68 c20 convert to 4x4 woth new 88-99 2500 4x4

[navy68chevy]

hi im working on my 68 c20 and read theres a way to stay ifs and have 4x4 with newer parts off a 88-99 chevy 2500 4x4 has anyone ever done this if so i need some pointers on if i should keep my 68 frame and mod it to fit the new 4x4 stuff or go with the new frame under the 68 body

[Nitis]

Most of the stuff I have seen is take your old cab and cut the floor out then somehow marry up the new floor and firewall to the old cab. Most I have seen use Tahoe/Yukons because the wheelbase is closer

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by navy68chevy

hi im working on my 68 c20 and read theres a way to stay ifs and have 4x4 with newer parts off a 88-99 chevy 2500 4x4 has anyone ever done this if so i need some pointers on if i should keep my 68 frame and mod it to fit the new 4x4 stuff or go with the new frame under the 68 body

I would recommend finding a decent 71-72 4x4 frame, that will get you front disk brakes and everything will bolt up with extremely minimal fab or modifications. These trucks are made for a solid front axle and not the ifs crap that's in the newer trucks. Jmo

[72kool]

ive been looking into converting my 72 C20 to 4x4 as well, but not having much luck finding a 1972 4x4 frame. anybody know a region of the us that seems to have more around?

[57taskforce]

Member undertaker72 in Utah had a couple last time I was up there.

[undertaker72]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Member undertaker72 in Utah had a couple last time I was up there.

tyler , yes you are correct , I think I have 2 72 3/4 and a 71 3/4 and 1/2 , let me know if I can help kevin

[72kool]

Id hate to guess shopping haha but what would you ask for a 72 frame?

[57taskforce]

Aww c'mon now Utah ain't that far away

[In The Ten Ring]

If you want it, you'll go far to get it. Don't be put off by a road trip to get what you want. Drive over there, rent a uhaul trailer, and haul it back. Do it now before prices go up.

Take lots of pics and show us your adventure. You may buy a lottery ticket while you are there and win big! You will see more of American and meet cool people.

It will be fun.

[j_cst_10]

Not to high jack the thread, but how different is a C20 frame from a K20? Is the shape of the frame physically different from the cab forward?

[68 TT]

I just converted my 67 C10 Suburban to 4x4 with front suspension parts from a partial square body K10 that I had. Much easier to get than a 67-72 4x4.

For the front the worst part is flattening out the parking brake cable bosses on the frame as the shackle mount goes pretty much right on top of it. The rest is just drilling a few holes and lining everything up.

In the rear I used the factory 67-72 rear leaf spring mounts & parts I had from converting my stepside to trailing arm suspension. The forward mount of the rear square body stuff is all wrong and won't work well on the 67-72 frame. A 67-72 GMC will have the leaf spring stuff you need and should be fairly easy to find. The square body rear leaf forward mount was way too tall and threw the spring angle way off. Probably 8" too low. The design of it would take a whole lot of fabrication work to modify it to work in a 67-72 frame, not really worth it unless you have way more time than money. Pinion was at about a 30-degree downward angle.

I did notice that the rear leaf front mount on an 88-98 truck could be made to work. I used the Bell-Tech forward drop brackets off my 89 C1500 on my 68 C20 when I converted it to leaf spring suspension from the worn out trailing arm stuff. The stock 88-98 parts look like they could be easily modified to fit a 67-72 frame as well.

[72kool]

Is there a difference between a 67 and 72 4x4 frame? I know it would not have the front disc brakes but anything else different?

[57taskforce]

I don't believe 67 will have the dimples in the frame for the power steering box for starters as it would have had ram assist power steering if so equipped. The 72 also has welded straps of metal on the drivers front spring hangers to keep the spring in place in event that it shears a spring bolt. I'm not sure if that is 72 only but I've seen a couple 71's that didn't have that. Keep in mind the general only made 3 4x4 frames, blazer, 1/2 ton shortbed, and long bed. The long bed is used for both k/10 and k/20 trucks.
The long bed is thicker than the other two.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by j_cst_10

Not to high jack the thread, but how different is a C20 frame from a K20? Is the shape of the frame physically different from the cab forward?

The frame is slightly different cab forward and is way different out back if it's a coil spring c/20. In front of the cab on the c/20 the biggest difference is that the parking brake cables run thru the frame on both sides right where the front leaf spring hangers will need to be mounted so those holes have to be filled with plate then the parking brake re routed to the 4x4 style. There probably other small difference but that's a big one. Out back if it's a coil rear the frame widens out considerably compared to the 4x4 frame right over the rear end.

[navy68chevy]

Originally Posted by 68 TT

I just converted my 67 C10 Suburban to 4x4 with front suspension parts from a partial square body K10 that I had. Much easier to get than a 67-72 4x4.

For the front the worst part is flattening out the parking brake cable bosses on the frame as the shackle mount goes pretty much right on top of it. The rest is just drilling a few holes and lining everything up.

In the rear I used the factory 67-72 rear leaf spring mounts & parts I had from converting my stepside to trailing arm suspension. The forward mount of the rear square body stuff is all wrong and won't work well on the 67-72 frame. A 67-72 GMC will have the leaf spring stuff you need and should be fairly easy to find. The square body rear leaf forward mount was way too tall and threw the spring angle way off. Probably 8" too low. The design of it would take a whole lot of fabrication work to modify it to work in a 67-72 frame, not really worth it unless you have way more time than money. Pinion was at about a 30-degree downward angle.

I did notice that the rear leaf front mount on an 88-98 truck could be made to work. I used the Bell-Tech forward drop brackets off my 89 C1500 on my 68 C20 when I converted it to leaf spring suspension from the worn out trailing arm stuff. The stock 88-98 parts look like they could be easily modified to fit a 67-72 frame as well.

thank you that helps alot cause not to offend alot of people but they try to stay tradional and i just wanted to try to keep the ifs feature on my truck but the only way to do that is to go with a newer truck and thanks i just needed some advice well now i could go the route of converting my truck to 4x4 once i find a donar truck with ifs thats 4x4 wish me luck guys thanks for the help by giving me ideas

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by navy68chevy

thank you that helps alot cause not to offend alot of people but they try to stay tradional and i just wanted to try to keep the ifs feature on my truck but the only way to do that is to go with a newer truck and thanks i just needed some advice well now i could go the route of converting my truck to 4x4 once i find a donar truck with ifs thats 4x4 wish me luck guys thanks for the help by giving me ideas

I think you may be misunderstanding what he is saying, sounds to me like he put front and rear leaf springs on his 2wd frame. Not ifs 4x4 parts.

[navy68chevy]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

I think you may be misunderstanding what he is saying, sounds to me like he put front and rear leaf springs on his 2wd frame. Not ifs 4x4 parts.

i know he took parts from a newer truck and now i know its possible to do it wether it be a straight axle converstion or ifs converstion

[truckkeepsmesane]

Doing the same thing with my 67 C20. Great thread.

[72kool]

Anybody have a step by step write up of converting them?

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by 72kool

Anybody have a step by step write up of converting them?

Member dieselwrencher's longhorn build thread outlines how he converted it over.