Need info on converting my 2WD 72' C30 to 4WD

[Penix]

Like the subject line says, I'm look'n to convert my 2x4 72 C30 over to a 4x4 setup. What all will I need? Any cusom fabrication requried or what?

Anyone have any links to websites specializing in this stuff? How about transfer cases? I don't know how dependable the stock transfer cases are so I might look into an aftermarket one should I end up going through with this.

Any and all help/info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks alot guys!
- Penix

[kwmech]

I have done a couple of swaps and it is a lot of work, front hangers, stock 4x engine x-member, drilling holes in the frame for the shackle mounts [after flatening the frame in that area] finding the transfer case and mounts, you will need a high hump pan for the t-case clearance. Those are just the basics.

[Scrub]

assuming non dual wheels, Buy this truck and put the parts on yours.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2452166025

For anything under 2500 bucks, you will never beat it. I have never seen a deal like this, Sell the motor for 1500 bucks and yo will come out smelling like a rose.

[kwmech]

I am having trouble selling my 6.2 for 1000. and it has been completely rebuilt, including injectors.

[Scrub]

Really, I was told they where worth quite a bit. Check into the Capital press. It is a farm paper in the PNW with a circulaion of 37,000 farmers and ranchers plus internet viewers. The 6.2 is a farm motor these days.

http://www.capitalpress.info/main.as...stCategories=1

http://www.capitalpress.info/main.as...1&Category=100

[earl87gta]

To bad you werent closer I have a 72 4x4 chassis that I would sell. And iff thet deisel was closer I would shink of getting it to Ive been thinking abought putting one in my 72.

[Scrub]

Back to the subject at hand. Sometime last night iI realized, duh, a 72 c30 is dual wheels.

Then normal response from the board on 2x4 to 4x4 conversions is buy a 4x4 frame. I don't think you will have a lot of luck finding a dual wheel 4x4 frame, so conversion is probably the only option. The only 72 c30's around are NAPCO conversions and they used older parts with closed knuckle axles, to my knowledge anyway, NAPCO Ken will probably correct me there.

What you would need is

Dana 60 front set up for duals

The Dana 60 wants a Hydroboost power brake assist and you will need the proportioning valves etc.

New Process 205 (which is stronger than any aftermarket t-case) Try to find one that is newer than 1985 as it will have 32 spline input from the tranny which is stonger than the 10 or 27, Get a tranny/tcase combo as the parts that connect them usually cost more than the combo. make sure the front output is a flange, and not a stock ujoint. The flange indicates 32 spline output, where the u-joint is only 10 and not stong enough for a 1-ton. After 1985, you could get a t400 or a sm465 (4 speed ). Stay away from a 203 and 208 tcase. Personnally, I don't like the 700r4 tranny either, a t400 is stronger.

A 4x4 steering box is different from a 2x2 box. You have 2 options, find a 4x4 box or do a crossover, which is better anyway.

Frame parts.
For the front axle, you will need to find front spring hangers and the cast shackle bushing holders for the rear of the front springs. Normally a large hole needs to be drilled in the frame to mount the rear shackle bushings. This can weaken the frame. If I were doing this conversion, I would build a set of steel mounts that bolted up to the bottom of the frame and had the holes in them. At the same time, I would mount the front spring hangers lower and at equal height with the shackle bushings. It would give you some lift, which the low built c30 would need anyway. You will also need the engine mount crossover and the tcase mounting crossmember.

other stuff:
High hump tranny cover,
Drivelines, you should be able to shorten your rear, 2 piece driveline, so you need a front.
Front springs
Rear lift: maybe just blocks as the rear srings are pretty strong.
Wheels: The studs on the new axle are larger, ?? My old c30 took 16.5 tires, which are kind of a dinosaur.

That's all I can think of, but it is a lot of work.

Good Luck

[earl87gta]

Even with the dual wheels it will be esyer to start with a 4x4 chasis the 1ton spring mounts are the same as the 68 to 72 trucks I would find a d60 from a duel wheel truck and a d70 rear the D60 is the most expensive part. as for the 205 Im still using the 205 with 350 in my truck and I dont think it will break I have a 1ton drive train with a 383 and it does fine. most guys that break the 205 are using them in a dubbler. You could reuse the rear end you have now as long as its geared the same but if your going threw the trouble go a head and get the d70 you dont need the hydro boost system for the breaks just use a adjustable perportioning valve and you will be fine. you may want to do a rear disk convertion while your at it for the extra stoping power.

[Scrub]

I agree that getting a frame would be much easier, but....

I think I am confused so please correct me when I am wrong here (my wife does it all the time). There were no 4x4, dual wheel frames prior to 73. He would need to get a 73 or newer K30 dually frame as the frame rails are narrower in back to allow for the duals. I'm thinking a frame like that would be really hard to find, maybe I am wrong. I think that there were also wider frames with wider axles that went on a dually pickup that had a normal bed with fender flares. These also took wider axles as you could put a sheet of plywood in between the wheel wells. His c30 axle is the narrow style, and probaby the bed is longer than the 8 feet these wider pickups where limited to, so that style of frame might not work.
I guess a rolled K30 would be like Disneyland!!

I own 4 trucks with the big Bendix brakes that come on a Dana 60 and 3 of them including my wife's burb, have Hydro-boost brakes. The one that doesn't have the HB does't stop very well. So, yes you can get by, but I think you are better off with the HB. Just my opinion I guess. No offense intended and maybe I just really have the wrong mastercylinder. It was supposed to be for the one or two years when the big brakes didn't use an HB.

You have to be doing something pretty extrodinary to break a 205, I guess it can be done. I have heard of 10 spline front outputs breaking off, but the thing I do see happening is the input splines on a 10 or 27 spline input do wear out and cause slop in the drive train. The newer t400/205 and 465/205 combos from 1-ton have 32 splines and don't wear out and they are also interchangable. Even though they are better, most people don't recognize that fact and they don't seem to cost any more to buy (at least not on e-bay). If I where building a married t-case unit, I would try to get a newer, stonger case for the same money. I'm not criticizing anyone's 205. If you have any 205, then use it, I just had the impression he didn't have one.

So Happy truck building.

[1969 GMC]

I think I am reading this right, but I agree with earl...get a 3/4 ton 4x4 frame, preferably 69-72, and swap in a dana 60 front, and either use your existing DRW axle or locate a newer dana 70. I might be wrong, but i think 3/4 and 1 ton frames 67-72 were the same width. and 67-72 c/30 could also be had in single rear wheel, i dont think the general would go to the trouble (at least back then) of making 2 different frames for SRW and DRW. of course you could always modify the original chassis a la Napco, but that would be a lot more effort. also, the 3/4 tons had a 6 inch shorter wheelbase than the shorty 1 tons, and the long 1 ton wheelbase was really long. so you may need to cut down your current flatbed or whatever you have on there. but you should only have to do that if you have the really long wheelbase c/30 (like 157" or something).

[Scrub]

On a 72 c30 DRW, the frame rails were narrow and did not have a hump for the springs. They were just flat from the cab back. This was so the axle could easily be moved forward or back to make a lot of different wheelbase options.
The DRW axle will be much too narrow to fit under a 3/4 ton frame. The wheels will hit the frame, unless you get a wider DRW axle from a newer truck that had a normal bed.


I think...

[Penix]

Well now I feel like a moron! I called the guy up that I'm probably buying the truck from and it's not a C30... That's what I get for talking to his brother. He left a message that said it was a 72 1-Ton 2x4 that came stock with a 6-cyl and 3 on the tree. He didn't really give me a model name but he did tell me that it now has a rebuilt 350/TH350 combo. I tried calling him back but haven't been able to get ahold of him, he works some messed up hours.

Okay, so I guess now I have more questions than I started with. A 72' 1-ton non-dualie with a 6-cyl/3-speed MT combo... What would that make this?

I know I should just look for a 4x4 truck to buy but I've have'n a hard time find'n one I can afford that is dependable as is and is in half decent shape.

[Scrub]

A 72' 1-ton non-dualie with a 6-cyl/3-speed MT combo... What would that make this?

Really slow.

[jeffspower]

73 or newer K30 dually frame as the frame rails are narrower in back to allow for the duals.

Actually, the frames are the same width, but use different spring hangers to set the leaf springs closer together.

[Joesjunk]

I don't believe 3 speeds were avaliable on 1 ton's. Only granny 4 speeds or automatics. You gould get the 6 cyl in a 1 ton though. It's probally a 3/4 ton truck.

[Penix]

Well he said it was a 3-speed with a column shifter, so maybe it was just originally a column shifter and is now a floor shift... that's one thing I forgot to mention, he converted it to a floor shifter.

Anyhow, so the basic fact then is that it's not a great idea to go try'n to convert it to a 4x4 then eh? I guess I'll just make due with it as is... Anyone know if these things came with posi or not? If I can't make it a 4x4 then I'd atleast like to make it one helluva hauler (not the fast sense).

Thanks for all your help guys!

- Penix

Oh yeah! Anyone know of any websites where I can get model listings and specs and all that for mid 60's to early/mid 70's Pickups? I've got a 66' 1/2 ton stepside I'm work'n on too.

[1969 GMC]

Originally posted by Penix
Anyone know if these things came with posi or not? If I can't make it a 4x4 then I'd atleast like to make it one helluva hauler (not the fast sense).

If it is a 1 ton, it could have been originally optioned with a detroit locker in the rear axle (listed as a No-Spin). You can also buy these used, but they aren't made any more. Used ones pop up from time to time.

If it is a 3/4 ton, it could either have the same detroit as the 1 tons, or it could have a power lock posi, but it depends on which axle you have.