then pull the bed. I will just unbolt the front cross member and bolt in under the 69. Then mount the rear. Then swap over the brake lines and wiring. After that, its' motor/trans, cab, clip and mount the fuel cell then put the bed on.
The 71 is in awesome shape except for the bed and the ORANGE paint... It has a speed warning inst panel in it. I am trying to figure out how to get it working (missing cable and harness for it) or may trade it for a tach dash.

[mocwon]

I did this swap and everything was not there. I had to drill many holes. This could be because I started with a 72 GMC leaf long-bed and swapped everything over to a 69 Chevy coil short-bed. I don't know enough about these trucks to say for sure. Just used the old frame as a pattern to measure where all the holes would need to be.

[fade94]

Originally Posted by mocwon

I did this swap and everything was not there. I had to drill many holes. This could be because I started with a 72 GMC leaf long-bed and swapped everything over to a 69 Chevy coil short-bed. I don't know enough about these trucks to say for sure. Just used the old frame as a pattern to measure where all the holes would need to be.

How did it turn out? Got pics?

[mocwon]

Originally Posted by fade94

How did it turn out? Got pics?

Everything turned out fine. I've posted pictures recently of the truck assembled. Look for the post by MOCWON to see the results. I'll try to post pictures tonight of the frame but they are only pictures of the completed rolling chassis.

[mocwon]

I found a picture on this computer...

[Longstep70]

I dont want to hijack the thread but i'm curious; how hard is it to go the other way and convert a leaf frame over to coils? Are the mounting points for the trailing arms on the leaf frame crossmember?

[fade94]

I think the mounting points are there. There are some holes on the cross member.

[72MARIO]

My frame has the 'beads' SCOTI was talking about. Pretty sure coil truck do not have those reinforcement's.

[69 Short Fleet]

The leafs are great when your hauling stuff or towing and GM made an optional leaf spring helper to add to that (their getting hard to find now though) so I think your plans are good for what your going to use your truck for.... on the other hand my short fleet with leafs (no load) kicks like a mule going over speed bumps or uneven pavement....

[fade94]

It's always something isn't it?...
Good ride, not so good for hauling....
Rough ride, good for hauling....
If I had a short coil frame with a 5 lug rear, that would be ideal. But I don't. So, I either have to modify a coil frame to accept my rear, OR, cut the long frame I have now, down to short bed length....
Since the deal I had working for a frame just fell apart, I am now looking at cutting my frame down.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Longstep70

I dont want to hijack the thread but i'm curious; how hard is it to go the other way and convert a leaf frame over to coils? Are the mounting points for the trailing arms on the leaf frame crossmember?

I don't know if the holes are there or not, but the cross-member you are referring to is specific to coil spring trucks only. You will need the cross-member and trailing arms off a coil spring truck along with the mounting locations, so, no, there is no cross-memeber on a leaf frame that will work with coils, you have to add it. I guess you would also have to add the perches that the coils sit in to the frame as well.

[SCOTI]

PM sent.

[Longstep70]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I don't know if the holes are there or not, but the cross-member you are referring to is specific to coil spring trucks only. You will need the cross-member and trailing arms off a coil spring truck along with the mounting locations, so, no, there is no cross-memeber on a leaf frame that will work with coils, you have to add it. I guess you would also have to add the perches that the coils sit in to the frame as well.

Thank you. Good info.