Idea

[BIGTEN]

I currently have a 79 c10 2wd. I live in the desert so I like the prerunner stuff and 4x4's and all that. My question is can I rip everything out and put in a straight axle in the front like a k10. The thing is I dont want a transfer case so it would be just a 2wd with straight axle up front...theory of less things breaking. Is this possible, will everything from a k10 suspension match up? Its just an idea that popped in my brain.

[rcbildr]

For the amount of work you would be doing, I would think you could build a decent prerunner front end. You could make a solid axle work, but I would think it would ride pretty bad/harsh. IIRC (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) the front arc of the frame rails is different between 2wd and 4wd. It would be easier to find a 4wd truck and either drop the t-case out of it and put your 2wd engine/trans/driveshaft in it or just remove the front driveshaft.

[BIGTEN]

Ok, if I keep it all ifs, build my own long travel, how can I do that with the big ole cross member holding the springs on the lower control arm, will a k10 x member be the solution?

[Prerunner1982]

you can cut the upper coil spring buckets out and put in coil overs with a crossbar in the engine compartment. If you make your own long travel but keep the front crossmember and control arm mounting point you will need fiberglass fenders because you will have to widen the track width to give it a longer travel. For a long travel suspension you would want to bring the control arm mounting point in towards the middle of the vehicle a bit, to give a much travel as possible without having to have really wide front fenders. This would require a new front crossmember anyways.
To get the prerunner/baja suspension to work properly in our body style trucks it will require fab and some $$. If you want to go for the look then you might consider putting 88-98 C10 lift spindles on the front. There is a thread or two about this, in the suspension section I believe.

[andrewmp6]

Fabtech use to make a 2wd lift kit for your truck if you look hard you might find one used.Or do some searching you might find a long travel kit for it they use to be out there.

[BIGTEN]

I was thinking about an I-beam set up. Can a later or same model Ford be help, maybe to graph that on. I've seen the giant motorsports kit for I-beam conversion but for 3,700 wow.

[andrewmp6]

Off road only the i beams are ok on a street truck they eat tires fast.The 88-98 spindle swap might be your best option look around on here about it.

[bk2life]

you live in peoria, i live in glendale, there aint nothing anywhere close in a 50-60 mile radius that your stock suspension wont over come.

unless you are going for looks, put your time/effort into a different mod for your truck.

-my opinion of course