69 C10 Prerunner project

[Coronadj]

So Im new to this whole forums thing... So my bad if I make some mistakes. But I want to start my first project truck its a 1969 C10 that i got for $800. Im only 16 and still in high school but what I have in mind is to lift my truck its a 2wd so its kind of hard to do it. But I been searching on how to do it and I kind of know what I need. My truck was a old forest truck like a park ranger truck it had tool boxes in the bed and 411 gears in the rear with a posi. It also has a 250 with a sm465 and heavy duty coils all the way around. But I've been searching for parts and I came up on craigs some 88-98 c1500/c2500 4" inch lift spindles and upper control arm from fabtech. So my question is can I use the spindle and the upper control arm on my truck and for the lower control arm I just get a c20 lower control arm?

its a slow moving project so... I won't be posting progress right away. But I'm not trying to do anything crazy I just want to lift it so I have some ground clearance and to have a lil fun in the sand and dirt. I race drag banshees at glamis, dumont dunes, and pismo so I need some clearance and to put some 33-35" tires.

[JointTech]

about the best lift for a 2wd is heavy duty 1-ton springs. Otherwise you are getting into suspension swap to something newer. I havent seen a 2wd lift kit for our year trucks. The 1ton springs arent going to get you anywhere near prerunner stance though. well maybe if you removed the rear springs completely.

[Pick]

I knew I had seen something like this before on the board so I sid alittle searching to see if I could dig it up... Lift Spindles on 73-87

I believe the swap will work the same way for a '69 since you're swapping upper and lower control arms as a part of the swap......not sure though.

I hope that might help point you in the right direction anyway.

[Coronadj]

Thanks guys for the advise on the lift! Yeah I was thinking of using that fabtech upper control arm and the spindle and I will use a c20 lower control arms and look for a lift coil from rough country. But I'm not sure it will work.

[cleanfreak]

If you search 6 bolt disk brake conversions , the c20 lower will work , the 88 up upper isn't even close for your truck , but the original upper may work with an 88 up ball joint. the camber might be an issue , seems like your on the right track though. Good luck with your project , everybody will want to see some pictures once your into it - Bob

[Coronadj]

this is when I first got the truck




Attach]1352415[/attach]

[BlackedOut67shorty]

Will be watchin this, can't wait to see the results

[Coronadj]

I'm trying to figure out how to lift my truck and then one of my friends told me about I beam my truck like the giant motorsports c10 kit but I don't know what are your guys thoughts about I beaming the truck? Or should I keep the A Arms?

[68shortwide]

Keep a-arms. Ibeams ride like sh*t. Actually. Are you using it as a tow pig or a daily driver or both? How far are you travelin to go to the dunes? All that factors in to choosing between the two.

[Coronadj]

It's gonna be my daily driver/tow rig. It all depends on where Im going like dumont dunes is about 4-5 hours away, pismo is like 3 hours, and glamis is about 4 1/2 hours away. But the desert is like 1 hour away. Thanks for all the helps guys! Really appericate it!

[Coronadj]

Man that fabtech lift kit I wanted it's gone! Now I don't really know what to do! I thinks just using a lifted spindle from 88-98 c1500 and c20 lower arm but what do you guys think?

[tcrist]

Check with any of these guys,

http://www.mcgaughys.com/prerunner.html

http://www.prerunnermaniac.com/preru...sion-kits.html

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/...%20lift%20kits

http://www.dixonbrosracing.com/

Even if they don't have or make a kit, maybe they know of who does.

[Coronadj]

I took off the bed to clean up the frame.I just painted the back of the frame to see how it would look but I sanded it off to and put primer.

[Coronadj]

[DreamRyder1963]

I love these truck when they are built like pre-runners. Here is one that was posted on the board a while back.

[Lees68GMC]

Here's the opinion of an Arizona Old Fart. We built the primer pre-runner in the photo for my son, the 67 GMC is mine. Clean up your truck, rattle can detail and someone will trade you for a later model truck to pre-run out, maybe even done. Clean old GM classics are getting harder and harder to find, no disrespect but you can pre-runner a Toyota or something else on the cheap. My two cents.

[catch2otwo]

I think what your looking to build is more of a lifted/offroad truck instead of a "prerunner." With an offroad oriented build you will be building for towing/hauling/trail capability where prerunner you will be headed towards suspension travel. Suspension travel is way more involved than just a lift kit. A lot of people don't think about anything outside the suspension, but for a true pre runner/ dune crusher you will be sinking alot of time building the chassis. Shock mounts, bed cage etc.

In my opinion, I would throw a lift on the truck to clear whatever tire size you are looking to clear, invest in some quality shocks that are built to your spec to optimize your wheel travel, convert to leaf spring rear and get some deavers. You would have a solid 2wd, with some decent travel for when you want to go have some fun but wont have a crappy soft truck when you want to haul your quads around. Looking forward to your build.

[catch2otwo]

Originally Posted by Lees68GMC

Here's the opinion of an Arizona Old Fart. We built the primer pre-runner in the photo for my son, the 67 GMC is mine. Clean up your truck, rattle can detail and someone will trade you for a later model truck to pre-run out, maybe even done. Clean old GM classics are getting harder and harder to find, no disrespect but you can pre-runner a Toyota or something else on the cheap. My two cents.

I never understood this mindset, (no disrespect intended) but really, its only a truck. If he likes the body style, cut it up do whatever you want with it. When the truck fad fades in a few years, no one will blink an eye at these trucks. Car hobby has and always will follow the trends.

[67 chevelle]

Originally Posted by catch2otwo

I think what your looking to build is more of a lifted/offroad truck instead of a "prerunner." With an offroad oriented build you will be building for towing/hauling/trail capability where prerunner you will be headed towards suspension travel. Suspension travel is way more involved than just a lift kit. A lot of people don't think about anything outside the suspension, but for a true pre runner/ dune crusher you will be sinking alot of time building the chassis. Shock mounts, bed cage etc.

In my opinion, I would throw a lift on the truck to clear whatever tire size you are looking to clear, invest in some quality shocks that are built to your spec to optimize your wheel travel, convert to leaf spring rear and get some deavers. You would have a solid 2wd, with some decent travel for when you want to go have some fun but wont have a crappy soft truck when you want to haul your quads around. Looking forward to your build.

Totaly agree

Looks like you are off to a fast start , your truck looks like a great candidate for what you want to do ,,, keep us updated ,,, with the amount of lift you want ,, make sure you get a realy good shop that does lifts to check your drive angles ,, otherwise it will be noisy ,, and eat up u-joints

[Coronadj]

Originally Posted by 67 chevelle

Totaly agree

Looks like you are off to a fast start , your truck looks like a great candidate for what you want to do ,,, keep us updated ,,, with the amount of lift you want ,, make sure you get a realy good shop that does lifts to check your drive angles ,, otherwise it will be noisy ,, and eat up u-joints

Yeah I agree to that I just really want a lift not so much of a prerunner. I been trying to contact shops to see of they can lift my truck but most of them don't reply to me lol.

[Coronadj]

So I been trying to search some sort of lift kit I can use and I came by the one article on four wheel magazine and there a c20 that they did a lift to and they use ride tech suspension kit on it. So I tried to look it up and it took me to airbagit.com and they have a lift that looks te same as the use on the c20 but I never heard of airbag it.com and I don't know of I should buy it the kit cost $995.

[Coronadj]

This is the link to the article.
http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/12...unner-project/

[Coronadj]

This is the kit they use and the one on airbag it seems to sound like the same one.

[Coronadj]

This is the kit made from airbagit.com .


http://firebirdindustrial.com/shop-2...luprlower-raw/

[Coronadj]

So you guys think that it may work?? Or of you guys don't think it would work tell me because Im a little nervous to buy that kit.

But I found this c20 on Craigslist and I fell in love with I wish I had the money to buy it but I was wonder what do you guys think it would take to make my truck look like that height and to fit that size of tire and to have the same clearance?

I was gonna say should I use a 2 or 3" coil spacer in the front and upper ball joint spacer? And for the rear I seen a 1.5 inch spacer for the coils you think that would work to make my truck look like that c20?