1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Dieselwrencher** · 10-14-2008, 04:39 PM

I finally got the truck in the shop yesterday. This morning before work I got all the old front suspension off the Longhorn. Tomorrow I will start removing the hangers from my parts donor and maybe begin the swap over tomorrow pending weather. LOL This truck will end up getting a few upgrades. It is going to get the 432 BBC sitting next to it. It is getting a 4x4 SM465 and a NP208 tcase. I am putting a Dana 44HD in the front and a Dana 70 with a posi in the rear. It is going to get 2 1/2" aluminized exhaust with flowmaster mufflers. It will have a 6" lift and 36" tires. I am going to have to replace the wood in the bed and for now that might end up being marine grade plywood. Later on I will have to put the correct floor in it but I will worry about that when I get around to doing the body work. For now I want to put my snow blade on it and use the truck for a while. It has been a while since I have driven one of these and I can't wait!

*FormerMember* · 10-14-2008, 05:01 PM

I love mine... wish I could drive it.

watahyahknow · 10-14-2008, 05:12 PM

wow nice work , realy like the space you have too .
my workspace is so chuckfull of stuff i first need to move things around to be able to work on mine.
keep us updated

**special-K** · 10-14-2008, 06:03 PM

This will be nice.Way to go.

**Dieselwrencher** · 10-14-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

wow nice work , realy like the space you have too .
my workspace is so chuckfull of stuff i first need to move things around to be able to work on mine.
keep us updated

Man good thing you can't see behind the trucks or along the sides of them. LOL I only rent two spots and they are over flowing. I need to get the truck next to it done too. LOL

72-c20 · 10-14-2008, 10:45 PM

come on, let's see the 53s on that beast

**Dieselwrencher** · 10-14-2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72-c20

come on, let's see the 53s on that beast

Nah, having one to put them on is bad enough. LOL

stllookn · 10-15-2008, 11:37 AM

How I would love to do that to my big block Longhorn...since it is getting ALL the upgrades and will be my primary camping rig. I need a bigger shop with a jumbotron so I don't miss any football...LOL! I will be following this closely...take good notes and lots of pictures.

**Dieselwrencher** · 10-15-2008, 03:11 PM

Today I started removing parts from the donor. Although I didn't get far due to rain and I am not up for laying in the mud today. So I started messing with the D60 I just put in the other truck in the pics and I found out it has been in a fire and is basically junk. Sucks for me. So now to get that truck out of the shop because I am moving in a few weeks, I am going to have to use the D44HD for the Longhorn. but atleast it won't be a permanent thing. LOL

stllookn · 10-15-2008, 04:21 PM

The big block Longhorns came with a Dana 3.54 rear as standard equipment. I thought that was a Dana 60. Is that correct? I am guessing you would, ideally, match it up with a Dana 60 front in the same ratio. I seem to recall that those are very expensive...$1000+ in the used market, if you can find them. Time to start looking.

**Dieselwrencher** · 10-15-2008, 04:30 PM

Yeah this truck has a Dana 60 rear axle. I am not sure of the gears. I decided to use the Dana 70 because I have it and I know it is good plus it has new rear brakes and a nice tight posi. I would love to have a D60 front for it but like you said. They are around $1k, and that won't be happening soon.

duallyjams · 10-15-2008, 07:27 PM

My local salvage yard has front d60 for 400-500.East coast Md

**Yukon Jack** · 10-16-2008, 04:14 PM

This will be a good project to watch - how long do you expect the project to take?

stllookn · 10-17-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duallyjams

My local salvage yard has front d60 for 400-500.East coast Md

Great price...shipping would kill that deal! Oh well...parts are always where you don't need them.

DirtyLarry · 10-17-2008, 05:39 PM

That is going to be a cool project. I am subscribing to this thread!

**Dieselwrencher** · 10-17-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

This will be a good project to watch - how long do you expect the project to take?

Well, IDK. So far I haven't touched it for 2 days due to other projects. But hopefully I can have the front axle under it by end of next week. And with any luck I can get the BBC dropped in with the 4 speed and tcase mounted. But we'll see. It seems every time I make any plans, the plans always get screwed up. LOL One road block was the Ford D60 front i just but under my 76 K30 project in the pics, is junk. It went through a fire and the housing got so hot it is sagging down. The RH hub is seized up, and the king pins are froze up. I am trying to get my money back but we will see. So now I had to reinstall the D44 back in the 76 so I can get it out of the shop and back home to sit. Once it is at home I will remove it for the Longhorn again. Man these axle swaps keep getting faster and faster. LOL Oh well, if it wasn't so much fun busting knuckles we would be watching TV. Oh maybe not. LOL

**Dieselwrencher** · 10-20-2008, 06:18 PM

Just an update, I removed the rear wheels and put the rear on jack stands. I got the D70 out of my other truck, and yesterday I baught a D60 front for my other chevy project. Maybe some real progress will happen this week. LOL

stllookn · 10-21-2008, 01:34 AM

We're waiting...LOL!

**Dieselwrencher** · 10-21-2008, 03:01 PM

LOL I swept under it today and sat the 36's under the wheel wells to take a picture when I noticed I had no camera. LOL I have a 24v dodge to finish up and then I will get on this thing. I have to, it has to roll out next week. LOL

**Dieselwrencher** · 12-03-2008, 06:35 PM

No big progress here. The truck is sitting on stands outside at home now in the snow.

I did pick up a very nice A/C cab for it and a pretty good LH door. I also found a really nice OE 72 grill shell I am going to get next week. Until I get a place to work on it again, I am gathering parts for it. And now I am having second thoughts about converting it to a Cummins truck. Oh no......

72-c20 · 12-03-2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

No big progress here. The truck is sitting on stands outside at home now in the snow.

I did pick up a very nice A/C cab for it and a pretty good LH door. I also found a really nice OE 72 grill shell I am going to get next week. Until I get a place to work on it again, I am gathering parts for it. And now I am having second thoughts about converting it to a Cummins truck. Oh no......

the cab on the Longhorn was pretty decent except for the rockers/cab corners, wasn't it....

**Dieselwrencher** · 12-03-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72-c20

the cab on the Longhorn was pretty decent except for the rockers/cab corners, wasn't it....

Above the windshield is worse than I thought and it was a non A/C truck.

**Dieselwrencher** · 10-22-2009, 08:00 PM

Well I'm sorry to say, I haven't done anything with the truck since I moved out of that shop last fall. I have a lead on a D70 front for it though, and I think I will have an extra cummins to put in it after all. Hopefully this winter I can get to it again.

stllookn · 10-26-2009, 01:56 AM

I am still waiting for more progress. I picked up a '71 3/4 t. 4x4 donor chassis with everything I need to convert my Longhorn except the short shaft 4x4 tranny...all thanks to BREEH! My Longhorn is still in the paint shop but when it comes out it might be time for a conversion...or NOT! I need some guidance from you!

**Dieselwrencher** · 10-28-2009, 08:12 PM

I just actually thought about putting this body on a 89 F-350 chassis. It already has a 5.9 cummins with a ZF 5 speed, a lift with 36's, but IDK yet. The ford frame might be tooo wide to try to get the chevy body on it without it being ugly looking on the body mounts.

10-14-2008, 04:39 PM	#1
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,139	1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes I finally got the truck in the shop yesterday. This morning before work I got all the old front suspension off the Longhorn. Tomorrow I will start removing the hangers from my parts donor and maybe begin the swap over tomorrow pending weather. LOL This truck will end up getting a few upgrades. It is going to get the 432 BBC sitting next to it. It is getting a 4x4 SM465 and a NP208 tcase. I am putting a Dana 44HD in the front and a Dana 70 with a posi in the rear. It is going to get 2 1/2" aluminized exhaust with flowmaster mufflers. It will have a 6" lift and 36" tires. I am going to have to replace the wood in the bed and for now that might end up being marine grade plywood. Later on I will have to put the correct floor in it but I will worry about that when I get around to doing the body work. For now I want to put my snow blade on it and use the truck for a while. It has been a while since I have driven one of these and I can't wait!

10-14-2008, 05:01 PM	#2
FormerMember Account Suspended Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,051	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion I love mine... wish I could drive it.

10-14-2008, 05:12 PM	#3
watahyahknow Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: the netherlands europe Posts: 4,335	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion wow nice work , realy like the space you have too . my workspace is so chuckfull of stuff i first need to move things around to be able to work on mine. keep us updated __________________ i got a job again and having fun at it too idea's for the trucks and the order of things to do are taking shape and get closer to being realized , a few more months and i be able to start building for real i complete 2 of the trucks intoo running fashion one custom and one basicly stock the thirth will be sacrificed for parts

10-14-2008, 06:03 PM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion This will be nice.Way to go. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

10-14-2008, 10:45 PM	#6
72-c20 Packrat Join Date: May 2008 Location: Central Iowa Posts: 459	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion come on, let's see the 53s on that beast __________________ gone: --'07 Tahoe LTZ 4WD --'68 Firebird 400 Convertible gone: --'72 Chevy K20

10-15-2008, 11:37 AM	#8
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion How I would love to do that to my big block Longhorn...since it is getting ALL the upgrades and will be my primary camping rig. I need a bigger shop with a jumbotron so I don't miss any football...LOL! I will be following this closely...take good notes and lots of pictures. __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)

10-15-2008, 03:11 PM	#9
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,139	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion Today I started removing parts from the donor. Although I didn't get far due to rain and I am not up for laying in the mud today. So I started messing with the D60 I just put in the other truck in the pics and I found out it has been in a fire and is basically junk. Sucks for me. So now to get that truck out of the shop because I am moving in a few weeks, I am going to have to use the D44HD for the Longhorn. but atleast it won't be a permanent thing. LOL

10-15-2008, 04:21 PM	#10
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion The big block Longhorns came with a Dana 3.54 rear as standard equipment. I thought that was a Dana 60. Is that correct? I am guessing you would, ideally, match it up with a Dana 60 front in the same ratio. I seem to recall that those are very expensive...$1000+ in the used market, if you can find them. Time to start looking. __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)

10-15-2008, 04:30 PM	#11
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,139	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion Yeah this truck has a Dana 60 rear axle. I am not sure of the gears. I decided to use the Dana 70 because I have it and I know it is good plus it has new rear brakes and a nice tight posi. I would love to have a D60 front for it but like you said. They are around $1k, and that won't be happening soon.

10-15-2008, 07:27 PM	#12
duallyjams Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Deale Md Posts: 4,663	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion My local salvage yard has front d60 for 400-500.East coast Md __________________ James 63 GMC V6 4speed carryall 65 chevy swb bbw V8 auto 68 K20 327/4 speed, buddy buckets 2002 GMC CC Dually Duramax 64 GMC lwb 3/4 V6 4speed SOLD 66 GMC swb bbw buddy buckets SOLD IG duallyjams The only thing that stays the same is constant change!

10-16-2008, 04:14 PM	#13
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,684	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion This will be a good project to watch - how long do you expect the project to take? __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

10-17-2008, 05:39 PM	#15
DirtyLarry Windy Corner of a Dirty Street Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pueblo West, Colorado Posts: 2,926	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion That is going to be a cool project. I am subscribing to this thread! __________________ Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles Instagram

10-20-2008, 06:18 PM	#17
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,139	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion Just an update, I removed the rear wheels and put the rear on jack stands. I got the D70 out of my other truck, and yesterday I baught a D60 front for my other chevy project. Maybe some real progress will happen this week. LOL

10-21-2008, 01:34 AM	#18
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion We're waiting...LOL! __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)

10-21-2008, 03:01 PM	#19
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,139	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion LOL I swept under it today and sat the 36's under the wheel wells to take a picture when I noticed I had no camera. LOL I have a 24v dodge to finish up and then I will get on this thing. I have to, it has to roll out next week. LOL



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12-03-2008, 06:35 PM	#20
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,139	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion No big progress here. The truck is sitting on stands outside at home now in the snow. I did pick up a very nice A/C cab for it and a pretty good LH door. I also found a really nice OE 72 grill shell I am going to get next week. Until I get a place to work on it again, I am gathering parts for it. And now I am having second thoughts about converting it to a Cummins truck. Oh no......

10-22-2009, 08:00 PM	#23
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,139	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion Well I'm sorry to say, I haven't done anything with the truck since I moved out of that shop last fall. I have a lead on a D70 front for it though, and I think I will have an extra cummins to put in it after all. Hopefully this winter I can get to it again. __________________ Ryan 1972 Chevy Longhorn K30 Cheyenne Super, 359 Inline 6 cylinder, Auto Trans, Tilt, Diesel Tach/Vach, Buckets, Rare Rear 4-link and air ride option Build Thread 1972 GMC Sierra Grande Longhorn 4x4 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20 Long Step side tilt, tach, tow hooks, AC, 350 4 speed 1972 C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe 1969 Chevy milk truck 1971 Camaro RS 5.3 BTR STG3 Cam Super T10 1940 Ford 354 Hemi 46RH Ford 9" on air ride huge project *Tired of spark plugs? Check this out.*

10-26-2009, 01:56 AM	#24
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion I am still waiting for more progress. I picked up a '71 3/4 t. 4x4 donor chassis with everything I need to convert my Longhorn except the short shaft 4x4 tranny...all thanks to BREEH! My Longhorn is still in the paint shop but when it comes out it might be time for a conversion...or NOT! I need some guidance from you! __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)

10-28-2009, 08:12 PM	#25
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,139	Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion I just actually thought about putting this body on a 89 F-350 chassis. It already has a 5.9 cummins with a ZF 5 speed, a lift with 36's, but IDK yet. The ford frame might be tooo wide to try to get the chevy body on it without it being ugly looking on the body mounts. __________________ Ryan 1972 Chevy Longhorn K30 Cheyenne Super, 359 Inline 6 cylinder, Auto Trans, Tilt, Diesel Tach/Vach, Buckets, Rare Rear 4-link and air ride option Build Thread 1972 GMC Sierra Grande Longhorn 4x4 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20 Long Step side tilt, tach, tow hooks, AC, 350 4 speed 1972 C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe 1969 Chevy milk truck 1971 Camaro RS 5.3 BTR STG3 Cam Super T10 1940 Ford 354 Hemi 46RH Ford 9" on air ride huge project *Tired of spark plugs? Check this out.*

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