can you convert a 1/2-ton 4x4 to 3/4-ton with ease? what does it take?

[knightowl73]

looking to buy another truck, something heavier duty than what i have now but a want a shortbed still. was looking at reg cab shortbed 4x4's and ive found some in my price range but wondering if everything is bolt in from a 3/4-ton 4x4 and what all parts would i need to gather to pull it off?

[89chevsj]

axles,springs for the rear. not positive on the front. but yes it can be done

[knightowl73]

yeah the front being all bolt in is what im concerned about

[Boog]

I have heard it said the truck frame is the same for both 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks. I believe the difference is the spindles, hubs, brakes, springs, sway bars, cooling system and gear ratio. In some cases I think the master cylinder has a different bore diameter. A quick search of a parts store catalog will verify some of these differences. Easiest route would be to have a complete 3/4 ton donor truck sitting next to your 1/2 ton to pull from.
Like you, I have wondered how a short wheelbase 3/4 ton might handle loads and such.

[motornut]

i thought the 3/4 and the the 1tons were the same?
with a thicker frame?then a 1/2 ton

[Boog]

Looks like a little difference in the metal thickness of 1/2 and 3/4 tons. The size of the rails is the same.
The 1 ton steps up to an 8" rail and more thickness.
Recently I saw where a guy put a complete 1 ton dually suspension under his 1/2 ton short bed truck. Not to increase his load capacity but for a lowered dually short for looks and he already had the 1/2 ton truck.

[knightowl73]

yeah i want another reg cab shortbed btu 3/4-ton, was hoping easiest route was swapping suspension because shortening a longbed just isnt theseable. id like to build it more on the lines of how gm would have built it. ya know one of them "shoulda been from factory this way" trucks lol

[89chevsj]

yeah 3/4 and 1/2 tons are essentially the same frame and most of the parts are interchangeable. 3/4 is abviously stronger but they usually will fit in the same location a half ton part would. also on a 4x4 3/4T and 4X4 1/2T the torsion bars and keys are different.

[knightowl73]

cool beans, thats good info for me to know

[bloertcher]

I've done a lot of resaearch and measuring on this subject.The answer is no,it's not a bolt up ordeal.That DOES NOT mean it can't be done,but there will be some fab work involved.
I have an extremely clean nice 95 GMC ex cab,that I'd dearly love to convert into a 4x4 dually.I have a 94 reg cab 4x4 dually,and after a lot of researching and soul searching,I came to the conclusion that while it would be possible to swap the entire drivetrain,it just isn't a feasible option.

[86454k30]

The problem is with the front a-arms, the 8 lug trucks a-arms are wider that the 6 lug trucks and I don't believe the spindle is interchangeable...could be wrong. If you could bolt the 8 lug spindle in the 6 lug spot it could be done.

[knightowl73]

well i figured id have to swap almost everything, including a-arms so was hoping it would work.