72 C10 rear suspension help

[Anthony14]

Hi guys, looking for some help. I have a 72 C10 that I've been working on and coming time that I need to go over the rear suspension. I've taking some pictures and need your thoughts/advice. It would appear the PO has done some changes. Looks like I have a 8.5"10 Bolt in the rear (let me know if I'm wrong) and hes made all his own mounting to accommodate it.

I would like to know your thoughts on this. My own first thought is to cut it all out and go with No limit or CPP for new trailing arms and mount the axle to that and restore all the original mounts for shocks and springs. I can see where he made his shock mounts have cracked as well. I'm not quite sure I trust all the work they have done and don't want to loose my rear end driving down the road.

Anyways, can you guys take a look and let me know what you think; fix it and keep it, cut it all out and keep the axle or dump everything.

This truck is just suppose to be a fun cruiser and weekend warier.

[Overdriven]

If it was me I'd get rid of it. Just going by the booger welds on the coil mount in the 2nd to last pic and that you have cracks elsewhere I wouldn't trust the po's work. I also doubt this suspension (GM A or G body?) works that well in a truck and it definitely can't handle weight in the bed as well.

What to do exactly depends on your finances and how much your willing to put into the truck. The trailing arm crossmember is still in the truck at least. If it was me I'd locate a truck 12bolt meant for trailing arms so everything will bolt together and sell off the 10bolt with the links, just find out what it is first. Otherwise you gotta find trailing arm mounts for the axle, cut off the old brackets on the 10bolt, weld the new trailing arm brackets on, etc. And the truck 12bolt shouldn't be hard to find or that expensive considering the time and headaches saved. Then you just gotta decide whether to go with a full suspension kit or more basic with some shock relocation brackets and longer track bar and brackets. Add up the price of trailing arms, bushings, springs, spring retainers, shocks, shock brackets and track bar kit and see how it compares to something like the No Limit kit that includes all that stuff.

[andrewmp6]

Yeah looks A body maybe even G body to me also,But like said i would cut it all out and start over,The rear axle could be saved depending how much power you want to make with it.

[Anthony14]

Ok thanks guys.

[drfloyd]

Too bad you are where you are. I just took out a 12 bolt TA rear end and plan to get rid of it. I trip over it everytime I round the corner.

[drfloyd]

no offense, but that's a boogered up mess.

[Anthony14]

haha no offense taken. Hmmmm, road trip.....

[68racer]

That looks like a long bed chassis with the axle too far forward.
Do you have a short bed?
The axle should be behind that crossmember.

[Anthony14]

The bed is a short fiberglass bed from a later style truck. Yea, the axle is most def a few inches fwd of where it would normally be.

[68racer]

I'd look to find a short bed frame, easier in the long run.

[Anthony14]

Idk if I'd go that far, it's a different era bed, and with the amount of work coming my way, to move the bed mounts to a proper location should be a piece of cake lol As long at theirs not a terrible big gap I don't have a problem with it.

[Anthony14]

A gentlemen on craiglist is offering a rear end which he says is for 71/72 C10 with trailing arms, but from the picture I can't seem to confirm. What do you guys think?? Says its also a 5 lug non-posi. Considering using it in my ride...

[lolife99]

That looks like a 10-bolt leaf spring rearend from a f-body Camaro or Nova.

[Anthony14]

Thanks, I knew it seemed a little off. Oh well, will continue my search....

[68racer]

If I understand the pics, if you bolt a trailing arm suspension to the standard mounts it will put the axle back where it was before it was moved. To get the axle where it is now you either have to shorten the chassis or move the crossmember forward in the chassis.

[BR3W CITY]

Did they cut the stock trailing arms off, but just leave chunks hanging in the old shackle? wtf

[drfloyd]

Anthony, where is that rear end you were looking at? I have no idea what's involved in shipping one to you but keep in mind I have mine if it's something that interests you.

[Anthony14]

Yea, from what it would appear is I just install new trailing arms it would move the axle back into the proper location. I would prefer this and just make new bed mounts (his are $hit anyways) to accommodate this.

Yes they did, looks like they just blow torched them off, some people...

It was located in the states, can't remember exactly where though, a long drive though non the less. I would think shipping would be crazy just cause of the weight and size. I will however keep you in mind. I'm going to make contact with a place up here and see if I have any luck.

Sometimes I wish people wouldn't touch things

[andrewmp6]

Did you look at the truck before buying it ?

[Anthony14]

Yea I did; however, not close enough it would appear. I was a lot younger and less experienced and didn't focus too much in the way of suspension, didn't think someone would do what has been done here.