1968 LWB C10 static drop/disk questions

[JVictor75]

I already made a long post in the main forum that nobody responded to, so I'll try to make this a little more direct.

I currently own two c10 LWB trucks (the two in my signature below). A stripped to the frame 1968 with no power anything and a more or less complete but rough 1971 with PB, PS, and AC.

I have decided to give up on the 71 and part it because it has a salvage title and I discovered that someone hacked the frame up before I got it. Perhaps this is why it was in the junkyard I rescued it from in the first place. I rebuilt the front suspension on the 71, and the truck has 4 new coils, 4 new shocks, and brand new sway bar mounts/bushings in the front.

I have a 396 to install in the 1968, and also have the correct frame mounts.

Here is my question: Overall, would it be worth it in the long run and less expensive to simply swap suspension pieces over so the 1968 could have power discs/drums? Or would you guys spend the dough and buy a complete front/rear power disc conversion kit? I'm on a budget, will be doing all of the work myself (I.E. non professionally - I do have friends that can help from time to time) and I'd like to have the truck together and running by the end of the year.

I plan on putting the part I take off the 1968 suspension back on the 1971 so it can still be mobile and then probably sell it. I know that I can pull the front suspension off of both trucks and swap them. This would include basically the entire front crossmember (and everything bolted to it), the PS box, and the front sway bar mounts from the 71.

Once swapped over, I plan on doing a "refresh" on the brakes (all new hardlines, rebuilt M/C and booster, new bearing/rotors if needed, a rear brake job, and either new or rebuilt front calipers)

I want to do a mild static drop (3/5 or 4/6 - both with drop spindles) at the same time, and install a rear anti-sway bar. I want the truck to remain mildly useful AS a truck (nothing major; light duty short haul towing, the occasional sportbike in the bed, trips to IKEA, etc.)

What recommendations do the board members have as far as what companies I should look at, who should I talk to, etc? I like ECE and Brothers a lot, and have ordered from them in the past. I don't like suspension stuff from LMC, simply based on the quality of some of their parts. I have no experience with POL, Classic Performance Parts, McGaughys, etc.

I have spoken to Nate (Porterbuilt) personally, and even visited his shop. And yes, my eyes glazed over and he politely asked me to stop drooling over everything, but a Dropmember front/rear just isn't in the budget right now. Want? Heck yeah. Can afford? Not really, not at the moment.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[lolife99]

So IF,... you are going swap the parts from your '71,... what exactly will you reuse?
Not much.

You'll be buying drop spindles.
Most resurface or replace the rotors.
New calipers are cheap.
ALL brake hoses need to be replaced.

Looks like you will be reusing the disc brake dust shields behind the rotors.

I would just buy new 63-70 conversion drop spindles for around $219.
Steela the sway bar and rearend from the '71.

No need to swap the crossmember or the a-arms.