Leaf spring rear swap into 66 Trailing Arm Advice

[chevykevy]

Picked up a 1978 C10 rear 3:08 to replace my 3:73, I would like to do more longer distance highway driving .
Has anyone who has done the conversion have advice aligning the axle mounts, trailing arm etc?
I was thinking of buying an aftermarket track bar to connect to trailing arm to eliminate the need to weld mount on rear? Just weld new perches.
Suggestions, pictures, previous posts .
Thanks

[lolife99]

I would set both rear axles upside down on saw horses or something.
Level the old spring perched on the 66 axle and check the angle at your pinion yoke.
Then take your new axle and set it at the same pinion angle.
Then all you need is a level to weld on your new perches.

Several companies sell new weld on trailing arm perches.
You will just need to get the spacing correct.

Long panhard bar that connects to the passenger side trailing arm is definitely the way to go.
Good luck.

[chevykevy]

Thanks lolife 99
Patience and I should be ok👍
Thanks again

[65truckowner]

Are they both 12 bolts rearends? If so can you just change the chunk from on to the other?

[bigmoe]

I did mine just like Lolife said. And an aftermarket track bar is the way to go. I was worried about the squarebody rear being 3/4" wider each side but it worked out perfectly with my rear wheels. (17 x 8 with 4.5" backspace.)
It's tricky to measure the spacing for placing the perches because you can't run your tape measure straight across. I made a template using a 2 x 4 with two short pieces down to the perch on the original rear to help transfer the measurement to the new rear end.

[chevykevy]

Thanks 65truckowner and bigmoe