Upgrading brakes and suspension on my 1964 GMC

[Rob Fisher]

I would like to start by thanking all of you that welcomed me into the forum.
I have been doing some research and everyone seems to have a different idea on how to modify the suspension on my 1964 GMC. I have read that you can also bolt in the complete front crossmember from newer trucks which would give me power disc brakes up front. Can anybody confirm and let me know what year would be best to use.
Thanks
Rob Fisher

[Captainfab]

What you want is from a '71-'87 C10 Pickup, Suburban or 2wd Blazer. Use what ever you can find locally that fits in that year range. You don't have to use any aftermarket parts unless you want to.

There are several threads here on doing this swap. Here's one that has good info....

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...c+brake+thread

[Rob Fisher]

Thank you very much for the quick reply.
Like I said there seems to be a ton of information out there and it is tough to find the right stuff. You seem to know your way around this forum pretty well.
Is there any information on doing a rear end swap with disc brakes? I f you can send me in the right direction that would be great.
One other question for you, 5 or 6 lug, which is preferred, there seems to be great debate about it.
Thanks again for your help.
Rob Fisher

[jgarverick]

i'd say it mostly depends on what wheel you want to run and how much you want to spend/work. going to 5 lug in the front is pretty easy. but going to 5 in the rear is a bit more involved as the axles must be swapped along with the drums, or the entire rearend must be replaced with a later model. of you want some 5 spoke wheels lite cragars or torque thrusts then you almost have to have 5.

[62gmc910]

Rob is that a canadian GMC (coil rear) or US leaf rear ???

[Rob Fisher]

It is a US GMC with leaf springs in the rear, The one my father had was a Canadian GMC with coils in the back, the same as the US Chevy's.
Merry Christamas.
Rob

[Captainfab]

Since your GMC has the leafs in the rear, is it safe to assume you have the Dana 44 rear differential? If so I believe you will need to swap the entire differential to have rear disc brakes. If you were to switch to a truck 12 bolt differential, I sell the brackets to install disc brakes on that rear with a 5 lug bolt pattern. I may offer a 6 lug rear disc in the future. As an option on rear brakes, you can upgrade to the backing plates, drums and all internals from a '75(?) to '79-'80 K10. They are drums but are 1/2" wider that the '74 and earlier drum brakes

I agree that the 5 or 6 lug debate boils down to what wheels you want to run and their available bolt pattern.

Originally Posted by Rob Fisher

Thank you very much for the quick reply.
Like I said there seems to be a ton of information out there and it is tough to find the right stuff. You seem to know your way around this forum pretty well.
Is there any information on doing a rear end swap with disc brakes? I f you can send me in the right direction that would be great.
One other question for you, 5 or 6 lug, which is preferred, there seems to be great debate about it.
Thanks again for your help.
Rob Fisher

[Rob Fisher]

Thanks for all the good information that you are sending me.
I would like to order one of your power steering conversion brackets.
I have never used PayPal before so maybe you can walk me through it.
I live in Canada but I have a US address in Blaine,Washington that I will have you send the parts to.

Could you also answer a couple of other questions for me.
What year of power steering box do I use and which pitman arm?
Is there a quicker ratio power steering box available that you know of?
Also if I want to swap out my current 10 bolt Dana 44 6 lug rearend for a 12 bolt 5 lug rear end what year would I get it from.
If I do this I should probably order the brackets that you offer to convert the drums to disc brakes. Can you tell me what brakes I would use to do this.
Thanks again for all your help.
Rob Fisher

Rob, I edited out your personal information. You can contact Captainfab thru a PM with your address/phone number, etc. Just click on his name in gold, then you'll see the option "send a private message to captainfab"
Oh, and welcome to the forum !!

[Captainfab]

Hello Rob

If you send me a PM I will help you get a payment method figured out.

For a steering box and pitman arm you will need one from a '69-'87 C10 or C20 pickup, Suburban or 2wd Blazer. It is easiest if you get the steering pump from the same year truck if possible. The '69 to around '81 used SAE fittings and then up to '87 they were metric with an O ring. It is just easier to get hoses if both are the same style. I'm not aware of a quicker ratio in a truck steering box.

You will want to find a 12 bolt from a '71-'82 C10. You could also use the 10 bolt from '83-'87. Both will be 1 1/2 inches wider though. This typically isn't an issue for most guys.....3/4" per side. When swapping the rear ends, you will likely have to move the spring perches to match your springs as well as the shock mounts. Regarding the rear disc brakes, do you need to have an e-brake to pass inspection?

Originally Posted by Rob Fisher

Thanks for all the good information that you are sending me.
I would like to order one of your power steering conversion brackets.
I have never used PayPal before so maybe you can walk me through it.
I live in Canada but I have a US address in Blaine,Washington that I will have you send the parts to.

Could you also answer a couple of other questions for me.
What year of power steering box do I use and which pitman arm?
Is there a quicker ratio power steering box available that you know of?
Also if I want to swap out my current 10 bolt Dana 44 6 lug rearend for a 12 bolt 5 lug rear end what year would I get it from.
If I do this I should probably order the brackets that you offer to convert the drums to disc brakes. Can you tell me what brakes I would use to do this.
Thanks again for all your help.
Rob Fisher

Rob, I edited out your personal information. You can contact Captainfab thru a PM with your address/phone number, etc. Just click on his name in gold, then you'll see the option "send a private message to captainfab"
Oh, and welcome to the forum !!

[Rob Fisher]

I was hoping that there would be a rear end that would bolt right in.
Yes where I live it is very hilly and a emergency brake or park brake is essential.
Also have you had any experience swapping transmissions, I am taking out the 3 speed and putting in a 700R4. Can you reccommend a good crossmember kit.
Thanks
Rob

[Captainfab]

I can't speak for any aftermarket trans crossmembers since I always use a factory one. I have an original auto trans crossmember for the '63-'66 pickups if you're interested. It should work with the 700R4 plus it has the brackets for the e-brake cables.

If you want to convert to rear disc brakes and need an e-brake, then the Camaro caliper is the way to go. Here is the thread that shows that assembly
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=382633

I'll verify the spring perch difference, but I don't think there is a direct bolt in differential for your truck

[Rob Fisher]

In your thread about the rear disc brake conversion you say that your brackets will work with the truck 10 and 12 bolt differentials. I have a 10 bolt Dana 44 rearend in my truck. Will your brackets work with it?
You also said that you have a stock cross member, it might not make sense to have it shipped to Canada. I could always find one at a wreckers up here, does it have to be from the same year or are there other years that would work as well.
Thank you for your help.

[Captainfab]

I can't say for sure if the rear disc brackets will bolt up to a Dana 44. It is not likely. If they did you would need to have your axles re-drilled to the 5 x 5" pattern. I did some measuring today and you may be able to install a '73-'87 rear end in your truck without moving the spring mounts. There appeaer to be only 3/8-1/2" difference between the two.

For a trans crossmember, one from a '63-'72 will be a sure fit and the proper drop. The ones from the '73-'87 years will fit the frame, but some do not have the proper amount of drop to give you the correct angle on the engine and trans. The center of the crossmember should be aprox 1" below the bottom of the frame. On your truck the original e-brake cables connect to a linkage assembly on a crossmember. If you use an auto trans crossmember that doesn't have those provisions, you will need to rework your e-brake cable system to the later style that doesn't use that linkage assembly.

Originally Posted by Rob Fisher

In your thread about the rear disc brake conversion you say that your brackets will work with the truck 10 and 12 bolt differentials. I have a 10 bolt Dana 44 rearend in my truck. Will your brackets work with it?
You also said that you have a stock cross member, it might not make sense to have it shipped to Canada. I could always find one at a wreckers up here, does it have to be from the same year or are there other years that would work as well.
Thank you for your help.