72 c30 swap questions

[joeyc]

Brake rotors for this c30 I have seem impossible to find and would guess pricey. Since it is a project, could I swap the suspension for say, 73 and up suspension/brakes as bolt on? Its a dually, and the rotors are the ginormous ridiculous mountain versions.

[farmall]

I pulled a whole front suspension out of a 73+ truck for my 71 for which rotors are NLA. For a 71 you can replace the spindle-out or the whole front end.

[joeyc]

73 1 ton over to your 71 1 ton? Any mods?

[farmall]

I have not done it yet, but I did research here on the forum. To swap the crossmember-out you have to drill several more holes in the frame. To replace the spindles out you just swap the spindles, rotors, calipers. I dont think I remember anything about changing ball joints. Several forum members have done it. I am going to rebuild and paint the whole assy and also swap in a 14 bolt to get rid of the 4.56s. 73+ came with a sway bar as well.

[joeyc]

Just going to ask you about the rear differential swap as well. I'm leaning at this point to either go with the 1 ton swap or cut the frame and swap over to 1/2. I have an retired California Conservation utility vehicle. I will post pictures tomorrow.

[mrolds88]

Sure you have to swap spindles? I have a 72 C2500 that I did some research on a while back, and I thought that all the bearings were the same. I also thought the rotors were the same 3/4 and 1 ton srw from 72 up. Will have to revisit this. Just checked Rockauto and they describe that the srw rotors fit from 72 to 89. I would believe that the drw rotors would swap too

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by joeyc

Brake rotors for this c30 I have seem impossible to find and would guess pricey. Since it is a project, could I swap the suspension for say, 73 and up suspension/brakes as bolt on? Its a dually, and the rotors are the ginormous ridiculous mountain versions.

I'm headed out to the shop so I don't have time to look anything up for you but if you type the words "C-30 brake upgrade" into the GOOGLE search box at the top of this page, click on the circle in front of "67-72chevytrucks.com and click on the GOOGLE button you will find lots of threads on the subject.

Here is one of the most comprehensive ones:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=367260

It is not C-30 specific but there is a lot of good info in it. It is on the '60-'66 board but would also cover the later trucks as the frame is basically the same...

LockDoc

[joeyc]

Here are the pictures I mentioned that I would post. This is a 72 c30 4 speed granny low, with a non stock 327 circa 67. It is a retired California Conservation Corp utility truck turned work truck. The original red paint it came with is still in the interior and in places, exterior.

[joeyc]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

I'm headed out to the shop so I don't have time to look anything up for you but if you type the words "C-30 brake upgrade" into the GOOGLE search box at the top of this page, click on the circle in front of "67-72chevytrucks.com and click on the GOOGLE button you will find lots of threads on the subject.

Here is one of the most comprehensive ones:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=367260

It is not C-30 specific but there is a lot of good info in it. It is on the '60-'66 board but would also cover the later trucks as the frame is basically the same...

LockDoc

Thanks. I will go over some posts now. Ultimately, it looks as I may consider selling if expenses far out weigh what I have in store.

[farmall]

NAPA shows the same p/n s for wheel brgs, calipers, ball joints, lower control arms 72-78 C30.

Upper control arms show different p/n s.

Rotors 73+ are 1 piece hub and rotor 1.54" thick. My 71s are 1 piece hub and rotor around 1.5 without pulling a wheel.

My Chevy parts book shows the same spindles C20&30 71-72 but the front brake page is missing.

I dont know why this has to be so difficult and why the parts houses show NLA.

I guess I will throw a 78 rotor on my 71 and see if everything lines up.

Unkle Matt never did say how his setup worked, or what he used.

I do know that forum members have put late 70s spindles-out on drum brake trucks.

[joeyc]

Is this common for c30 front suspension with the extra leaf spring supporting the lower a arms?

[farmall]

I thought it sat a lot higher in the front than my low rider.

First I have seen one of those.

[joeyc]

Originally Posted by farmall

I thought it sat a lot higher in the front than my low rider.

First I have seen one of those.

It may be a special order because of its government issue? This may be hard to see, but a picture of the rear leaf springs. It also has some overload springs as well.

[LockDoc]

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I lightened the picture up a little and rotated it so it is easier to see... That is some heavy duty springs for sure. Any chance you could post a picture of the sticker from the inside of the glove box door? Does it list any heavy duty springs as an option?

LockDoc

[joeyc]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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I lightened the picture up a little and rotated it so it is easier to see... That is some heavy duty springs for sure. Any chance you could post a picture of the sticker from the inside of the glove box door? Does it list any heavy duty springs as an option?

LockDoc

Here you go.

Originally a dual battery, dual alternator vehicle. Note the massive wiring sent to the utility bed in back of the brake booster, from firewall.