Where to start???

[MarkV]

I have a 70 3/4 ton that I'm going to start working on. I've never done anything like this before so I'm going to ask a million questions.



It has HD suspention, 350 V8, and a 4 speed. I don't drive it very much now because the rear end is so low I don't want to drive it much over 45. So I was thinking start with swaping the rear and getting disk brakes. I just read a post about a rear out of a 79 Lincoln Versailles. Will that work on a 3/4 ton?

I like the way this truck looks so this is what I'm going for.





What will I need to do to get this look "suspention wise" out of my truck?

[gr8scott51]

That's a real good looking truck.

You don't have to replace the rear end - swapping in a strange housing is a big job. Just change the gears inside the rearend. If you want a low cruiser, you may want to change your tranny to a newer 5 speed, too.

Don't be afraid to ask questions, how else will we all learn?

To lower your truck, contact some of our vendors listed on the home page. I got my kit from Early Classic Enterprises, but I'm not that low. That blue truck may have an air bag system.

Disc brakes are nice. Again, look at some of the vendor links.

Good luck, Scott

[Cruiser71]

That is a very nice truck. I would leave it just as it sits! Stock trucks are GREAT!

[Putter]

I would lift it and put those tires that are in the background on it.
Just kidding. What gives with the door handle? Is the button black or gone? Also, is that an extra fuel tank filler poking out of the rear fender or a mount for a whip-antenna? Not picking the picture apart, just curious about this stuff. Good lookin' truck to start with.

[Dean]

You need to figure out if you have the Dana 60 or Corp rearend first. You can get more highway type gears for the Dana. Corp is one heavy duty rearend, but limited in options (4.11, 4.56,...etc)

Swapping another type rearend is very possible, but if you are new to all this I don't think I would recommend it. Don't forget you have 8 lug right now and you are talking about a Lincoln rearend. Anything is possible....I have a narrowed 9" Ford rearend in a Chevette...lol

Good Luck!

[MarkV]

Thanks for all of the advise.

What is the best way of figuring out which rear end I have?

Swaping gears and the tranny sounds like a good start to me. I know there are some guys on here that are running 6 speeds so if they could chime in on swapping one in that would be great. I've always wanted a car/truck with a 6 speed. Is there an addaptor that will work with the stock motor?

Ya the tires in the back ground are 66's. They are freaken huge. They are going on the blue truck to the left of them. The plan for that truck are a blown big block with 4 wheel stearing.

Door handle button is gone. I like to think of it as an extra security device. It's a trick to get it open. There are 2 gas tanks so that silver spot on the back is a filler cap.

[lukecp]

Nice truck. I like the way it sits now!

Look at the cover in the middle of your rearend....if it is completely round you have an Eaton HO52. If it is odd shaped with 10-bolts on the cover it is a Dana 60. I'm betting that since it is a GMC it has a Dana 60. Every GMC 3/4 ton i have seen has had a Dana, while Chevies usually had the Eaton rear.

Here is a Dana 60 (it is a front axle, but the shape sholuld be the same for the rear:


And here is a Eaton HO52:

[MarkV]

yellow72custom thanks for the pics. Made that easy.

I did some searching for 6 speed conversions and I found
http://www.weirhotrodproducts.com/index.html So it can be done but looks like it's going to take some work.

[Warbones]

I don't know a thing, but that truck is a nice clean start. Stay focused and learn as you go. Kinda what I am doing.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I WOULD START OUT BY DECIDEING WHAT YOU WANT THE TRUCK TO LOOK LIKE AT THE END AND STOCK,CUSTOM ETC AND GO FROM THERE..

[Faster_than_you]

I agree with everyone else, just like myself, what the hell am I going to do with my truck when I get finished? will I ever be finished with it, probably not. but the reason I was asking about rear ends is because I was thinking about switching over to disc brakes, then I remember that ece sells the rotors for 6x5.5 for 75 a piece, then I would have gotten calipers that match the rotors. then i thought about someone having a mid 90's impala ss rear end, then I thought about my idea a few weeks ago about jag rears. I want to have a 5 or 6 lug rear with disc brakes, then add in the air. do up my interior with custom installed gauges. there is a bunch of stuff that we all have ideas for you. VERY NICE TRUCK!!!