What to do? Oh what to do?

[69gmcc10]

I am currently in the middle of swapping my 69 GMC lwb to trailing arms form the factory leafs and while I was at it I figured I may as well center the axle in the fender by moving it back 1.5”. There are 2 ways to accomplish this, first by moving the trailing arm cross member back 1.5” or second by placing blocks in between the trailing arm mounts and the cross member.

My question to you is what way is better?

My concerns with moving the cross member back are, will it move the driveshaft far enough back that it will have issues with the slip yoke in the transmission and it looks like it could be a pain in the a$$ to remove?

With installing spacer blocks it looks to be allot easier but I can’t get past the thought that it will widen the trailing arm distance at the axle and when pulled back together it will create a bind in the trailing arm bushings, am I crasy?

Let me know what you think and what you would do?

Thanks

[gringoloco]

I think moving the whole crossmember would be cheaper and easier, but the rivets are a PAIN either way...

[69gmcc10]

I read that it was a pain on your thread and that is what made me reconcider! what about the slip yoke?

[gringoloco]

You will likely need a driveshaft made unless... You move your engine/trans back the same 1.5", or find a longer yoke
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[69gmcc10]

Gringo, thanks for all the info, you have been a big help on the entire process of converting to trailing arms from leafs. I went home and looked over the entire process and decided I dint want to take on the project of moving the engine, even though it has some obvious benefits for handling. I have decided that when I get the 700r4 in the garage placed in the truck next year that I will move the cross member back at that time because I need a custom drive shaft built then anyway. Thanks again for the help.

[gringoloco]

Hey, no problem- that's what this great forum is all about. Sound like a good plan to me.
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