76 truck with 90s front supension/diff

[revitout]

Has any body grafted a modern 4x4 front end to a square body chassis?

[cableguy0]

Most guys end up going the other way for strength reasons. I don't recall seeing a swap to independent suspension on the trucks. The solid axles into the newer trucks is a much much more common swap though for strength reasons.

[ryanroo]

Honestly, it would be a pain. the frame would need some re-enforcement to deal with the change in force from the suspension. the IFS frames use a beefy front crossmember to deal with the loads. i would be curious to see if the kick up on the frames is even close and i think the IFS frames are a little narrower at the attachment point for the control arms. i also think the width of the frame behind the firewall might be an issue as the gmt400s get wider to accommodate the torsion bars if i remember correctly.

[andrewmp6]

To most of us it would be a sin to think of it.

[special-K]

The frames are so un-similar I can't imagine what would be involved. The 88+ frames are completely different animals,for one they are boxed,and the IFS set-up has other differences...such as the differential is stationary,so have to come up with a way to hang that on the truck. I don't care if people want to try to do something I wouldn't want to do. More power to you for wanting to try. Not saying it can't be done. But,what I "have" seen are older bodies put on the IFS frames. Seems the way to go,if IFS is what you want. My '92 K3500 has been plenty strong these past 22 years throughout it's 300,000 miles of hauling/working every inch of the way.

[twich3136]

correct me if im wrong but if you designed and built two crossmembers, one for the front and one for the trans ish area, all you would have to do is mount the 90's a arms steering rack and shock loops to the front. and you could mount the torsion bars to the trans xmember. it sounds easy enough but it one had the tools and time to build x-members capable of bolting 90's gear up to a custom x-member its totally doable. problem with torsion bars is the range of motion isnt as great. and lifting is way easier with leafs. but in my mind a custom crossmember design similar to the lifts they build for those trucks would be simple enough if you had the parts to bolt to it. it would never be a bolt on conversion without a lot of custom stuff. i have spent some time thinking about it before because i like the idea of a softer ride of the a arms with a 4wd diff up front. if i had access to a proper customs shop i would totally tinker with the idea, maybe even market it since parts are still so available.

something like this but just design it around the older frames