1970 gmc c2500 3/4 ton 3-6 inch lift 2WD 71 disk brakes

[powerhouse199216]

Ok everyone let's see what info you have to help me out

The truck: pretty much custom but still stock 1970 gmc c2500 3/4 ton 2 wd

front: 1971 disk brakes calipers and spindles I believe, stock lower and upper control arms and springs ok got that so let's just say I need all new bushings and ball joints and any bushings for the steering too and I only have about 2 or 3 inch of tire travel before I hit the metal where my bump stop used to be

Rear: converted to dually I believe I have a Spicer Dana 60 with leaf springs drum brakes

Ok now so my back end is already 2-4 inches higher then the front my plan on what I would like to do is something like the preruner chevy 71 from 2012 I'll put a link up with pics and info but anyways I would like to find maybe some lower and upper a arms/ control arms stock on another car maybe junk yard or something that are bolt on the ones on the prerunner Chevy or 3 inches longer which gives him the lift that he needs so if I can find some stock ones on a different model car that will fit on mine that are 3 inches longer I figure I can do the same thing ok and I would like to keep my front disc brakes & 8 lug but I want lift spindles

so that's a lot for the first post I Will put up some pics and the link to the website for the pictures of the lifted prerunner Chevy

[powerhouse199216]

so i have be looking looking and more looking found a few things

instead of lift spindles i could use ball joint spacers.... let me know what you think about that

next would be sps adjustable upper control arm don't know about using for lifting/ off road use but seen them on lowered truck and if you look at the sps a arm look at the ball joint holder might just be able to get that and the get some more beefy adjustable arms that i came across while looking up things


guys please help me out

[andrewmp6]

Fabtech use to make a 2wd lift kit for the 73-87 years ago you might get lucky and find it used.Or others have used lift spindles from then 88-98 with a change and a ball joint and i think a tie rod end.

[powerhouse199216]

is there any lift or extended travel spindles that will let me keep my 71 front disk brakes i believe i have the 3/4 ton stock 71-87 spindles i guess means 71-87 front brakes were the same for all those years as well

some pics for you all

[andrewmp6]

The newer lift spindles use the brakes off the 88-98 truck,Here's a how two if you want to look at it http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=509417

[powerhouse199216]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

The newer lift spindles use the brakes off the 88-98 truck,Here's a how two if you want to look at it http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=509417

thanks saw that one been looking throw everything and book marking it now im trying to find out how i can keep my 8 lugs with these lift spindles i found them for 300 but it says 6 lug only

reason i wanna keep 8 lug is i have custom offset rear dully rims in the back from a 1970 or 71 or 72 or 73 idk but i dont think im just going to be able to find a 6 lug dually rim that will fit in the back or if there is even a conversion free floting dana 60 hub that has a 8 bolt padern "i think" axle shaft with 6 lugs.......?

[andrewmp6]

Yeah i looked hard only 2wd lift spindles i can find are 6 lug.Only thing i can think of is taller coil springs for the front or throw in a few coil spring spacers,They are rubber and look a fat x or the old school ones with the bolts but either will give the springs a stiffer ride.Other crazy idea have a spring shop custom make you a set of lift springs for it.

[powerhouse199216]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

Yeah i looked hard only 2wd lift spindles i can find are 6 lug.Only thing i can think of is taller coil springs for the front or throw in a few coil spring spacers,They are rubber and look a fat x or the old school ones with the bolts but either will give the springs a stiffer ride.Other crazy idea have a spring shop custom make you a set of lift springs for it.

so whats your opinion on going 6 lug in the front and leave the 8 lug in the back ....... everyone laughing like wtf......?

i wounder if there is a 8 to 6 lug free floating hub with a 8 bolt center axle mmmm where are all the people to help me on this site

[powerhouse199216]

just thought i would give you a veiw on what i was saying those 8 bolts come out, out comes the axle then take off the wheel hub / bearing nut and the hub comes right off

[andrewmp6]

If you change the rear to 6 lug youll lose the dual wheels in the back,I would change the front to 6 leave the back alone and run a stock wheel and hubcap in the front to hide the 6 lug,Or talk to http://www.deaverspring.com/ see how much a custom set of lift springs will run you for the front.

[powerhouse199216]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

If you change the rear to 6 lug youll lose the dual wheels in the back,I would change the front to 6 leave the back alone and run a stock wheel and hubcap in the front to hide the 6 lug,Or talk to http://www.deaverspring.com/ see how much a custom set of lift springs will run you for the front.

cool thanks for your opinion and that shop looks like its in oc ca thanks ill be talking to them shortly

[$20071k10]

Ok don't know much about the 2wd stuff so please corect me if I am wrong! It seams to me that the 00-10 spindles have the same ball joint mounting as all 2wd gm with the addition of a unit bearing? If so can't he install these and a 8 lug unit bearing and be wear he wants to be or am I missing somthing?

[powerhouse199216]

Originally Posted by $20071k10

Ok don't know much about the 2wd stuff so please corect me if I am wrong! It seams to me that the 00-10 spindles have the same ball joint mounting as all 2wd gm with the addition of a unit bearing? If so can't he install these and a 8 lug unit bearing and be wear he wants to be or am I missing somthing?

What 00-10 trucks what the hell is a unit bearing I think I know what ones your talking about the one we're there is like 3 screen holes where the spindle should be post up some pic so I can see what your talking about

thanks, chris

[$20071k10]

Just google rockymountainsusp.com you will probably have to call them to see if the kit would bolt up to your arms. Looks like you would have to upgrade brake calipers and by unit bearings but you can get up to a 6 inch lift kit would be sweet if it would work!

[andrewmp6]

Powerhouse a unit bearing is a modern wheel bearing/spindle.

[powerhouse199216]

Originally Posted by $20071k10

Just google rockymountainsusp.com you will probably have to call them to see if the kit would bolt up to your arms. Looks like you would have to upgrade brake calipers and by unit bearings but you can get up to a 6 inch lift kit would be sweet if it would work!

Can you send me a link to the kit you were talking about

[powerhouse199216]

so i have been looking at a mess of stuff and considering all my options

1 98-99 lift spindles 4 inch lift spindles stock ride height (wish i could find one that wasn't stock ride height)
a: with bigger coil springs and a adjustable upper control arm
b: air bags....? and adjustable upper control arm

2: unit bearing spindles still looking for the right one


then if that still not enough then 4 inch body lift

if anyone one else has any in-put i would love to hear it

[$20071k10]

4 inch body lifts look bad!!

[argonaut]

I was considering a lift on my 64 2wd at some point. Here is what I can pull from memory. You'll have to check this stuff to make sure its correct.

Spindle: 88-98 lift spindle (like these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-1998-Ch...8d6e5b&vxp=mtr )

Ball Joints: 88-98 lower ball joint. (should press into your 3/4 ton lower arm and match the spindle
I *think* your upper ball joint taper already matches the 88-98

Springs: Stock springs. You can use google search and find a moog spring prf that shows spring rates and lengths for various stock springs

Steering: 88-98 tie rod ends, adapted to your tie rods (may be able to get these from somewhere like CPP)

Hubs: i'm not sure that the standard 8-lug 3/4 ton hubs will mount onto the lift spindle. I think its made for six lug hubs. but maybe you can redrill the hubs, or maybe you can get 3/4 ton hubs to fit with different bearings and seals. I'm not really sure on this one.

[argonaut]

After reading the other replies in your post, the 2000+ spindles with unitized bearings look interesting.

Another thought I had, if you were to go with the 88-98 spindle, is to press out the 1/2 ton spindle from the knuckle, and press in a 3/4 ton spindle.

Not many people lift these older 2wd pickups, so there isnt' a lot of solid info out there on what works and what doesn't.

a third option is to throw a 71-87 Dana 44 front axle and leaf springs under there and make it a 4x4.

[argonaut]

You can look up spring numbers for different 3/4 and 1 ton trucks on oreillyauto.com or napaonline.com, then reference this pdf for spring specs:

http://www.moogproblemsolver.com/moo...rings_Spec.pdf

I can't remember exactly which set I put on my 64, i think from an 87 3/4 or 1 ton, but that picked up the front about 1.5"

[powerhouse199216]

Originally Posted by $20071k10

4 inch body lifts look bad!!

and by bad you mean ugly or like bad to the bone

[argonaut]

I'm pretty sure, in this case, bad means the opposite of good.

I personally wouldn't do more than a 1".

[powerhouse199216]

mmmm ok still searching will update after i go exploring at my local junk yards

[pooz911]

This is the spindle your looking for -

fabtech fts2588-7

I believe they have discontinued production of this but you may be able to find someone who has a set used.

I do not know of anyone who has done this modification but with all of my research of 3/4 - 1 ton suspensions over the years, I believe that this is the best candidate.

I do have a 3/4 ton truck that has a 3 inch body lift and springs in front.

Look at my cardomain link below for pics.