Help - identifying suspension mess (pics)

[landarts]

I have a chance to buy a 67 shortbed 4x4 . What my plans are is I have a very clean 67 C-20 lwb that has no rust and a great running 327 motor , 4spd granny gear transmission. The truck is all original and in great shape by all standards. I want to purchase this 4x4 and move over the cab and motor to get to a complete 4x4. There has been something done to the front where the spring hangers go. It looks as though they might have had a wreck or something going on up front and to get it back to running order they tried to patch the frame and box-in the hangers. Everything you see in the pictures comes with the truck.

pictures part 1

[landarts]

pictures part 2

[Davetopay]

Was it a ranch truck? Could be remnants of a snowplow mount or a push bar/bumper.

[brew8]

I vote for the plow as well. likely home made mount, cheers, Larry

[vectorit]

Looks like the PO removed the front spring perches, then put that angle iron in place of them. Can't really tell why, since there looks like no other mounts around for a plow or hitch?

Looking at the picture with the steering box, it looks like the front half of the frame has been grafted on and the bolts look mangled?

I took a couple pictures of my 68 K20 set up for your info.

[landarts]

Vectorit - Thanks for the measurments , that will help on figuring things. I got a closer look and nothing has been grafted on. The driver side front of the frame looked like they might have hit something and tried repairing it by re-welding. Then placing the heavy angle under and boxing it in. I will get a few more picts and some closer details when I get the truck home this week-end.

I also looked up the vin and how many were made and it said something like only 1229 were made in a short stepside 4x4 for the 1967. Could that be right?

Jim

[1972CST]

Maybe someone installed longer front springs and needed the front perch moved forward? I dont know what the length should be.. my 72 is 44" eye to eye.

[vectorit]

Originally Posted by 1972CST

Maybe someone installed longer front springs and needed the front perch moved forward? I dont know what the length should be.. my 72 is 44" eye to eye.

Very good point. But after I stare at his photo's and mine, it actually looks like the PO moved the spring perch back instead of forward?

[Captainfab]

I would say that at some time the front springs needed replaced. The angle iron addition was likely done to utilize whatever springs were available to the PO. I would plan on removing that conglomeration of angle iron and repairing that correctly.

[OLDCHEV4X4]

It kinda looks like the frame cracked where the steering box mounts. Common problem. They hacked it back together. I would remove all that and start over.

[landarts]

Finally getting ready to make some work start happening on this 1967 1/2 ton stepside. What would be a better choice, move the body over to a 86 1/2 ton 4x4 frame or move over the parts from the 86 to give me a better set of axles, braking etc?

[landarts]

I also have an extremely clean 67 3/4 ton c20 that is a 2wd with a great running 327 motor, 4 spd, no rust excellent body. My other thought was to move the items from the 4x4 over to this truck. Like the transfer case , front axle, rear axle.