Front end swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

richiejr · 04-07-2002, 06:55 PM

1966 GMC 1/2 ton short bed stepside, 327, t10, camel humps, winters alum intake, all the good stuff.
I would like to change the front end to power discs 5 lug. A friend told me to bolt on sindles and ball joints from a 72 and everything will be ok.
Reading some of the posts on this board has me a little worried about doing that.
I really need some direction on the best way to go.
I can not afford to purchase one of the bolt on kits, and will have to use the salvage yard.
I was going to have the axles from the dana 44 plugged and re drilled at the local machine shop. Will this work?????
Thanks for all of your help any advice is much appreciated. I am new to the resto game.
I think the 73 deal might be better. What do you all mean by center section.

70 Jimmy · 04-07-2002, 11:43 PM

Front crossmembers will work 71-87.

------------------
"KEEP IT DOWN!"
70 Jimmy 454 2wd
56 GMC Big Window

69 longhorn · 04-12-2002, 05:33 AM

If you have the eng out of your truck,swapping the complete crossmember would probably be the way to go. You can bolt the pcs on your crossmember,but where the troubles come in ,is differences in center link,pitman,tierod assys. the steering stop is also different on the lower arms(can be modified to get full turning radius). By changing the upper & lower balljoints,you can bolt the later spindles on(go for the year of the spindles on balljoints), 71-72 are different than 73 up. I did this type swap on my longhorn,(also converted to 1/2 ton)& used 71 lower arms,& a 75 c10 for donor parts,with no problems. Good luck ......69 longhorn.

04-07-2002, 06:55 PM	#1
richiejr Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Inverness, Fl. USA Posts: 1	Front end swap 1966 GMC 1/2 ton short bed stepside, 327, t10, camel humps, winters alum intake, all the good stuff. I would like to change the front end to power discs 5 lug. A friend told me to bolt on sindles and ball joints from a 72 and everything will be ok. Reading some of the posts on this board has me a little worried about doing that. I really need some direction on the best way to go. I can not afford to purchase one of the bolt on kits, and will have to use the salvage yard. I was going to have the axles from the dana 44 plugged and re drilled at the local machine shop. Will this work????? Thanks for all of your help any advice is much appreciated. I am new to the resto game. I think the 73 deal might be better. What do you all mean by center section.

04-07-2002, 11:43 PM	#2
70 Jimmy aka Crusher, Crushergmc Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,834	Front crossmembers will work 71-87. ------------------ "KEEP IT DOWN!" 70 Jimmy 454 2wd 56 GMC Big Window __________________ "KEEP IT DOWN!" 70 Jimmy 454 2wd 56 GMC Big Window "It's funny till someone gets hurt, then it's freakin' hilarious"

04-12-2002, 05:33 AM	#3
69 longhorn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: rock island,il,usa Posts: 5,382	If you have the eng out of your truck,swapping the complete crossmember would probably be the way to go. You can bolt the pcs on your crossmember,but where the troubles come in ,is differences in center link,pitman,tierod assys. the steering stop is also different on the lower arms(can be modified to get full turning radius). By changing the upper & lower balljoints,you can bolt the later spindles on(go for the year of the spindles on balljoints), 71-72 are different than 73 up. I did this type swap on my longhorn,(also converted to 1/2 ton)& used 71 lower arms,& a 75 c10 for donor parts,with no problems. Good luck ......69 longhorn. __________________ http://community.webshots.com/user/hotrodhorn



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