'69 C10 front end swap

[melon8657]

I am wanting to run front disc brakes and am looking at swapping the front end of my '69 c10 with that of the '80's so that I can have power disc brakes. I have been told that it would be a direct swap, unbolt and rebolt. What years am I looking for and are they correct with it being a simple swap? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[lolife99]

Welcome to the board!
There's alot of info here:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68&postcount=4.

If you have more questions, please ask.

[CC69Rat]

Pics of mine in my thread below, front clip off etc so you can see it. 73-87 is what you're looking for. Mine is an 85 I believe, I dont recall. I know where you can get one SUPER cheap, the whole swap. It's in SE Tenn though. Probably will not help you.

But, this whole K member swap is the way to do it. Much ceaper parts, and you can pretty much get whatever you need at local parts stores.

[melon8657]

I'm weighing the pro's and con's of doing the front end swap or a disc brake conversion.

[CC69Rat]

Is your truck running now? Does it have an engine / trans in it? How far do you plan to take the restore? Just a driver or a show / local show truck? The 73-87 swap is a lot of work. It would be easier in my opinion to do a disc conversion with 71-72 stuff if the truck is running, the engine you plan to keep in it is in it now, the front clip is on, etc.
Posted via Mobile Device

[lolife99]

The easiest swap is to use 67-70 "conversion spindles?
No ball joint change.
No tie rod change.
Use your original a-arms and steering.
Buy new rotors, calipers, bearings and brake hoses.
(do you really want used parts in these areas?)
In my opinion those are "wear items".

The only way I would consider using a different suspension crossmember, whether its a 71-72 or 73-87,... would be if I had EVERYTHING,... steering included,... and I was going to completely rebuild it.
A-arm bushings, cross shafts, ball joints, tie rods, idler arm, pitman arm, etc.
This give you the opportunity to disassemble, clean, inspect and rebuild, prior to tearing your truck apart.
Then you can just swap parts in a weekend.

[CC69Rat]

All kidding aside, lolife99 is the man when it comes to the conversion, I was just thinking budget too I guess and I had no idea the conversion spindles were that easy. (70-71 ball joint difference, etc.)

Without a doubt, listen to lolife99. He knows his stuff. I have never actually converted one, I bought mine already done. With conversion spindles it would be a good time for a 2" drop too .. If that is of intredt to you.
Posted via Mobile Device

[lolife99]

Here's the ball joints and tie rod breakdown by year:
67-70
71-72
73-87
(lower ball joints from 71-87 are the same)

Tie rods sound like an easy change,... but it's not.
After 1970 they went from 5/8" diameter to 11/16" diameter.
Plus they swapped the thread direction of the inners and outers.
LH outers chnged to RH thread and vice versa for the inner tie rods.

[Daves70]

I just did the conversion on my 67.I used 85 spindles,balljoints,calipers and outer tierod ends.I used 67 outer tie rods for the inners and got adapter sleeves to mate them.If you are junkyard shopping make sure you get the parts for a 1/2 ton with "heavyduty brakes" they have 1 1/4 thick rotors.you can keep it 6 bolt, as I did with cpp rotors.The only downside is that it moves your wheels out about an inch.Very easy afternoon job and to say it stops better is a understatment!Any future project this will be the first thing I do.

[Daves70]

Also those conversion spindles are probably even easier.I had a 85 parts truck so I used that.