Any advantage in using 73-87 front crossmember?

[D-n-Tyke]

Planning on swapping the front suspension on a 1972 C20 8-lug truck to suspension off a 1974 C10 5-lug truck. I have the complete suspension crossmember and all off the 74 C10. I just don't know if there is really any advantages in swapping out the crossmembers when doing this seap. The only thing I have found is the low a-arm shaft retainer u-bolts are bigger on the 74 crossmember. But is there anything else? Are the larger retainer u-bolts really that much better when the truck is just going to be a daily driver?

Would I be smarter to just swap over the 74 suspension components onto the 72 crossmember. Or it really is smarter to swap over everthing, crossmember included. Looking all the advice I can get on this. Thanks.

[dmjlambert]

I think in 72 the C20 would have had 8 lugs so wondering what you have. Perhaps 4 wheel drive 1/2 ton?

[D-n-Tyke]

Sorry, both 1972 C20 I am building, and the 1974 donor suspension are off 2wd trucks.

And you are correct. The 1972 C20 is 8 lug, I keep mistakenly put 6-lug.

[LockDoc]

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You will get differing opinions but I have always swapped the complete x-member. The one deciding factor for me is that all of the ones I have swapped into did not have engines in them.
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[67 twins]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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You will get differing opinions but I have always swapped the complete x-member. The one deciding factor for me is that all of the ones I have swapped into did not have engines in them.
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When I swapped mine the engine was in place. That had no affect on my decision, I don't really see the correlation. Explain your reasoning please?