Got a suspension question

[fryer1979]

So I've tried searching a bit, and maybe I'm just not getting the right keywords in but I can't seem to find an answer to my questions. I'm soon to be taking on a 1966 LWB 2WD C-10 project that I would like to make into a daily driver. I plan on finding a '73 to '85 2WD to use for a chassis parts donor (to get power steering, disc brakes, and five lug hubs to mount the wheel set I already have). My question boils down to: which rear suspension is better for a driver? Should I hack the '66 mounts off it's rear-end and put them on the latter unit, or should I put the entire rear suspension from the later truck on to the '66 frame? As stated above the intent of this truck is to be a daily driver so a good ride is preferred. It will also serve duty as a pickup, hauling random this and thats with the possibility of some towing as well (although nothing heavier than a classic musclecar on a trailer, nothing a 1/2 ton truck shouldn't be capable of). Again, I tried searching quite a bit so I appologise if this question has already been covered. Thanks.

[Captainfab]

The coil spring with trailing arm suspension that is currently under your '66 is hard to beat. It not only provides a smooth ride, but works very well under hard excelleration. In case you didn't know the trailing arm suspension is used in NASCAR. Some guys don't like the trailing arm suspension and prefer the leafs. However more and more guys are realizing the advantage of the trailing arms. In fact there are a couple of companies that are making trailing arm conversion kits for the '73-'87's now. Myself, I would keep the trailing arms and coils and just weld mounts for the trailing arms and panhard bar to a 5 lug differential.

[lolife99]

No need to hack off the old mounts. Keeping the trailing arm rearend can be done two ways. Companies like ECE (Early Classic Enterprises) sell new rearend perches to adapt your leaf spring rearend to the trailing arms.
Or you can purchase 5-lug axles from many aftermarket compaines. (ECE, Moser Engineering, Summit Racing, etc).

[fryer1979]

Thanks for the info guys, so the rear suspension on that '66 is comparable to that in the 3rd and 4th gen F-bodies. Should work good then. If buying replacement axles, what kind of rear end should I find under this truck, and how does it stack up to the 10 and 12 bolt corporates found in later trucks? Or are they the same?

[Captainfab]

The truck 12 bolt was introduced in 1963 and was used thru around 1981-82. Then the truck 8.5 10 bolt was used up thru the late 90's possibly even later.....I'm not up much on the newer trucks. So the differential you have under your '66 is a truck 12 bolt. You can buy aftermarket axles to convert it to a 5x 5" wheel bolt pattern.

Originally Posted by fryer1979

Thanks for the info guys, so the rear suspension on that '66 is comparable to that in the 3rd and 4th gen F-bodies. Should work good then. If buying replacement axles, what kind of rear end should I find under this truck, and how does it stack up to the 10 and 12 bolt corporates found in later trucks? Or are they the same?

[fryer1979]

Awesome, thanks a lot.