What Years For Bolt In Front/Back End Swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Jahloha · 11-21-2013, 02:18 PM

Team:

I have a 1970 C20, 2WD, 8 lug

I would like to have disc brakes on all four corners, while also keeping the 8 lug setup.

I have been doing a lot of reading and from what I understand, if I can find a 71'/72' front and rear end with coil suspension (mine has coils all around), I can do a direct swap (pull mine out, drop and bolt in the donor piece. Is this correct?

Also, if this is correct, what other parts are needed to make this setup work?

Will finding a 8 lug setup be hard with these years? Any rear end preferences you have?

I really appreciate everyones' insight.

Mahalo!

Bigdav160 · 11-21-2013, 05:05 PM

I can't answer with certainty, but the driveline and suspension changed very little all the way to 1987 (1991 on CrewCabs and Suburbans!).

Most parts bolt-in or need very little fabrication to make work.

Mike C · 11-21-2013, 10:08 PM

Front ends mostly the same from '71-'87 on the C20's. There are NO bolt in 8 lug rears with discs. Discs don't show up on the 14 bolt until the 2000 (2001?) HD trucks. You can get weld on brackets for the coil spring suspension and you can get weld on disc brackets.

If it were mine, I'd do the disc frontend swap and keep drums in the back. Which is exactly what I did on the old '70 big block GMC C2500 I had.

MalibuVLX · 11-21-2013, 10:16 PM

I concure with MikeC. However, you can convert them fairly easily with brackets from places like RuffStuff and use 1/2 ton parts from mid 80s C10. Use the rotors, caliper and pads and they work great. Only issue, is if you have to have parking brake. If so, you have to use Cadillac Eldorado rear calipers. Forget the year. I have done several conversions on my 14 bolts axles I use on rockcrawlers. The 14 bolts have brackets that bolt on. May have that option for your axle as well. Ballistic fab and ruffstuff have nice parts and not crazy money either. Good luck.

11-21-2013, 02:18 PM	#1
Jahloha Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 526	What Years For Bolt In Front/Back End Swap Team: I have a 1970 C20, 2WD, 8 lug I would like to have disc brakes on all four corners, while also keeping the 8 lug setup. I have been doing a lot of reading and from what I understand, if I can find a 71'/72' front and rear end with coil suspension (mine has coils all around), I can do a direct swap (pull mine out, drop and bolt in the donor piece. Is this correct? Also, if this is correct, what other parts are needed to make this setup work? Will finding a 8 lug setup be hard with these years? Any rear end preferences you have? I really appreciate everyones' insight. Mahalo! __________________ -JASON My grandpa, Gramps, won a 1970 C20 in 1969 for $1. I'm on a mission to restore it before he passes. My 1970 C20 Build Thread

11-21-2013, 05:05 PM	#2
Bigdav160 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Klein Texas Posts: 3,852	Re: What Years For Bolt In Front/Back End Swap I can't answer with certainty, but the driveline and suspension changed very little all the way to 1987 (1991 on CrewCabs and Suburbans!). Most parts bolt-in or need very little fabrication to make work. __________________ My Classics: '72 K20 Suburban + '65 Dodge Town Wagon '72 Corvette Roadster +'67 Corvette Roadster '73 Z-28 Camaro '63 Ford SWB Uni Pickup '50 Ford Coupe

11-21-2013, 10:08 PM	#3
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,715	Re: What Years For Bolt In Front/Back End Swap Front ends mostly the same from '71-'87 on the C20's. There are NO bolt in 8 lug rears with discs. Discs don't show up on the 14 bolt until the 2000 (2001?) HD trucks. You can get weld on brackets for the coil spring suspension and you can get weld on disc brackets. If it were mine, I'd do the disc frontend swap and keep drums in the back. Which is exactly what I did on the old '70 big block GMC C2500 I had. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

11-21-2013, 10:16 PM	#4
MalibuVLX Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Mechanicsville, Va Posts: 71	Re: What Years For Bolt In Front/Back End Swap I concure with MikeC. However, you can convert them fairly easily with brackets from places like RuffStuff and use 1/2 ton parts from mid 80s C10. Use the rotors, caliper and pads and they work great. Only issue, is if you have to have parking brake. If so, you have to use Cadillac Eldorado rear calipers. Forget the year. I have done several conversions on my 14 bolts axles I use on rockcrawlers. The 14 bolts have brackets that bolt on. May have that option for your axle as well. Ballistic fab and ruffstuff have nice parts and not crazy money either. Good luck.



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