cross over steering on the cheap??

[texas69truck]

I remember reading awhile back about a cheap disc brake conversion using a later model upper control arm?? For some reason i keep thinking it is from a 4wheel drive truck. Im not to sure and way to tired to try and research more but heres my question. IF* the parts needed to convert to disc is from a 4x4 then could you take the steering system off the donor truck and put it on ours? or do they not come with cross over steering? Sorry for all the stupid questions, im sure if i hadnt been up all night cramming for an exam this post might be a lil bit more intelligent...maybe
Thanks, Travis

[special-K]

They didn`t come with crossover steering.

[stan79chevy]

you need the passenger side knuckle It has to be milled and drilled and tapped. im thinking its 73-77?? d44's. it would almost be easier to put the whole donor axle in. There are companys that make kits to do it which costs a little more, but is easier than hunting down all the required parts.

stan

[Burt4x4]

FYI my 72 K5 came with a flat top D44..look for a nice flat surface on the pass side that is were three holes need to be driled and taped to mount a steering arm for the crossover setup. Crossover steering is an aftermarket mod.
Good Luck

[msgross]

I have a set of flattop knuckles off a 76, and a 2WD steering box if you are looking?

for discs then the easiest thing to do is find a Dana44 from a 71 - 87'ish? and swap the whole axle. Look for gears that match yours and your set. SHouldn't be more than $150 for a decent axle, might need new brakes but that's $50 @ autozone (including calipers!)

BTW, what do you have now?

[1969k10stepside]

Originally Posted by msgross

I have a set of flattop knuckles off a 76, and a 2WD steering box if you are looking?

for discs then the easiest thing to do is find a Dana44 from a 72 - 87? and swap the whole axle. Look for gears that match yours and your set. SHouldn't be more than $150 for a decent axle, might need new brakes but that's $50 @ autozone (including calipers!)

BTW, what do you have now?

Discs started in 71 so any axle from 71-80?,just to correct what Mike said
Now,the last year for the full size blazer was 91, they had a solid axle w/ discs.I dont know that they had a d44 front though.Im not up on newer vehicle specs

[msgross]

only difference that I have found that is in 81 or so they went to metric banjo bolt on the brake line into the caliper...

[bigtruck81]

D44s disappeared from 77-79, replaced by the 10 bolt. later D44s didnt have the required flat tops. i have a 77 D44 in the garage without a flat top.

[Zoomad75]

Steering and cheap shouldn't be used at the same time. Just remember that. (this is coming from someone who has to be cheap due to the family budget) Going with x-over steering can be done for a reasonable price, but you got to get the above mentioned flat top D44 knuckle (or whole D44 with knuckle). Then you got to get the flat top machined for the studs which going to take some time at the machine shop at normal (high) hourly rates. Then comes the actual steering arm which you shouldn't skimp on. Then the pitman arm, drag link and tie rod ends. Just for what ORD sells to do this you are going to spend $395 (pitman arm, steering arm and install kit, drag link/ends) Then you have to get a decent 2wd steering gear.

So, you can save some cost on the used parts for the axle and steering gear. Putting together a homebrew cross over with parts sourced from a bunch of other vehicles is a recipe for failure.

If you are going to go x-over, do it right. Save up your pennys and get what you need as you can afford it, then install it once all the parts are there.

Sorry for the rant, I just don't want to see anybody loose their rig or worse injure themselves or others with a poorly setup steering system.

[texas69truck]

Thanks for all the advice, I started this thread dreaming more of less of what i want my truck to be when im done building it. So i figure while im broke i might as well try and learn as much as i can. I have a 69' swb thats primer black with a 350/350 combo. its sittin on 33's on a 3in body lift . Plans for it are a frame swap to a 4x4 and a BB. (i know ive heard it plenty of times, BB and 4x4's dont mix, but im just dreaming right) My main focus is going to be the frame and suspension, I want to be able to really wheel this thing. I still have alot to learn since i want to design my own suspension but i have till im out of school to learn it all.

[Zoomad75]

That's cool, do the research before you start spending dough. I know having x-over is the ultimate over the stock push-pull setup, but I've done a lot of wheeling on the stock stuff and not had a problem. Keep that in mind if you are going with a reasonable lift (4-6") and the right steering correction the stock set up works just fine.

Now if your plans involve major rock crawling (high articulation) going x-over would be good to put in the plans. The downfall of the stock setup is when the passenger side wheel is stuffed and the driver side wheel droops. The drag link gets more of an angle from the pitman to the steering arm and it effectivly shortens the length of the draglink. Meaning, you have less leverage and therefor no ability to turn until the axle levels out.

If you aren't going extreme, you can keep the stock stuff. If you still want it, you can go for it but I'd save up for the stuff from ORD to do it right.

[texas69truck]

The plans are to go extreme, I want a truck nice enough to clean up and show on and capable enough to go through anything and everything i want. Well Ill show it till the first time i "really" go wheelin and get some battle scars.

[Zoomad75]

Great plan, but I think you're right about not being able to show it after you get the battle scars. Its tough to keep the sheetmetal nice and wheel it hard. DirtyLarry's 78 is super sharp inside and out but he doesn't ride scared on the trail. You can wheel hard and keep nice sheetmetal. It just takes more planing and careful placement. Larry managed to get his first dent after our camping run up into the colorado mountains last fall. Pretty minor dent and it happened the day we were coming home and 3/4's of the way off the trail to pavement too. He saw a mudhole that wasn't so bad the last time he was up there and went after it again. I was behind him in my K5 and watched him stand that truck practically on it's nose the hole was so deep. He got the ass end high enough that the rear tires were a foot and a half off the ground! I couldn't get to my camera fast enough. He drove out of it but the dent came when the frame flexed and ran the bed into the back side of the cab when he endo'd.

You just got to be careful thats all.

[martinkh]

How about dana 60 front axles? How tough are they to convert? 1982 was the year that it came from.

[royo]

crossover steering ord http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/catalog.htm they have nice stuff

[msgross]

Originally Posted by martinkh

How about dana 60 front axles? How tough are they to convert? 1982 was the year that it came from.

I would say that it's as common as the 44's since most extreme guys go for the Dana60 anyway.

I still have parts for sale for this on the parts board. knuckles, steering box, tie rod/drag link for x-over

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=235308

[earl87gta]

I would go with a 60 if you can get one for a good price. I thought fltat top knuckles were only on the 71 to 73 trucks and blazers thats why there so valuable to the jeep crowed.
here is a post of some pics off cross over steering we had here.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=230725

[msgross]

I have a set of dana44 flattops off a 76. I think they went up till 78 or so..

[bigtruck81]

i too have a set of 76 flat tops.

converting a Dana 60 to crossover is easy. remove the arm from the drivers side and install the kingpin cap from the passenger side. install aftermarket crossover arm on passenger side and go.

[earl87gta]

d60 is the easyest one to convert.