will this work or not

[mnky30]

i was given a 1980 chevy 3/4 ton truck and was wondering if the spindles and disc brake set up would work on a 1960-1961 tortion bar front end. i also have the 3/4 ton rear end for the same doner truck. i don't mind having 8 lug stuff on my truck might change later to 5 lug when i have the money. please let me know if this is possible to bo with out to much modification. plus i am going to be running a 454 with th400 trans. thanks vince

[kdrodworks316]

I think you could drop your whole x-member and install the newer stuff. It will be a waste of time to do it with the 3/4 ton stuff if you are going to do 5 luggars in the future. I would try to find the same vintage of doner truck in a 1/2 ton model. Just my $.02

[66chevy PROSTREET]

Don't think it will work

[joe231]

i believe the cross member is the same on 3/4 and 1/2 tons. swap the whole thing, use the 8 lug stuff if you want, but you might have to swap the lower arms to get 5 lug stuff on it. would be lots of extra work swapping the rear diffs multiple times. i think if you want 8 lugs, go for it, but if you want 5 lugs wait and get the right stuff.

[64c20crewcab]

Should you decide to swap over to the 3/4 ton stuff - you can swap out the 3/4 ton 8-lug hub to a 5-lug hubs for 850+. Its a costly setup but ya gotta REALLY WANT THE 5-LUG BADLY to spend that kinda $$. I'll post the vendor info later - gotta run.

OK here is the info from
www.geartechhd.com:

THIS KIT WILL ALLOW YOU TO PUT 5. OR 6 HOLE WHEEL HUBS ON YOUR D60 FRONT OR YOUR D60 AND 14 BOLT REAR IT CAN BE PURCHASED WITH DISC BRAKE BRACKETS ALSO SO YOU CAN MOUNT 15" WHEELS ON THE AXLES THE KIT COMES WITH ALL THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND SEALS STUDS AND HARDWARE THE HUBS.

HUBS W/T STUDS AND BEARING 895.00 pr. - NO DISC BRAKES.
1450.00 WITH DISC BRAKES.


I beleive these can be ran with either the 14 bolt FF or Eaton H052 rearends.

[mnky30]

thanks for the info on all the comments and thanks for the link to the site for the adapters for the d60s
vince

[joe231]

is the '80 a 4x4?

[mnky30]

no it is a 2wd 3/4 ton

[joe231]

alright, i'm sticking to my previous post then

[mnky30]

the reason i am getting the 3/4 ton stuff is cause it is free. i am having a whole front of a truck delivered to me in a large dumpster he is giving me the chevy 350 motor th400 trans and all the front suspention stuff. the back of the truck was cut off behind the cab i am also taking the brake booster and valves. the other problem i have right now is that i just had my neck fused on the 28 of july so i am in a neck brace and cant do any thing for a while.so i might as well get all the parts i caqn use or trade right now since i am down for three months.

[NF65Fleetside]

wish you a speedy recovery, sounds like you scored motor/trans wise but if you ever wish to go 5 lug you should probably just keep the brake booster, xmember and control arms.

[sailed2japan]

Originally Posted by 66chevy PROSTREET

Don't think it will work

You can make it work. You can put the whole front k-member from the 3/4 ton under your truck and have discs + coil springs. I would do that, personally and then get a 3/4 ton rear axle. that way you have an awesome amount of braking power. The disc/drum set-up on a 1/2 ton is a considerable amount less beefy than a 3/4 ton. Plus I kinda like the look of a 8x6.5 lug pattern. Just my $.02

[mnky30]

that is what i was thinking plus i proubly would never break anything in the rear end regardless of how much power in the motor i have plus it wiuld stop faster with the 3/4 ton front and rear brakes

[mnky30]

sailed2japan if i do use the 3/4 ton front end parts should i get 1/2 ton front lowering springs so the ride is not to stiff as to the weight of the 3/4 ton spring rate is alot higher then the 1/2 ton truck suspention. since i will be running a 350 and th400 trans. the rear springs should be fine in 1/2 ton but if i lower the front end then i would get lowering springs for the rear also.
thanks for our input and i like your .02 cents vincent

[mnky30]

with a 3/4 ton front x member could i run 1/2 ton spring so the ride is not to stiff

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by mnky30

with a 3/4 ton front x member could i run 1/2 ton spring so the ride is not to stiff

I don't see why not.....they are both the same OD.

[mnky30]

thanks for the info

[mnky30]

well got all the parts off of the 80 3/4 ton truck i got for free. i got the corprate 14 bolt rear end front x-member from wheel to wheel the brake master and booster the porportion valve 350 motor and th350 not a th400 but i have a th400 trans. which trans is better the 350 or 400? i also have all the stuff to covert the rear diff to disc brakes set up.

[64c20crewcab]

Sounds good! I'm gonna grab late model 3/4 front end on labor day weekend. local parts yard is havin a sale that weekend. As for the trans go with the 400. I'll plan to be using a 700R4. Good luck with your swap!

[mnky30]

thanks the only thing is i will be watching my buddy's do the work i had neck surgery 2 weeks a go so i can't do any of the work my self except hand them tools. o well at least it is going to get done and i can watch and take pics.

[mnky30]

well tore the engine down today and it had recently been rebuilt every thing is real clean,there it still hone marks in the block its a 4 bolt main and i'm putting a rv grind cam in and performer intake on and shorty headers. next week i'm going to start on the front end swap then to the rear end swap. i'll post pics soon.

[mnky30]

my buddy's tore the old front torson bar front end out last night and we setthe frame on the 3/4 ton 80s x member and will start to bolt up the front end in a while.my project might be on hold for a while be cause i have 2 horses a female and her 6 month old baby boy that we started to casterate today and ended up going up to uc davis medical center for emergency surger that will set me back like 6000-7000 dollers. so unfortinitaly the truck might be sitting a while longer then i planed. have to pay for the pets we love first then we get to play with our other toys. but in the mean time i am spending as little cash that i might have left over withch is almost none goes to the truck .o well little set backs i guess right. i guess that is why they say life has its ups and downs right!!!!

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by 64c20crewcab

Should you decide to swap over to the 3/4 ton stuff - you can swap out the 3/4 ton 8-lug hub to a 5-lug hubs for 850+. Its a costly setup but ya gotta REALLY WANT THE 5-LUG BADLY to spend that kinda $$. I'll post the vendor info later - gotta run.

OK here is the info from
www.geartechhd.com:

THIS KIT WILL ALLOW YOU TO PUT 5. OR 6 HOLE WHEEL HUBS ON YOUR D60 FRONT OR YOUR D60 AND 14 BOLT REAR IT CAN BE PURCHASED WITH DISC BRAKE BRACKETS ALSO SO YOU CAN MOUNT 15" WHEELS ON THE AXLES THE KIT COMES WITH ALL THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND SEALS STUDS AND HARDWARE THE HUBS.

HUBS W/T STUDS AND BEARING 895.00 pr. - NO DISC BRAKES.
1450.00 WITH DISC BRAKES.


I beleive these can be ran with either the 14 bolt FF or Eaton H052 rearends.

Those are some nice parts.....gotta keep that in mind for future builds !!!

[Chevy Fleetside]

I think you should go with the TH350 trans and keep the 400 for now. The 400 steals more HP to turn it and 350's are pretty tough. Plus if the engine was rebuilt then maybe the tranny was too. But use the TH400 if you are going to do alot of heavy towing. The 350 in my 4x4 towed just fine when I had it. It was still working even after I pulled it. I put in a 700R4 instead with a NP208 transfer case from an 88 burb. This is in my 79 4x4.

[mnky30]

chevy fleetside the reason i was going to go with the 400 is that i had it rebuilt and the frame has been set up for the 400 mount and at 350 motor mounts and the 350 is just a little shorter than the 400. i am keeping the 350 as a back up trans and when money permits me to i am going to build a 383 stroker to go in the truck.