My 4wd to 2wd Conversion

[Ford Assassin]

Left the top 56" spring, the rest of the springs replaced with the Blazers old 4x4 springs, including the overload spring.
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[Square_78]

Originally Posted by Ford Assassin

I ran a set in an old '73 Pontiac Catalina for YEARS and they never missed a beat and that boat weighed AT LEAST 4400 lbs. Plus I towed often. Even my '91 Roadmaster wagon has factory rear air shocks with an on board compressor and load leveling.

Thanks.
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I've also run air shocks in many vehicles for light duty load leveling. Never had one blow out and never had problems. They have lifetime warranty anyways so Im not worried. I've never run the past the max air pressure recommended. I run mine at 50psi all the time and bump it up to 120psi when the dirt bike is in the back and it rides like a cadillac. When the truck bed is empty, I can get about 5" of lift at 150psi.

[Ford Assassin]

Test fitted the rear rim and tire and its alittle close to the inter fender tub. Plus I don't like how they sit as far away from the outer lip. I think I might buy a pair of 1.25" billet adapter/spacers to get them where they won't rub and look good.
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[1bad87]

looking good

[Ford Assassin]

Almost done...

Had to turn down the edge of the rotors to clear my Boss 338's.

Anyway, should be driving tomorrow.
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[trout]

u make it look so easy

[texastruckjunky]

Your K5 is coming out very nice. Did the front crossmember just bolt up or did you have to drill holes to mount it?

[Ford Assassin]

Originally Posted by trout

u make it look so easy

Thanks, but its not. Lots and lots of grinding off rivets and laying on your back. Trust me when I say I am glad its nearly done.

Originally Posted by texastruckjunky

Your K5 is coming out very nice. Did the front crossmember just bolt up or did you have to drill holes to mount it?

Had to drill all new holes, but I also welded it in a few places too just to make sure it ain't going anywhere.

[texastruckjunky]

Kool. Thanks for the info.

[Palf70Step]

Enjoying this thread so far and looking forward to much more.

[v30crewcab]

yeah every hole is diff between the 2 and 4wd frames! I am almost done converting a 2wd frame to 4x for my crewcab. lots of rivets everywhere.

[Hubscrub]

Looks good i would like to do the same i have no desire to have a 4x4 anymore. Does the full top come off? from the looks in the pics it does, if so what years did it stop? I thought the square bodys didn't have a full removable top like earlier models. thanks

[Ford Assassin]

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

Looks good i would like to do the same i have no desire to have a 4x4 anymore. Does the full top come off? from the looks in the pics it does, if so what years did it stop? I thought the square bodys didn't have a full removable top like earlier models. thanks

Yup, my top comes off. '73-'75 K5's came that way, '76-'91 it was just a half cab. Mine was converted to full convertible in 2008 using '74 donor parts and the whole truck was repainted white at the sametime (factory color was white/tan two-tone).

[Ford Assassin]

She drives.....

She is in dire need of an alignment and a few odds and ends though. I think I might drop the rear another inch using longer rear shackles to even her out, not diggin' the slight 'raked' look.

[68Timber]

Sweet! Looks like the Z got painted during the project.

[Ford Assassin]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

Sweet! Looks like the Z got painted during the project.

Naw, the white w/blue stripes is mine and was painted almost two years ago, the orange one pictured earlier belongs to a customer which is also received a LSx 6.0/4L60e combo.

[bL.A.zer90045]

Hell ya!!! NiCE progress!!! Looks awesome.you know this L.A. Boy got mad questionsfirst off,what did you do bout the rear mounted gas tank?did you leave it where it was originaly? im waiting to get my profit back on one of my frameoff builds(87 Elco)you know us L.A. boys love our g-bodys & then its off to the pull-n-pay for the collecting of the nessasary parts for swap.the yard has about 13 complete 2wd longbed c10 trucks ranging from 74-85.now will ANY of these years work for the swap? Is it possible to pm me a "parts needed" list?I want to use mine as a "show-hauler" for my 87mcss frameoff build also currently in the works.what hangars would you go with for the rear the 2w or 4w,im gonna be running 24" irocs(im an L.A. Boy what can I say thanks,and if you need any 89-91 front end parts(rad support,grille,lights,etc) hit me up as theres always a good lot of them at the yard and there real reasonable and I could ship as I have done on numerous times for members on other sites ship through greyhound.are you planning to swap out those mirrors?! lol I personally h8 that style! if you interested in a set from a 90 burban(black) lmk and ill shoot them to you for the shipping.cant wait for the updates!!!!
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[Ford Assassin]

Originally Posted by bL.A.zer90045

Hell ya!!! NiCE progress!!! Looks awesome.you know this L.A. Boy got mad questionsfirst off,what did you do bout the rear mounted gas tank?did you leave it where it was originaly? im waiting to get my profit back on one of my frameoff builds(87 Elco)you know us L.A. boys love our g-bodys & then its off to the pull-n-pay for the collecting of the nessasary parts for swap.the yard has about 13 complete 2wd longbed c10 trucks ranging from 74-85.now will ANY of these years work for the swap? Is it possible to pm me a "parts needed" list?I want to use mine as a "show-hauler" for my 87mcss frameoff build also currently in the works.what hangars would you go with for the rear the 2w or 4w,im gonna be running 24" irocs(im an L.A. Boy what can I say thanks,and if you need any 89-91 front end parts(rad support,grille,lights,etc) hit me up as theres always a good lot of them at the yard and there real reasonable and I could ship as I have done on numerous times for members on other sites ship through greyhound.are you planning to swap out those mirrors?! lol I personally h8 that style! if you interested in a set from a 90 burban(black) lmk and ill shoot them to you for the shipping.cant wait for the updates!!!!
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Any '73-'87 donor 2wd 1/2 ton will work. I went with the '81+ because I wanted the metric power steering box for my LS swap.

I chopped off the whole frame at the firewall to make sure I got everything I needed and to use the donor frame as reference on where to install the 2wd crossmember on my 4x4 frame.

I also got the 3.42 geared 8.5" 10 bolt and rear spring hangers from the same truck.

I thought about changing the mirrors, but I need to keep them non-electric (manual). Plus I tow my camping trailer, so they need to stay a reasonable size too.

[bL.A.zer90045]

Awesome!!! Thanks for the feedback/response/answers.yeah I hear you on the mirrors,the ones I was offering on my current k5 ive done away with the power option,and there opperatable manualy,im gon
na ju
st put me some Lil motorcycle type ones on(just for the law,as mine STAYS with the top OFF nehoo,so you still running the gas tank in the same stock location?as I may try to relocate mine so I can run the exaust straight back close together,and have them exit in the bottom center of my rollpan(corvettish//porshe looking) I also wanted to ask you if it mattered if the rotors,as some had 8 studs(im assuming this is 3/4 ton)& the others had the 5 studs(1/2 ton)f either one would work? they looked the same diameter? Are the spindles the same? I thought this(3/4-8 lug&1/2-6 lug only applied to the 4x's?)
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[Ford Assassin]

I haven't touched the fuel tank.

As far as I know the 1/2 ton stuff is totally different in terms of spindles, lower control arms, brakes, etc. If its a 8 lug, it not a 1/2 ton.

[Ford Assassin]

Had the alignment done this morning, drives nice and straight now.

Also took it by the truck scales, it now weighs 4,400 lbs (5,000 lbs previously). I was hoping for closer to 800-1,000 lbs weight savings, but oh well.

[cory d]

Take the top off! take the top off!

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by cory d

Take the top off! take the top off!

Hey, hey, remeber this is family friendly forum......oh wait you meant the Blazer top, Yeah, good idea...

BTW- It looks great, but I would run a bit more tire in the rear if you want to fill the gap up some.

[Ford Assassin]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Hey, hey, remeber this is family friendly forum......oh wait you meant the Blazer top, Yeah, good idea...

BTW- It looks great, but I would run a bit more tire in the rear if you want to fill the gap up some.

Gotta rig something up in my garage in order to remove the top by myself.

I am just going to drop the ass end another 1" or so with taller shackles and kill two birds with one stone, even the truck out and fill the tire in the wheelwell a bit better.
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[bluex]

All the detailed pics about the rear stuff an no pics of locating the front crossmember????? This is what had my K5 project stalled. More info about how you properly located the crossmember PLEASE!!!!!

Nice truck, great thread!
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