'66 C10 Trailing Arm Swap onto '89 R30/C30?

[theastronaut]

Our shop just traded for an '89 R30 crew cab and will be picking it up soon. We're wanting to convert it to C10 suspension, and was wondering if the trailing arm suspension from a '66 C10 would work since we already have the crossmember and trailing arms. I would be relocating the shock mounts and using a full width panhard bar along with air bags, so I'm mostly wondering if the crossmember will fit in the frame.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

Our shop just traded for an '89 R30 crew cab and will be picking it up soon. We're wanting to convert it to C10 suspension, and was wondering if the trailing arm suspension from a '66 C10 would work since we already have the crossmember and trailing arms. I would be relocating the shock mounts and using a full width panhard bar along with air bags, so I'm mostly wondering if the crossmember will fit in the frame.

R/C30's have taller rail sections under the cab vs. a C10. I'm not sure what wheel base you're working with but I would bet the 66 T/A x-member won't work if it has to mount under the cab. It would be easier to just build a new one.

[sweetk30]

yep x2 1ton frames are about 2" taller in the firewall to axle hump up in the rear main frame area .

[DieselSJ]

Why use skimpy 1/2 ton parts on your 1-ton truck?

IMHO, this is a much more appropriate solution - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=669016

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by DieselSJ

Why use skimpy 1/2 ton parts on your 1-ton truck?
IMHO, this is a much more appropriate solution - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=669016

Probably making it a CC 1/2 ton short bed.

[theastronaut]

Yeah, will be lighter duty use, more of a mild Pro-Touring setup to improve handling and stability.

[bluex]

John you're welcome to look at mine at the next club event or if you are up in my neck of the woods one day to see what all is involved. I have the porterbuilt kit, which I know will be different than adapting stock components. A stock 67-72 crossmember wont fit but I'm sure with your skills you could make it work no problem. If you wanted to save time you could always call up CPP and order their crossmember only for about $150 I believe. Last time I looked at porters website they no longer listed the trailing arm option for squares any longer. You could also order one of their "modular" crossmembers and build your own frame brackets which is what they wound up giving me to get mine to work and then I still had to modify it some.

[Big Port Jimmy 6]

John consider using an 88-98 rear end. They are a tick wider than a square rear end and are way easier find good ratios in. Mine is a 3.42. Jay

[bluex]

I used a 71/72 axle on mine, that way I didn't have to worry about welding the mounts on an I got 3.73 gears at the same time...

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by bluex

John you're welcome to look at mine at the next club event or if you are up in my neck of the woods one day to see what all is involved. I have the porterbuilt kit, which I know will be different than adapting stock components. A stock 67-72 crossmember wont fit but I'm sure with your skills you could make it work no problem. If you wanted to save time you could always call up CPP and order their crossmember only for about $150 I believe. Last time I looked at porters website they no longer listed the trailing arm option for squares any longer. You could also order one of their "modular" crossmembers and build your own frame brackets which is what they wound up giving me to get mine to work and then I still had to modify it some.

Thanks for the offer!! I'll probably end up making our own crossmember if we decide to convert it to trailing arms. Still in the planning stages.

Originally Posted by Big Port Jimmy 6

John consider using an 88-98 rear end. They are a tick wider than a square rear end and are way easier find good ratios in. Mine is a 3.42. Jay

We'll be using a F-body T56 so a shorter gear might be more appropriate since 6th gear is .50:1 ratio. Maybe 4:10 or 4.56 depending on the tire size we end up with.