straight axle - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**kwmech** · 04-09-2010, 11:52 PM

Truck in question. 1969 GMC 1 ton (ex motorhome class b). The front end is getting quite sloppy. thinking about the amount of work involved with spring replacement, x shafts, ball joints, tie rods, center link, disc brake conversion etc. Pondering converting to a straight axle. This would entail basically a Dana 60 front axle without the differential center section. Converting to leaf spring. and going with a spring under to keep the truck at a reasonable height to keep the flat bed workable. Building, fabrication and converting is not a problem as I have the skills to complete. Any suggestions or thoughts?

tecky11 · 04-10-2010, 01:00 AM

I havw a few questions for you, 1. is this an 8 on 6.5 bolt pattern? 2. find a Ford F450 or smilar style Chevy, Dodge truck with a kingPin style axle, ALL will have leaf springs. this will make the ride ruff, but eadier to maintain

63chevyll · 04-10-2010, 01:04 AM

yeah,
sounds like a lot of work.

How ever do you find the time to perform that conversion

**kwmech** · 04-10-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63chevyll

yeah,
sounds like a lot of work.

How ever do you find the time to perform that conversion

Not much different that converting to 4wd, just eliminating the diff and the t-case. I'm also looking at the time and expense of tearing the complete front end down and rebuilding it. That also is a full days work and then some with the disc conversion

**kwmech** · 04-10-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecky11

I havw a few questions for you, 1. is this an 8 on 6.5 bolt pattern? 2. find a Ford F450 or smilar style Chevy, Dodge truck with a kingPin style axle, ALL will have leaf springs. this will make the ride ruff, but eadier to maintain

Yeah, standard 8 lug. I'm currently looking into the super duty stuff and getting some measurements

BLAZERMAN · 04-10-2010, 12:55 PM

I have a magazine article here where a guy did that conversion only he used Dana 44 knuckles. He was gaining clearance for a Detroit 4-53. The trucks stance wasnt bad...I would think going spring under might set you to low.

addicted2dunes · 04-10-2010, 01:06 PM

Why not just run a straight axle tube? Like the 2wd Ford F450-550's. It's the same as a front differential minus the actual differential part. Just has a tube going from left to right. Still solid axle but doesn't have all the diff guts.

CE20934 · 04-10-2010, 01:24 PM

The mid-'90s C3500HD chassis has a kingpin straight axle too.

**kwmech** · 04-10-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by addicted2dunes

Why not just run a straight axle tube? Like the 2wd Ford F450-550's. It's the same as a front differential minus the actual differential part. Just has a tube going from left to right. Still solid axle but doesn't have all the diff guts.

That's exactly what I was thinking of building with Dana 60 stuff. I will gain a much larger wheel bearing and still retain the same disc brakes and calipers as factory uses on the '71 +

**kwmech** · 04-10-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CE20934

The mid-'90s C3500HD chassis has a kingpin straight axle too.

Gonna have to check that out for fit and WMS

Dark Knight · 04-10-2010, 10:23 PM

Why not just use an I-beam axle? There's probably a company that sells them already modified with disc brakes for the older Chevy's.

04-09-2010, 11:52 PM	#1
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,502	straight axle Truck in question. 1969 GMC 1 ton (ex motorhome class b). The front end is getting quite sloppy. thinking about the amount of work involved with spring replacement, x shafts, ball joints, tie rods, center link, disc brake conversion etc. Pondering converting to a straight axle. This would entail basically a Dana 60 front axle without the differential center section. Converting to leaf spring. and going with a spring under to keep the truck at a reasonable height to keep the flat bed workable. Building, fabrication and converting is not a problem as I have the skills to complete. Any suggestions or thoughts?

04-10-2010, 01:00 AM	#2
tecky11 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix,AZ Posts: 451	Re: straight axle I havw a few questions for you, 1. is this an 8 on 6.5 bolt pattern? 2. find a Ford F450 or smilar style Chevy, Dodge truck with a kingPin style axle, ALL will have leaf springs. this will make the ride ruff, but eadier to maintain

04-10-2010, 01:04 AM	#3
63chevyll gets board easy....... Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 717	Re: straight axle yeah, sounds like a lot of work. How ever do you find the time to perform that conversion

04-10-2010, 12:55 PM	#6
BLAZERMAN Currently Blazerless Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: St. Joseph Mo. Posts: 4,826	Re: straight axle I have a magazine article here where a guy did that conversion only he used Dana 44 knuckles. He was gaining clearance for a Detroit 4-53. The trucks stance wasnt bad...I would think going spring under might set you to low. __________________ 1972 C/30 133" W.B. C&C 1970 GMC 3500 157" W.B. single wheel C&C

04-10-2010, 01:06 PM	#7
addicted2dunes Insane In The Membrane Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orcutt, CA Posts: 446	Re: straight axle Why not just run a straight axle tube? Like the 2wd Ford F450-550's. It's the same as a front differential minus the actual differential part. Just has a tube going from left to right. Still solid axle but doesn't have all the diff guts. __________________ Cameron Gunlock Project: ALTER-K-TION ('57 GMC Quad Cab) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=393750

04-10-2010, 01:24 PM	#8
CE20934 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Help! I'm in an office park with its own network of freeways! Posts: 470	Re: straight axle The mid-'90s C3500HD chassis has a kingpin straight axle too. __________________ '67 C20--427 tall deck/SM420, 4.10 HO52 (Michigan has not been kind to the Old Man) '95 Caprice--355 LT1/T56/3.42 8.5" 10-bolt (daily driver, almost 300k on the chassis) '07 Outback--wife's car. 125k & counting. No head gasket or transmission issues yet. fingers crossed

04-10-2010, 10:23 PM	#11
Dark Knight Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleak, Texas Posts: 420	Re: straight axle Why not just use an I-beam axle? There's probably a company that sells them already modified with disc brakes for the older Chevy's. __________________ -1967 Chevrolet Fleetside LWB- 350 V8 w/thumpr cam, NV3500, 3.08 gears, A/C, PS -1983 Chevy Silverado C1500- 383 stroker, TH400 -1989 Chevy Silverado K1500 SWB- 5.3L swap, 700R4, 3.42 gears -And a '66 Ford Mustang- 200 I6, C4 trans, rust bucket "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." -FDR (and maybe rust too) You've gotta be able to stop and steer before you can go fast!



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.