c10 to c30

[derek6787]

Hey guys Im fixing to rejoin the 67-72 club. Im going to build a 2wd dually. Ive got a couple questions though. On these trucks were there any differences between a c10 frame and a c30 frame? Also how deep am i going to have to go in the front end to swap from 5 lug to 8? Any help would be greatly ap
preciated. Thanks
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[oldiron]

Yes the frames are different. The one tons are taller from top to bottom.
You can put a 3/4 ton front cross member on a 1/2 ton. You did not mention the year of truck. If it is 71 or 72 I believe you can just change the spindles. The 3/4 and 1 tons are the same and you can use 1 ton rotors on 3/4 spindles. Hopefully you are going just for the look of a 1 ton. The 1/2 ton frame will not stand up to the loads of 1 ton.
For the rear end is your truck a leaf spring?
If so get a rear end out of a late 70's to a early 80's flat bed. The pickup rearends are wider but have the same spring mount locations as 71/72's.
Good luck.

[derek6787]

The truck is a 72. So I can just swap over to 3/4 ton spindles? Also it is currently a coil rearend. But thats ok I can do fab work. Im not just goung for looks so I will be addibg some cross bracing and boxibg to the frame if its needed.
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[derek6787]

Another question. While searching for spindles Ive read tgat c20 spibdles are the same from 71 to 87. Is this true?
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[lolife99]

You will need 3/4 ton lower a-arms to install a set of 3/4 ton spindles.
Then both ball joints will have to be swapped out to match your new spindles.
Also the steering linkage is different.

Are you using drop spindles?
Look at 73-87 c30 drop spindles from Belltech or Western Chassis.
Performance Online also sells these.
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[special-K]

You can swap the complete front assembly from a one ton up into the '90s. That would be the easiest way to go. You can find an HO52 coil rear and bolt that in,then just deal with converting to dual wheels. If you aren't lowering you can use 3/4t rear coils w/air bag inserts to heavy-up the rear suspension. If you are lowering you can use later model front end stuff (for the year you install) and in the rear use bags...or blocks with what I suggested above

[derek6787]

Yes I plan on lowering. So I can use c30 arms and drop spindles off a mid 80s? What is a H052?
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[special-K]

Yep,just remove at frame. The HO52 is the Corporate rear found in C/20 & K/20s. The C/30 version is called the HO72. They are essentially the same rear,but with different brakes/wheel bearings. C/30s never came with coil rear,though,and only a single rear HO72 had the same width housing. The HO52 is a direct swap with the 12-bolt.

[derek6787]

Thanks guys. Im sure I will have more questions. Also anymore input or ideas are still appreciated.
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[derek6787]

Well Ive got a 72 454/400. Let the work begin. Wish I knew how to upload pics.
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