67-72 trailing arms in a 85?

[dirtboy488]

Has anyone swapped 67-72 trailing arms and cross member into the 73-87 frame? Looking for options to seat the rear up with bags and I have all the 67-72 stuff at the house.

[gchemist]

Bolt on a C-4 Vette rear. Truck frame widths may not be practical for trailing arms.

[aggie91]

I don't remember which truck mag it was in, but AirRide Tech had an article in one that showed a kit of theirs being put into '79 or '80 model.

I believe that the frame width is the same on the trucks from 1964 to 1987. I know that the front cross members bolt into each of those years. The swap should be easy, with just a few holes to drill for the cross member. The coil spring/air bag mounts may take some fabing since the frame's shap is different over the axle between those years.

I wish I know which magazine it was in....

[SBTork]

I know a project truck that custom classic trucks had, a '79 Big 10 C-10, had a trailing arm set-up in it that cpp was developing. I thought they were supposed to have it out by now, but maybe something happened.

[moneyeater]

Originally Posted by gchemist

Bolt on a C-4 Vette rear. Truck frame widths may not be practical for trailing arms.

Is there some kit or brackets to make a vette irs a bolt in deal?
I had a good one laying around and i think that would make a serious upgrade!

[manimal]

I was asking the same question about 6mo ago. I read the article in the mag and was VERY interested in doing it. Also you can contact "HOT RODS FROM HELL" they have kits for all types of vehicles. Good luck and post up any info you find. Thanks
-Lance

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by SBTork

I know a project truck that custom classic trucks had, a '79 Big 10 C-10, had a trailing arm set-up in it that cpp was developing. I thought they were supposed to have it out by now, but maybe something happened.

That is the one I was talking about, it is CPP not AirRide. here is a link to the article, it was a prototype kit from CPP. There are a few pics of the rear set up in the article.

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...w_muffler.html

Hope this helps...

[gchemist]

Systems available at http://kustomairsuspensions.com/





The C-4 Vette would take some work. I saw a pickup somewhere around Houston that had a C-4 rear. Looked great. Sold on ebay. I should have saved pictures.

[gchemist]

Typical install. A few brackets. Connect the four links and your done.

http://home.cfl.rr.com/scottiegnz/vette-irs.jpg

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicl.../photo_12.html

[dirtboy488]

I know there are plenty of kits out there but I am more interested in the 67-72 steup. I have all the rear suspension and drive train in the garage. It looks like the 67/72 traling arm x-member will fit fine between the frame rails but the fame is at an upward angle where it needs to mount. I was thinking of either a tubular x-member or putting the 67/72 one in the frame, cutting the bottom of the drive line loop out and extending it so I have ther room needed for movement. I dont thing the X-member mounted at an angle will affect the geometry but I lose room where the D/S passes through.

[N2TRUX]

To answer your original question, it will not bolt in or fall in place. The 67-72 trailing arm and 73-87 leaf spring frame are very different from the rear cab mounts back.

[dirtboy488]

They sure are, I was just putting a line out to see if anyone had done it and if they ran into any specific problems. The axle and trailing arms are under the truck, in the morning I will start the x-member.

[killthewabbit]

Take lots of pics and post em up, will ya? It would be nice to see a homebuilt and home-engineered trailing arm rear suspension for our trucks.

[scotts62]

Heck anything is possible if you put enough thought into it..
Let us know how the progress comes

[PBFAB.COM]

Why not contact CPP and see if you can purchase the trailing arm crossmember for the 73-87 trucks that was featured in the CT article? You will need to check to make sure, but I would be willing to bet that the trailing arms for the 63-72 trucks will bolt right in place... since they already make the tubular trailing arms for the 63-72 I am sure they would use them in the kit and not make a 73-87 specific trailing arm. Then you would have to figure out the bag mounts, shock mounts, and notch.

[Spray-Bomb]

I think the reason he doesnt want a kit or to try to get a one off piece made is because of $$$

He already has most of what he needs in his garage, so let him go at it with a grinder in one hand & a torch in the other, while we sit back & watch the sparks fly

[Longstep70]

Has anyone seen this done on an earlier truck - 55-59 for eg?
how do their frame widths compare?

-Andy