Cube van too 1/2 suspension interchangeablity - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Chris Guthro · 03-01-2011, 09:36 PM

Hello Guys

I have access to a 80s GM cube van, its a 2wd 1 ton dually, is there anyone who have tried to convert the 1 ton suspension to a 1/2 ton 2wd truck frame? it seems to be an easy way to convert your trucks to a dually

dropd80s · 03-01-2011, 10:01 PM

I haven't done this to a P30 but several times on pickups. Everything should swap over fine on the front but you might double check the rear axle width. I think they measure around 70" and a half ton rear will be narrower than that plus the width you lose running only one rear wheel instead of two. This may not be specifically correct but I would check the rear axle width before you dive in to make sure you can find something to work.

Chlsnk · 03-01-2011, 10:58 PM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/...ca7e0a6804.jpg Is this what your talking about?

dropd80s · 03-01-2011, 11:52 PM

^^ Good call. I assumed it was a P30 style. But, did they make that style in a one ton?

Chris Guthro · 03-02-2011, 07:11 AM

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h...50&tx=20&ty=31

Im talkin about the style in the link i just posted, can you swap the front suspension over? or even just the hubs? and for the rear axle using fiberglass duallly fenders and just swapin rear ends over to the 1/2 ton springs

joe231 · 03-02-2011, 09:00 AM

you can swap the front over by changing the lower arm and spindle/rotor/caliper/ect.
I'm not sure about the rear, and unclear as to what you are wanting to do. Remove the box and install some sort of bed? if you are getting rid of the dual rear wheel axle, why would you need dually fenders?

Chris Guthro · 03-02-2011, 03:10 PM

No heres the situation desrbibed the best way i can do it..I can get a Chevy G30 box truck for nothing, its a 2wd 1 ton dually..I have a 84 GMC halfton 2wd pickup. Can I swap the front suspension from the van onto the half ton pickup and bolt on the dually rear axle? that way all id have to do is mold on the dually fenders to my box?

joe231 · 03-02-2011, 03:42 PM

Ok
Now I understand.
The fronts you just need what I said before, lower arms (although you may want to swap uppers also) and spindle/rotor/caliper. You might also need the steering components, drag link, tie rods, and idler. I'm not sure if the tapers are different.

On the rear, you need to measure the width of the frame at the front and rear spring hangers and compare those measurments to your 1/2 ton frame. If they are the same you will need the hangers from the box van. The dually hangers are typically shallower to move the leaf springs closer to the frame.
Posted via Mobile Device

dropd80s · 03-02-2011, 09:15 PM

Im not sure that the van hangers will fit the truck. But you should measure the distance between the spring perches on both axles. On pickups the perches are norrower on one tons than 1/2 and 3/4 tons. The van could be one or the other or niether. Also check the width of the axle over all. From wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface it should be 72". If its less, the wheels will sit that much further in the wheel wells. So if its 70" the will be sucked in 1" on each side. They could also rub the inside of the inner fenders if too narrow. Don't forget you'll need to find a combination U joint!

03-01-2011, 09:36 PM	#1
Chris Guthro Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Antigonish Nova Scotia Posts: 213	Cube van too 1/2 suspension interchangeablity Hello Guys I have access to a 80s GM cube van, its a 2wd 1 ton dually, is there anyone who have tried to convert the 1 ton suspension to a 1/2 ton 2wd truck frame? it seems to be an easy way to convert your trucks to a dually

03-01-2011, 10:01 PM	#2
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	Re: Cube van too 1/2 suspension interchangeablity I haven't done this to a P30 but several times on pickups. Everything should swap over fine on the front but you might double check the rear axle width. I think they measure around 70" and a half ton rear will be narrower than that plus the width you lose running only one rear wheel instead of two. This may not be specifically correct but I would check the rear axle width before you dive in to make sure you can find something to work.

03-01-2011, 10:58 PM	#3
Chlsnk Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas city Posts: 756	Re: Cube van too 1/2 suspension interchangeablity http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/...ca7e0a6804.jpg Is this what your talking about? __________________ *My 84 short bed build up*** http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68#post3481968

03-01-2011, 11:52 PM	#4
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	Re: Cube van too 1/2 suspension interchangeablity ^^ Good call. I assumed it was a P30 style. But, did they make that style in a one ton?

03-02-2011, 07:11 AM	#5
Chris Guthro Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Antigonish Nova Scotia Posts: 213	Re: Cube van too 1/2 suspension interchangeablity http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h...50&tx=20&ty=31 Im talkin about the style in the link i just posted, can you swap the front suspension over? or even just the hubs? and for the rear axle using fiberglass duallly fenders and just swapin rear ends over to the 1/2 ton springs

03-02-2011, 09:00 AM	#6
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: Cube van too 1/2 suspension interchangeablity you can swap the front over by changing the lower arm and spindle/rotor/caliper/ect. I'm not sure about the rear, and unclear as to what you are wanting to do. Remove the box and install some sort of bed? if you are getting rid of the dual rear wheel axle, why would you need dually fenders? __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

03-02-2011, 03:10 PM	#7
Chris Guthro Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Antigonish Nova Scotia Posts: 213	Re: Cube van too 1/2 suspension interchangeablity No heres the situation desrbibed the best way i can do it..I can get a Chevy G30 box truck for nothing, its a 2wd 1 ton dually..I have a 84 GMC halfton 2wd pickup. Can I swap the front suspension from the van onto the half ton pickup and bolt on the dually rear axle? that way all id have to do is mold on the dually fenders to my box?

03-02-2011, 03:42 PM	#8
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: Cube van too 1/2 suspension interchangeablity Ok Now I understand. The fronts you just need what I said before, lower arms (although you may want to swap uppers also) and spindle/rotor/caliper. You might also need the steering components, drag link, tie rods, and idler. I'm not sure if the tapers are different. On the rear, you need to measure the width of the frame at the front and rear spring hangers and compare those measurments to your 1/2 ton frame. If they are the same you will need the hangers from the box van. The dually hangers are typically shallower to move the leaf springs closer to the frame. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

03-02-2011, 09:15 PM	#9
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	Re: Cube van too 1/2 suspension interchangeablity Im not sure that the van hangers will fit the truck. But you should measure the distance between the spring perches on both axles. On pickups the perches are norrower on one tons than 1/2 and 3/4 tons. The van could be one or the other or niether. Also check the width of the axle over all. From wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface it should be 72". If its less, the wheels will sit that much further in the wheel wells. So if its 70" the will be sucked in 1" on each side. They could also rub the inside of the inner fenders if too narrow. Don't forget you'll need to find a combination U joint!



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