Dually rearend swap?

[Chlsnk]

Is it possible to drop a dually rear end under a 1/2 ton 2WD ? Besides cutting the bed for clearence what other mods have to be done? Will the stock driveshaft still work? Will the spring perches have to be moved to the correct location to work with existing leaft springs? Is it the same U joint for a dually and a regualar 10 or 12 bolt rear end?

[thirdstreettito]

It will install in place of the 12 or 10 bolt you have now, then you'll need a custom driveshaft and you would have to use the dually driveshaft/u-joints most likely.

[pig rig]

Cant remember off the top of my head but I'm thinking the u joints are the same go to your partts house and ask to look up the number for a half ton and a 1 ton and see if its the same

[74 C-30]

depends on the rear end. a pickup bed dually axle will need the flares, and the narrower cab and chassis axle will tuck inside the fenders, but the will need to be tubbed. the 14 bolt axle has 8 lugs and your front will still be 5 lug, unless you swap the spindles too. spring perches are in the same location. the driveshaft might need to be shortened but im not sure. and im pretty sure the u joints on the 14 bolt are bigger. you might want to ask someone who swapped a 14 bolt into thier 4x4. dually on not it'll be the same, minus the bed changes

[MrBeast]

The U-Joints are very different, there is a huge size difference between them, also I would strongly advise that you do NOT use a 1/2 ton in a dually capacity, the frame just Isn't built to take it.

You would be way better off cutting down a 1 ton frame, if you were closer to here I would offer to cut one I have down for you, but it really isn't worth the trip when you can find one there.

[lolife99]

I think the spring perches on the dually rearend are farther apart than on your original 1/2 ton rearend.

[Desert1957]

Hey Guys,
As always your timing is awesome I had considered doing a "Dually" conversion on my truck but had NO idea the frames were different. Please tell me more about this is a 1/2 ton frame the same as an 8 lug 3/4? or are the 1 ton's and 3/4 frames the same so just the 1/2 is different.

Tell me all you guys know about the front control arm mountings , rear spring perches , etc.

I'm not looking for the GVWR rating of a 1 ton just wanted more stability while towing my enclosed trailer.
Pictures are a plus.

thanks Desert

[Chlsnk]

I am wanting a dually rearend more for looks than function as I would never pull a trailer with my truck. I have never seen a slammed shortbed dually so its more or less just to be different.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Chlsnk

... I have never seen a slammed shortbed dually so its more or less just to be different.

Spend some time looking here LINK

[pig rig]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Spend some time looking here LINK

if you look on there I wrote a tech artical on the 1t and 3/4t front ends its not the gosple but its what I've came across in swapping stuff around

[Desert1957]

Originally Posted by pig rig

if you look on there I wrote a tech artical on the 1t and 3/4t front ends its not the gosple but its what I've came across in swapping stuff around

Thanks Pig Rig,
I got your email , maybe sometime later this summer if you still have the parts . Money's alittle tight right now.
Good article on the suspension stuff though , I will use it in the future.

I still would like an answer to my question about the frame differences between 1/2 , 3/4 , and 1 ton trucks of 81-87 vintage.

thanks Desert