Out with the torsion bars and in with the Bags! But how????

[nailm]

New member here with a 62 Chevy stepside project in the planning stages. I found this site after finding Porterbuilt's Dropmember while trying to figure out how to replace the original torsion bar suspension with something that will accept new arms and bags. Has anybody put this COOL crossmember on a 62? No offense Porterbuilt (because I REALY like your dropmember), but has anybody used anything else. A donor crossmember from a newer truck?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Nailm

[hewlett2002000]

ive never done the switch on the older ones. i have put a 84 front suspension under my friends 65. would like to see some pics. i have a 62 took apart in my garage, making a convertible(i know i know, not my idea). what engine/ tranny?
thanks,
John

[raiden7800]

All I can say is, VERY carefully. :p

[62ChevyStep]

Have not used Porterbuilt's crossmember (would have liked to, maybe in the future) but did use a complete 86' C10 front crossmember, changed the spindles (2 1/2" drop) and added a 1 " drop coil. Pictures are: Before, After, and just the front (Stinkbug look)

[nailm]

Thanks for the advice raiden, i;ll keep that in mind.

Not sure about my drive train yet. Truck is still bone stock with inline 6 and 3 speed. Thinking about a SBC and auto. Maybe more ambitious. Any past experiences/nightmares? I'm looking for a solid driver with plenty of guts. Good luck with the cutting Hewlett. I'd love to see that!!

62 Step, SWEET ride. I dig the stance. I figured you could swap in a front cross member from a donor truck. Do you know what years? Is it from 63 on, or only a few special years? How did you drop the rear, just drop coils? How much? Does frame lay on the axel housing, or did you notch it?

Sorry everyone. So many question. This is the first place i've been able to find real answers to so many burning questions. I will try to post a pic of hte truck. I don't have too many of them, but I do have one with me and my wife onour wedding day. The truck isn't pretty, but at least it was a driver then. By the way, my wife named the truck the Grinch when I first met her, so it will be keeping it's mean green sheen!!

[nailm]

62 Step

Also, what size wheel/tire combo is that? Did you have to modify the inner fender wells?

Thanks

Brad

[62ChevyStep]

Originally Posted by nailm

62 Step

Do you know what years? Is it from 63 on, or only a few special years? How did you drop the rear, just drop coils? How much? Does frame lay on the axel housing, or did you notch it?

Also, what size wheel/tire combo is that? Did you have to modify the inner fender wells?

Thanks

I am not sure what years the swap would cover? I would venture to guess 73-87, I' sure somebody will chime in.

The rear is a 5" coil drop, no frame on the axle and no notch, didnt require it.

the wheels are 20x8.5 Boyd Coddington Smoothie II's the tires are 275x40x20 front and 275x45x20 rear no inner fender well modification required

[Pritchard1970]

I am working on a 62 with bags front and rear. The front torsion bar set up with completely unbolt and you can roll it out like a wheel barrel. I used a 76 front crossmember and suspension with little trouble. It is slighty wider than the 62 but I have not run into any clearence issues so far...I also added power steering as well as a 4- link out back....hope this helps

[64shortc10]

Pritchard1970,

Do You plan on running a pan hard bar or watts link set up? Because the way you have that 4-link set up you're going to have alot of side to side movement in the rear! Other then that your truck looks good DUMPED!

Tony from Norcal

[Pritchard1970]

I am going to use a panhard bar.....actually since these photos where taken the project has taken on a whole new dimension......I decided to go to four wheel disk brakes and found a 2004 rearend out of a silverado with a posi and 3:73 gears and four wheel discs....anyways I am in the process of fabbing up the support bar for the 4-link hangers as well as the panhard bar mount on the rearend itself......Also the cab has been removed, frame sand blasted along with all the suspension parts.......Soon I hope to have the frame put back together.....this stuff never ends, it is a good thing I like doing this

[PrerunnerRob]

This might sound like a stupid question, by why use a panhard bar if you have a triangulated 4 link? Won't the centering effect of the triangulation fight with the arc of movement of a panhard bar? It looks like your upper links are angled inward, bu t did I not catch something here?

[64shortc10]

Prerunner,

Just like you said a triangled 4-link would keep the rear end centered. In the picture he provided you can clearly see that his upper link bars are not creating a triangle. They look almost straight to me.

Pritchard1970,

Is the rear end out of the 04 silverado close in width to your stock rearend?
Also is your truck a fleet or step? Looks good post some pics of your progress!

Tony from Norcal

[Pritchard1970]

I don't want to steal this guys thread....but to answer your question the '04 rearend is wider than the stock.....approx. 6.5" wider.....so far my measurents have let me to believe that it is going to work....3.25" on each side and with the offset on the wheels I am going to run the foot print should be in the right place....my issue is going to be possibly with the rear inner fenders but we'll see.....the 4-link is not going to be triangulated so I am going to run a pan hard bar.... I will keep posting pics as they become availble....thanks guys

[hewlett2002000]

62chevystep.... thats a bad ass lookin truck. i love the rake.

[62ChevyStep]

Thanks Hewlett!, I am glad you are keeping your truck, I made too many mistakes like that through the 45 years of my life and kick myself all the time for vehicles I let go and shouldnt have. my 62 wont be one of those mistakes, if I can help it!

[hewlett2002000]

well im only 17 and this was/is my first real truck. i mean a had a few before but not worth calling my first truck, lol. one was a freebie and the other was a F*** and neither ran. id like to keep this truck, but if i ever decide i dont want it my dad wants it pretty bad so he would get it. he tought me most of what i know about working on trucks, the rest i just learned from just doing it.
thanks,
John