'77 on a '71 frame, or some sort of homogenization??

[nlped]

Okay,

I just bought my '77 2wd swb C10 this past weekend and drove it home from Chattanooga and it did fine. The suspension is a bit sketchy as it has cut front springs with spring spacers twisted into them and the rear only has 3 leafs remaining, so its a bit "loosie goosie" to drive.

Now...I have a '71 swb C10 frame here at the house, along with complete Porterbuilt front mild DropMember and a complete rear touring DropMember that I was going to put under my '68. But I'm a squarebody guy that tried to go '68. It just didn't happen, so I want to try and build this '77 with the PB stuff I already have.

I know all the rear of the '77 vs the '68 frames are COMPLETELY different after about a foot past the trans crossmember, so that would have to be 'retrofitted'. But with a touring DropMember, the bed floor would have to be modded anyway, so that doesn't seem like a major hurdle. And I know the 67-72 and the '73 up K-members interchange as I have done it on a '70 GMC, so the front DM should work either on the current '77 frame, but what about the '71 frame under the '77? Feasible? Without crazy modifications, will this work? Has anybody done this?

And, I did search prior to posting and never found a definitive answer either way.

[RADustin]

I'd sell what you have and find another used setup to put on your frame. IMO.

On the front- aren't the 4 holes different on the sides of the frame?

[lolife99]

I believe the front dropmembers are slightly different in the frame height.
Meaning the 73-87 frames are a little taller. Which doesn’t really matter except where the PB piece goes inside the front frame rails.

[cadillac_al]

I would buy some new springs for the 77 and enjoy it as is.

[nlped]

Originally Posted by RADustin

I'd sell what you have and find another used setup to put on your frame. IMO.

All my PB stuff is new... one more reason I’d like to use it.

[nlped]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I believe the front dropmembers are slightly different in the frame height.
Meaning the 73-87 frames are a little taller. Which doesn’t really matter except where the PB piece goes inside the front frame rails.

Thanks Keith, that’s good info. I’m leaning more & more towards “fitting” the ‘71 frame under the ‘77.

[nlped]

Originally Posted by cadillac_al

I would buy some new springs for the 77 and enjoy it as is.

Seems to easy.