c10-20-30 front crossmember

[deuce5gmc]

I'm building a semi custom front suspension for my 2.5 ton truck. I'm pulling all of the 2.5 ton running gear and suspension and replacing it with 1 ton. Im also going to bag the truck. My first step is to get the straight front axle out and get a custom 73-87 IFS in. It has to be custom becase the frame rails on my 2.5 are 34" and the IFS comes out of a truck with frame rail at 28".

Im going to get a stock 73-87 front crossmember and stretch it. I am going back with all 1 ton components. But I want to know if the front crossmember is the same on all c1-20 and 30 series trucks. I know suspension and streeting gets different but what about the crossmember it self?

My plan is to take two crossmembers and make one stretched. So I need at least two crossmembers and if i can use a crossmember from any 73-87 truck it makes them easier to find. I would also like to have extras incase I screw up.

Next question do you guys think I should cut and weld the strecthed crossmember anyway special (like a Z??) or would it be fine to just cut straight line.

Thanks