Dually conversion questions

[rwade]

I've got a 71 3/4 ton frame with 88 dually front and rear suspension. I'm putting a 48 FORD (grandpa's old rice truck on it) & it will need a narrower track to get the 22" semi wheels inside the fenders. Can I use a 3/4 ton rotor on the one ton spindle? If I need a 3/4 ton spindle will I need to change ball joints to 3/4 ton as well? Also, does anyone know if the dually rear end is same width or different from the 3/4 ton single wheel (it'd be great if it or another rear end was about 3-4" narrower for my particular build

Thanks for any imput or info you may share with me

Wade

[andrewmp6]

Pbfab can make a set of a arms that are shorter for it,The rear axle the single rear wheel and pickup dually are both 67 inches,But if you use a cab and chassis axle those are 63 inches wide.

[rwade]

Yes, the Porterbuilt may be a necessity but on this one I was hoping to do it with stock parts. Thanks for the rear end info as well

Wade

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by rwade

Yes, the Porterbuilt may be a necessity but on this one I was hoping to do it with stock parts. Thanks for the rear end info as well

Wade

I think Porterbuilt will make you some 2" longer a-arms.
Then you would use the 3/4-ton or 1-ton (single wheel)
rotors.
I'm sure thats what Michigan Metal Works uses also, with their flat plate a-arms.

Since your swapping bodies,... you might want to measure how long the lower a-arms would need to be.
It may be less than 2" or the stock a-arms might be fine also.
But I would start with single wheel rotors, and not the dually rotors.

[rwade]

Thanks Keith, I was told by switch suspension that the 3/4 and one tone shared the same drop spindle. I know you have a wife knowledge of GM trucks, is that what you understand to be true as well? Are the brake calipers the same too?

Thanks again, Wade

[lolife99]

I was thinking the single wheel 1-ton rotors had a different style caliper mount.

I'm pretty sure the balljoints and tie rods are the same between 3/4 ton and 1 ton.
I'm sure the dropped spindles for 73-87 (and the square body 88-91) are available.
Just might require a search to see if there is two different part numbers between 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks.

[lolife99]

http://www.jegs.com/i/Belltech/146/3500/10002/-1

[rwade]

Thanks Keith. I'm going to mock the truck all the way up with body on the chassis as is and see how much I need to pull the wheels in before I buy anything. Thanks again

Wade

[andrewmp6]

He does make a good point get the body on the frame before you start changing things out so you know for sure what needs to move.