how to do a front disc swap?

[hpcgmc]

I've found a front end off a 77 Chevy pickup for a good price (I want the disc brakes and power steering). I've got to remove it from the chevy and bring it home. It's still mounted on the truck, and the truck is more or less stripped - no front fenders, grill or hood, but it does still have the SBC 350 mounted. What will it take to remove the front end (front crossmember - disc to disc). Do I need to remove or raise the engine?

I might also get the rear axle. It is a 5 lug leaf spring rear axle. What will it take to remove this axle? Looks pretty simple - remove the big U bolts and the leafs where they connect to the axle. Is it this simple?

This is my first restoration, so I'm trying to learn all I can before getting in the middle of a project and getting stuck. The parts truck is sitting in a field a half hour away, so I don't have the luxury of pulling the parts in my garage.

Thanks for any input.

[nightmare]

for the front end parts, no need to remove the cross-member. all you really need to remove is the upper and lower control arms, and the linkage. make sure to get all the bolts and everything else that would bolt to it, minus the cross-member.

for the rear end, do you have a coil spring or leaf spring truck? if you have a coil spring truck, it would probably be more costly to go through and convert a leaf spring to coil spring. if it's leaf spring, just need to remove the U bolts and brake lines. if you are converting from coils to leafs, make sure to get the leafs, as well as the mounting brackets that are riveted to the frame too.

[Woodnears]

I just swapped the whole cross member. Took a couple hours to do. The power steering box bolted right up except i had to notch the bumper bracket.
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[brad_man_72]

I'm positive someone makes weld on brackets to put a leaf axle under a coil truck (have them on my truck). And an adjustable panhard bar.

Ps those parking brake cables can be a pita.
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[hpcgmc]

I have leafs on my truck now, so I'm hoping that will make for an easy swap. I might look into coils in the future, if the leaf ride is pretty rough.

Woodnears - did the engine need to be lifted or removed to swap the cross member? I'm pretty sure I'm going to take the whole cross member when I pull it off the parts truck.

Is the crossmember wider than the stock 67-72 crossmember, meaning you will need a different offset on the wheels?

Thanks for the replies!

[Woodnears]

You might want to at least our a hoist on it temporarily to support it if possible. The mounts will hold it but its probably not the best solution. I had the motor out a lt1 swap the whole process took a couple hours.
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[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by hpcgmc

I have leafs on my truck now, so I'm hoping that will make for an easy swap. I might look into coils in the future, if the leaf ride is pretty rough.

Woodnears - did the engine need to be lifted or removed to swap the cross member? I'm pretty sure I'm going to take the whole cross member when I pull it off the parts truck.

Is the crossmember wider than the stock 67-72 crossmember, meaning you will need a different offset on the wheels?

Thanks for the replies!

My memory says you need to have frame( and engine )supported to remove the x-member. Then let them ease down to ground once x-mem is removed. Just looking at it: what is holding all that up now? The wheels(or rotors) ALONG WITH x-member? I think so. What is to hold the remainder up once x-member is gone? The frame & oil pan of engine down on the ground? I think so. BE CAREFUL!
sam

[hpcgmc]

After alot of thinking and research, I decided to hold off on the front end swap. It seems that after pulling the crossmember, tearing it apart, having it painted, replacing the tie rods, ball joints, seals, etc etc, it might be only a little more to purchase new aftermarket parts, plus I get to keep the 6 lug spindles. Also, the swap will only upgrade my suspension from 1967 front end to 1973 front end - I assume this isn't that significant.

I haven't ruled it out completely, still doing alot more research on disc brake conversion and power steering upgrades and what these will cost.