3/4-ton LWB to 1/2-ton SWB- Shorten or Swap? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CircusWagonJim · 01-12-2011, 12:08 AM

The last time I did this 10 years ago I happened to have both a long bed with a nice cab and a short bed with a junk cab and rebuilt chassis. Now I have a 3/4-ton long bed with leafs in the rear and wonder should I shorten this frame and add trailing arms? Keep the leafs and flip the rearend? Or swap to a short bed frame? Can you just add 1/2-ton spindles and brakes to the 3/4 ton or are the control arms different? Trying to go the simplest route since the truck is together and running. When I swapped before neither had any running gear and the short bed frame had already been gone through with a drop kit and disc brakes added- it was a no brainer just to swap. Thanks Jim

**special-K** · 01-12-2011, 09:27 AM

The last one I did I back-1/2'd the 3/4t frame and fabbed a 4-link. That was a pro-street build but would be a way to go for a cruiser,too. Finding a short frame would sure make it simple. By the time you get the trailing arm stuff and swap it after shortening you'll have a chunk of work. Probably lowering with springs would be the simplest. Lots of options/combinations...flip,longer shackles,drop spring mounts,drop leaves.

**lolife99** · 01-12-2011, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CircusWagonJim

The last time I did this 10 years ago I happened to have both a long bed with a nice cab and a short bed with a junk cab and rebuilt chassis. Now I have a 3/4-ton long bed with leafs in the rear and wonder should I shorten this frame and add trailing arms? Keep the leafs and flip the rearend? Or swap to a short bed frame? Can you just add 1/2-ton spindles and brakes to the 3/4 ton or are the control arms different? Trying to go the simplest route since the truck is together and running. When I swapped before neither had any running gear and the short bed frame had already been gone through with a drop kit and disc brakes added- it was a no brainer just to swap. Thanks Jim

The upper a-arms are the same.
The 3/4 ton lower a-arms have a bigger ball joint hole.
Either find some 1/2 ton lower a-arms or buy ECE's conversion drop sprindles.
(they allow you to install 1/2 ton rotors and calipers,... without changing anything)
I would try to locate a swb coil spring frame.

01-12-2011, 12:08 AM	#1
CircusWagonJim Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 707	3/4-ton LWB to 1/2-ton SWB- Shorten or Swap? The last time I did this 10 years ago I happened to have both a long bed with a nice cab and a short bed with a junk cab and rebuilt chassis. Now I have a 3/4-ton long bed with leafs in the rear and wonder should I shorten this frame and add trailing arms? Keep the leafs and flip the rearend? Or swap to a short bed frame? Can you just add 1/2-ton spindles and brakes to the 3/4 ton or are the control arms different? Trying to go the simplest route since the truck is together and running. When I swapped before neither had any running gear and the short bed frame had already been gone through with a drop kit and disc brakes added- it was a no brainer just to swap. Thanks Jim

01-12-2011, 09:27 AM	#2
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: 3/4-ton LWB to 1/2-ton SWB- Shorten or Swap? The last one I did I back-1/2'd the 3/4t frame and fabbed a 4-link. That was a pro-street build but would be a way to go for a cruiser,too. Finding a short frame would sure make it simple. By the time you get the trailing arm stuff and swap it after shortening you'll have a chunk of work. Probably lowering with springs would be the simplest. Lots of options/combinations...flip,longer shackles,drop spring mounts,drop leaves. __________________ "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 ~



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