Getting ready for disc swap

[andyr354]

Ok, I have been searching alot, but just wan't to get my stuff straight here.
I am getting ready to put discs on my 70 C10. I have a 1980 parts truck that I am planning on getting the front spindles, rotors, and lower a-arms from.
Is it correct that the lower a-arms from the 80 will work on my 70? I will then need to put ball joints in my 70's upper arms for the 80 spindle.

Next will the axle shafts out of the 12 bolt in the 80 fit the 12 bolt in my 70? Or I have found a 71 leaf sprung GMC at the salvage yard that I can buy the complete rear axle for $150 and use the shafts from it?

I have also read of doing a complete front cross member swap, but both trucks have engines in them so it might not be to easy.
The 80 was also an olds 5.7 diesel (a 403 in it now) so the engine mount holes may be different.

Sorry for the long post, just don't wanna tear into it and find that something is not gonna work.

Andy

[andyr354]

BTT

Anyone?

[tommie]

i didn't do it that way, but i have read that you can. I have heard that the 73-87 upper and lowers a arms will bolt to a 70 crossmember, but I am not sure of this, or have ever done this.

some people swap out the entire front crossmember.

I used my stock 70' upper and lower control arms and just used the newer (73-87) spindles.

seems like there are a lot of ways to do it.

i have seen different discussions on this, when i was tring to research the topic for myself.

if you search you should find this topic over and over.

everybody does it a little different, its up to you which way you want to do it.

as far as the rearend goes, i have been told that the 67-69 were different widths than the 71-72, and that the 70' model rear axle housing could go either way depending on the date of manufacture. i gave the #'s off of my axle housing to the local 67-72 parts guy so he could tell me which housing i had.

you can probally research that topic on here also if you want, i have seen it discussed before also.

later
tommie

[GMCPaul]

"I have a 1980 parts truck that I am planning on getting the front spindles, rotors, and lower a-arms from.
Is it correct that the lower a-arms from the 80 will work on my 70? I will then need to put ball joints in my 70's upper arms for the 80 spindle."

Above all correct

The 80's axles will not work. The 71 axles will work.

The engine mount holes on crossmember will work also if you decide to do whole crossmemeber.

You did not mention the fact you will need 73 up outer tie rods, and to adapt the outer tie rod to the 70 and earlier inner tie rod contact pickupman Bill Athey of Athey's Classic Truck Parts he carries the adapter sleeves to join the 2 together.
GMCPaul

[andyr354]

Couldn't I just use the entire steering linkage from the 80 truck? Guess that is what I had planned on doing. Will have to look it over and see if it looks the same.
I am already running a power steering gear from a 76 chevy and it bolted right in where the manual box was.

I also have headers on the 350 in my 70, is the cross member any different (if I decide to go that route) that the headers would interfere?

[GMCPaul]

Yes, if you use all steering parts from the donor you'll be fine, the headers are the same for 67-87 trucks, no problem on crossmember clearance.
GMCPaul