Cross member swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

aussichev · 02-10-2005, 09:05 AM

It`s time to put myself into gear and strart the project!!
Ive just spoken to a well respected Rod builder here in very sunny Perth and he has sujested that i swap the crossmember in the C20 (1975) for a Jag one.I get better handling,brakes and power rack any ride hight i want. He does alot of older truck and has never done a 70`s one. SO i want to know if anybody has done anything similar.I was thinking about 5 to 6 inch ride hight

**N2TRUX** · 02-10-2005, 09:09 AM

Since Jags are not as common in the USA as they are in other countries, this is not a common swap here. The most common swap here is with a 73-87 Chevy C-10 suspension. It a bolt in swap, and gives you the ability to use over the counter parts to drop as low as you want....

**raggedjim** · 02-10-2005, 10:07 AM

Aussie, the '75 can be taken pretty low with aftermarket spindles, bags, etc. I would do a search on here for people with low trucks (N2TRUX has one of the nicest you'll ever see) and question them about it. It was featured in "Classic Trucks" recently.

I think you can get low and maintain a great ride for much less money and effort than swapping in the jag suspension. This is only my opinion and I tend to try to keep things simple.

One thing I just thought of is if chevy parts are hard to come by and jag parts are more plentiful for you, it may make sense, but otherwise, it depends on your vision for the truck.

Good luck, Rg

aussichev · 02-11-2005, 09:23 AM

I here what your saying and if i was there and not here I would not have this problem, but i`m here in oz. Yes jag stuff is sorta cheap. $1800 for a compleatly recond front end. Probably sounds alot to you but it`s a prity good price here.Remember i`m right hand drive here too, and everything has to be engineered past .Is 5 inch ride hight to low or 6 better????????

What are the c10 front end like

68racer · 02-13-2005, 05:43 PM

G'day,
Jag clips into beam axle trucks are getting popular here in the UK, trying to find a LHD rack is the hard part. But IMHO it is not worth the effort and expense (labor as well as parts) as the gains are not immense. The truck already has a good front suspension just needs a little updating, later clip, drop springs/spindles and definitely fit a sway bar if it has not got one. Also I think it would devalue the resale to fit a jag clip, nobody wants something that has been altered too much. To change to RHD fit a car steering box from a LHD chevy. As they fit inside the wider car chassis they mount on the left of the box. This is ideal for you as they can be fitted to the outside of the right frame rail. Then sell your truck box to the guy changing his car to RHD!
That is how the factory did it, have you seen the assembly manual? It has a few pages on making RHD systems.
Neil.

aussichev · 02-23-2005, 08:18 AM

Sorry it`s taken so long to reply been real busy.
My truck is right hand drive already as it was sold by Holden so no problems there.My idea was to get it low real low not just to pose about but as a daily driver.I`ve seen what the boys on the net are doing and i`m not sure it`s the best way to go, but I could be wrong which is why I asked the question.
The people Here seem to think that i should go for broke and put the Jag rear end in as well.Somethink to think about.
Nobody here in oz rate the 70s trucks much so resale is nothing to worry about.Here it`s if your going to rod it do it right and go for it.But and it`s a big but is it better/cheaper for me to modify the standard front or put the Jag front in.

02-10-2005, 09:05 AM	#1
aussichev Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: western Australia Posts: 124	Cross member swap It`s time to put myself into gear and strart the project!! Ive just spoken to a well respected Rod builder here in very sunny Perth and he has sujested that i swap the crossmember in the C20 (1975) for a Jag one.I get better handling,brakes and power rack any ride hight i want. He does alot of older truck and has never done a 70`s one. SO i want to know if anybody has done anything similar.I was thinking about 5 to 6 inch ride hight

02-10-2005, 09:09 AM	#2
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,023	Since Jags are not as common in the USA as they are in other countries, this is not a common swap here. The most common swap here is with a 73-87 Chevy C-10 suspension. It a bolt in swap, and gives you the ability to use over the counter parts to drop as low as you want.... __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

02-10-2005, 10:07 AM	#3
raggedjim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Murray, Kentucky Posts: 3,453	Aussie, the '75 can be taken pretty low with aftermarket spindles, bags, etc. I would do a search on here for people with low trucks (N2TRUX has one of the nicest you'll ever see) and question them about it. It was featured in "Classic Trucks" recently. I think you can get low and maintain a great ride for much less money and effort than swapping in the jag suspension. This is only my opinion and I tend to try to keep things simple. One thing I just thought of is if chevy parts are hard to come by and jag parts are more plentiful for you, it may make sense, but otherwise, it depends on your vision for the truck. Good luck, Rg __________________ Roger '68 Short step - https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=849675 '69 ('70?) 2wd Blazer '70 GMC Jimmy 2wd '73 Firebird - https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=853203

02-11-2005, 09:23 AM	#4
aussichev Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: western Australia Posts: 124	Jag front end I here what your saying and if i was there and not here I would not have this problem, but i`m here in oz. Yes jag stuff is sorta cheap. $1800 for a compleatly recond front end. Probably sounds alot to you but it`s a prity good price here.Remember i`m right hand drive here too, and everything has to be engineered past .Is 5 inch ride hight to low or 6 better???????? What are the c10 front end like

02-13-2005, 05:43 PM	#5
68racer Yeah baby! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 436	G'day, Jag clips into beam axle trucks are getting popular here in the UK, trying to find a LHD rack is the hard part. But IMHO it is not worth the effort and expense (labor as well as parts) as the gains are not immense. The truck already has a good front suspension just needs a little updating, later clip, drop springs/spindles and definitely fit a sway bar if it has not got one. Also I think it would devalue the resale to fit a jag clip, nobody wants something that has been altered too much. To change to RHD fit a car steering box from a LHD chevy. As they fit inside the wider car chassis they mount on the left of the box. This is ideal for you as they can be fitted to the outside of the right frame rail. Then sell your truck box to the guy changing his car to RHD! That is how the factory did it, have you seen the assembly manual? It has a few pages on making RHD systems. Neil. __________________ 11.37 @116

02-23-2005, 08:18 AM	#6
aussichev Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: western Australia Posts: 124	Jag clip Sorry it`s taken so long to reply been real busy. My truck is right hand drive already as it was sold by Holden so no problems there.My idea was to get it low real low not just to pose about but as a daily driver.I`ve seen what the boys on the net are doing and i`m not sure it`s the best way to go, but I could be wrong which is why I asked the question. The people Here seem to think that i should go for broke and put the Jag rear end in as well.Somethink to think about. Nobody here in oz rate the 70s trucks much so resale is nothing to worry about.Here it`s if your going to rod it do it right and go for it.But and it`s a big but is it better/cheaper for me to modify the standard front or put the Jag front in.



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