trailing arm questions?????

[-dylan-(OO==|==OO)]

i have a 67 gmc with leafs in the back but i am considering switching to coils.... will the trailing arms bolt straight on to my frame???

[oldblue1968chevy]

Crawl under it and see if it has a trailing arm crossmember, if it does all you'll need is a rear axle, panhad bar, panhard bar mount to frame a coilspring rear end.

[68GMCCustom]

there's a bit more to it then that. There are also shock mount changes. I've changed over my '68 GMC from leafs to coils and got everything off my donor frame except for the panhard bar frame mount. IIRC...you'll need the coil spring shock mount crossmember with shock mounts, the reinforcement plates that go under it, the lower shock mount brackets that mount to the trailing arms at the axle, a panhard bar with frame mount and the mount for the rear axle (numerous choices)...plus the trailing arms and their mounts to the center crossmember.

Oh. And you'll need to have everything you like to use to cut off about a couple dozen rivets......per frame...both yours and the donors unless you purchase the parts ready to install.

[-dylan-(OO==|==OO)]

i am wanting to convert mine but wud like to leave the factory dana 60 (posi) in it...??/ have any ideas to what i can do?

[N2TRUX]

oldblue1968chevy- Please do not solicit sales in the discussion forum. Your offers will get this post closed, and infractions against your account.

[eagleuh1]

Do a setup with homemade trailing arms with the panhard bar attached to the back of the trailing arm. Theres a member here that did it with a Lincoln M4 rear and coilovers. Real sharp. Thats for Dylan. Link below.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414961

[68GMCCustom]

You can keep your Dana 60...just go with the longer aftermarket style panhard rod that attaches to the axle at the axle pad/ubolt. Its a better seup anyway!

[oldblue1968chevy]

My bad, I didnt know. I saw he was closeby and thought Id say something. Best way to go about this would be PM? Anyway, back to the topic.

Anyway, What kind of fab skills do you have (could you weld the saddles on the axle, I know I couldnt otherwise I wouldve done it already)..

[-dylan-(OO==|==OO)]

so i will need to get the axle brackets and weld them onto the rearend and get the trailing arms and go from there??

[70cst]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

My bad, I didnt know. I saw he was closeby and thought Id say something. Best way to go about this would be PM? Anyway, back to the topic.

Anyway, What kind of fab skills do you have (could you weld the saddles on the axle, I know I couldnt otherwise I wouldve done it already)..

All sales needs to be in the open forum to my understanding.

[oldblue1968chevy]

So...Im confused? How should I have went about it to him? No Pms or posting here?...

Yeah, to keep your current rearend, you'd have to weld some perches onto your existing axle (center it, pinon angle right, etc). Others would be more knowledgeable about this than myself (no experience, just telling you what I think I know )

[Mike Bradbury]

Are you sure that your D60 is posi? Mine was not.
I did the conversion Eagleuh1 referred to and it is a lot of work unless you have a donor complete rear setup. Welding brackets to your 60 will require straightening after welding. It induces a lot of stress to one side of the axle and the distortion will lead to premature failure of bearings and seals if it is not straightened. Nate at Porterbuilt makes a complete setup as long as you have an axle to bolt to.
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[myoldchevytruck]

Originally Posted by -dylan-(OO==|==OO)

so i will need to get the axle brackets and weld them onto the rearend and get the trailing arms and go from there??

dylan, I did the swap from leafs to trailing arms on my 69' GMC. It was a weekend project once I had all the parts (pretty simple, just my son and I)

I bought the trailing arms from a swap meet.

I bought the following parts from board members in the parts section. I posted a WTB:
Cross Member Brackets
Frame Bracket (D/S) for Super Track Bar

From Early Classic Enterprise (ECE)
Super Track Bar (Used this cause I installed 6 inch lowering springs in the rear. P.S. I DID NOT have to C-Notch it)
Axle Saddle Brackets
Shock Relocator Kit

GMC Pauls
6 inch lowering springs

I also put 3 inch lowering springs in the front I got from a friend

I used all grade 8 hardware to install the frame and cross member brackets

Although, I purchased the Axle Saddle Brackets, I never used them (sold them to a board member) I ended up getting a 72' 5 lug rear end and 5 lug disks from the same truck

Here's how it sits today:

[-dylan-(OO==|==OO)]

o ok thx guys... now just need to find the parts to do all of this with.....

yea my dana is posi, 3:54 posi

[myoldchevytruck]

Originally Posted by -dylan-(OO==|==OO)

o ok thx guys... now just need to find the parts to do all of this with.....

yea my dana is posi, 3:54 posi

I bought my frame and cross member brackets from a board member in Georgia. His name is Tim (board name "Uncle") Also try Randy "teeitup" he's in Kansas. Good Luck.

[-dylan-(OO==|==OO)]

after looking it over and all the labor that im going to have to do welding all the brackets to my dana i think im just going to find a coil frame and get all the parts including the rearend and swap them out and put the dana in the 65 chevelle....!

[Tim Christian]

Why did you all swap? My 67 has leafs and I love em!!!!

[myoldchevytruck]

Originally Posted by Tim Christian

Why did you all swap? My 67 has leafs and I love em!!!!

Tim,

For the 3/6 drop I currently have and for the future of bagging it. Plus my 69' has a 68' front end, the tailgate says Chevy all of the emblems say Chevy so I ousted the GMC and made it a Chevy. BTW, great looking truck.

[Mike Bradbury]

There is nothing wrong with leafs, they are a tried and true form of suspension that work well and is very effective in its job. But there are some other aspects that trailing arms are a bit better choice. The leafs are heavy when considering unsprung weight, also axle wrap under high torque situations is a factor that trailing arms very simply eliminates while reducing the unsprung weight. I was converting from a C20 to a C10 and the huge leafs would have needed to be completely redone, besides the fact that I was changing my entire axle and wanted a bit more control than what my leafs could give.