what swaps

[cheavy metal]

salute
I'm wondering if anyone knows what stuff will swap the easiest from whatever into my 66 gmc longbox. mainly I'm looking to swap disc/power brakes, and booster/master...power steering and a steering column. one person said early 80 to 85 gm cross member you just grind a couple rivets and drill one hole per side and it fits....any one gotta response to this? also any diy on columns, I have a 80 regal tilt floor shift I'm hoping I can make work. any thoughts or responses will be greatly appreciated

old school rulez, west coast.
Canadian style

[63sbssbbw]

Yes ,any '73-87 gm 1/2 ton will work for you
7 bolts per side and it should drop right out,and even easier if there's no engine in the way.
you'll need a ps conv. kit to reinforce the framerail.
don't forget the proportioning valve
I can't see why the steering column wouldn't fit(i will be discovering this soon enough).
The cheapest route would be to buy the whole truck.as long as it hasn't been jumped(think Dukes of Hazzard)or disgustingly abused(inspection of the lower control arms will usually reveal this.
and of course for what you'll need off of it,the more beat up and rusty the better(cheaper)
Hope this helps
T

[63sbssbbw]

Hey ,I just noticed your in Vancouver...Where abouts??
I lived in N van for 20+ yrs
and a couple of yrs in Surrey back in the early '80's
Oh yeah! welcome to board,this is an awesome place,lots and lots of help here and as you will discover WE LOVE PICS
Trent

[cheavy metal]

hey T,
helps a bunch. I got a guy with a 84 heavy half pretty much mint. no motor/tranny $500cdn dollars....think thats about $27usd lol. compared to about 2 grand which I dont have this helps tons. I have been draggin around a set of 68? 3 piece steel rims I just gotta have on my truck so the 6 lug is huge to me. you just helped move up the completion date a hole bunch so thank you very much.






old school rulez, west coast.
Canadian style

[cheavy metal]

I'm living on the west coast, a place called white rock. great little hot rod comunity but small and so far not one 60-66 gm fan

[cheavy metal]

p.s.
that is a beauty little 63 you got there T

[63sbssbbw]

Most guys do this swap to gain the 5 lug setup,are you wanting to stay with the 6 lug??
I'm almst in the same boat,picked up an '85 sight unseen for $200(for parts)Has a blown motor(con rod),Turns out to be too nice to wreck,for 200 I thought it was going to be a POS,but it wasn't,almost no rust,never been crashed or dented,I might even fix it and drive it!!
LOL We use to cruise White Rock back in the day with my buddies('68 Firebird,'69 Impala'74 camaro),good times
'60-'66s haven't hit the mainstream yet,and can still be had for pretty cheap,not as cheap as 6 or 7 years ago,but still cheap
Should we start a "ahead of the curve" club??LOL
Anyways,A 73-87 is a good way to get upgrades without spendig a gazillion dollars on aftermarket stuff and you'll find tons of info here on how to go about it(see disc brake sticky at the top of the page)
Thanks for the compliment,appreciate it.
Show us what your workin' on,that'd be cool
T

[cheavy metal]

yes, for now the 6 lug is a keeper for me. I want to use this set of 3 piece 68 rims I have been packing around forever. the reason mostly is because nobody else would. and the 6 lug is less desirable to thieves...or so I've been told. I dont want anyone pullin up beside me at a light with the same anything on their truck.I'm lookin forward to spending some time on the strip here myself. this summer would be nice...depends on how far I feel I gotta go on the truck before I call it done enough,for now. I have always said the profit from the expense we pour into these trucks is owning and operating. so I gotta cruise to get paid lol. the wreck I'm hoping to aquire sounds a bit like the one you got as the ad says it is in good shape and just needs an engine and trans. but in the end the last thing I need is another truck to build. so sticking to the plan, low budget upgrades, I will strip off what I need and if I can move it on craigslist great if not then to the car removal guys. my avatar [first time I ever had one of those] is my 66 and my profile pic is also the same. once I figure this out I will do a before and after follow the build pic thing so pics are coming.

[joe231]

The 73-87 trucks are 5 lug....
But you can get after market 6 lug discs that fit those spindles.
Spend some time on here doing some searching...
You will find all the info you can handle
BTW.
You don't need to swap the entire cross member, just the arms out and the steering linkage

Good luck with it
And post lots of pics

[jason65]

Welcome and post lots of pics a.

[TimE]

Welcome aboard...

[63sbssbbw]

Sorry 'bout that CM
There USED TO BE a sticky on Front disc swaps,but I don't know where it went????
Anyone know?
T

[joe231]

It got un-stickied for some reason....
It is down in the regular posts somewhere....
I'll see if I can find it and bring it to the top

[63sbssbbw]

Thanks JOE
T

[cheavy metal]

thanks joe great info. just the arms and steering. this is gettin better by the visit. I thought gm put out a 6 lug 2 wheel drive heavy half [model] I think they were called? anyone got anything on that? I have a set of rims, 3 peice steel 6 lug nice deep I believe are from a 68 gm, that I just gotta have on my truck. been packin them around for about 12 yrs. so I appeciate any input.

[protrash64]

I didnt read everything you have posted, but if you are going with the 1.25'' wide heavy duty rotors, they are interchangeable 5 and 6 lug and using 73+ spindles or aftermarket compatible.....hope thats clear.

[cheavy metal]

heheh well then lets see if I do . I need the upper/lpwer control arms, steering components and spindles from say a 73 - 84 gm and I can undo they same, old parts, from my 66 and upgrade with the afore mentioned parts?

[joe231]

yes....don't think you need the arms, but swapping to the newer ones give you better bushings.
the heavy half went to light duty 3/4 after '88 and used the 6 lug rotors. but those rotors won't work on your spindles. you would have to find 3/4 ton lower arms and use the ball joints, rotors, calipers, and spindles form the late 80's early '90's light duty 3/4...
it is much easier to just buy after market 6 lug rotors that work with the 73-87 spindles, ball joints and brake parts...believe the rotors are $60-$70 each
or you might be able to have a machine shop make your 5 lug rotors into 6 lug???

[protrash64]

....well said..... I meant the aftermarket rotors originally,.

[cheavy metal]

sorry dude I dont think I was clear. I have 6 lug now...only drums. front and rear. so its the drum to disc conversion I'm after. my quest is to find a donor compatable truck with 6 lug disc brakes. the 6 to 5 lug conversion seems to be what most are after but for wheel reasons I want to stick with the 6 lug. of course the booster, master cylinder, power steering and what else I can use will also come off the donor. if the donor truck is not found soon then I will go towards new conversion parts from what ever year is the easiest to swap into my 66. any input is greatly appreciated.

[cheavy metal]

sounds like joe231 has the cure. get the 5 lug and pick up 6 lug rotors. of course, now after scrolling back,it also appears to be what you're saying heheh.

[protrash64]

Look for an upgrade kit in the aftermarket.......they come with either 5 or 6 lug disc's that all fit on 73-87 spindles. Check out CPP for example.

[quadracer812]

who and where can you get the 6 lug disc for 73-up spindles. part numbers?

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by quadracer812

who and where can you get the 6 lug disc for 73-up spindles. part numbers?

Originally Posted by protrash64

Look for an upgrade kit in the aftermarket.......they come with either 5 or 6 lug disc's that all fit on 73-87 spindles. Check out CPP for example.

Try this....http://www.classicperform.com/6092chevtrk.htm

Just scroll down the page a ways.