Front suspension conversion/ rebuild. powdercoat pictures

[1stseries55]

that makes sense.... This is why I always end up with extra parts..

thanks

[Tx Firefighter]

Some more progress. I wish it was faster going, but powdercoating and work, and parting out another old truck has kept me very busy.

I got the spindles and rotors cleaned and coated. The wheel bearings looked like brand new Timken ones, so I just cleaned them and regreased them and reused them. I put it all together today just to get the front feet back on the ground and off the jackstands.




Next up is cleaning and powdercoating the steering stuff. I have all new tie rod ends, idler arm, and pitman arm to go on it. I need to rebuild the steering box first though, and build a powersteering box to frame bracket too.

I also have my wheels now, and need to get on blasting and powdercoating them too. They are just 5 lug steelies. I'm going to run the exact same look as Grumpy has on his truck. I just need to find a set of hubcaps. The rallys on it now are just rollers until I get the final wheels done.

I also need to cut the frame horns and radiator crossmember off and graft a better set on. That's why I didn't bother to detail and POR15 the very front end of the frame yet.

[Alan's Classic]

I like progress!! It really looks nice

[Tx Firefighter]

Front end is done now. All I have left to do is mount the steering box. The REZ kit will be here tomorrow.

So, lacking any parts, I started on the rearend. I took the 12 bolt out of an old 80 model parts truck. First step is to remove all of the leaf spring pads and shock brackets to prepare for installation of the coil spring mounting pads.

[blue64]

looks good. I'm doing the same swap.

[scotts62]

Hey looking good!

[darkhorse970]

I am gathering parts to do this same conversion on a '68 short stepside and have a question or two. Is the track width the same after this conversion? How do the drop spindles/springs equate to dropping the stock suspension? (Will a 4" drop place the frame/body at the same height with both suspensions?) I have done a '72 swap of front suspension onto a '63 frame, but never dealt with the 73-87 components.