Disk Brake swap. 84 front end onto 68 C10

[RyansToy]

So i bought a front end of a 84 c10 last night.

It doesn't have the center steering link though.

My 68 has a power steering conversion. Does that mean I already have a 80s center link?

Does the 68 vs 72 center link have different reams for the tie rods, or do I need that specific one (73-87)?

[LONGHORN1962]

The 67-72 center link does have different tapers, however the tie rod ends will fit. are you swapping the entire cross member or just the suspension components?

[RyansToy]

I plan on doing the entire cross member.

When you say they will fit, are they loose? or do they just not seat fully? Should I aim to track down the other center link?

[LONGHORN1962]

If memory serves I believe the 67-72 has a slightly smaller taper. I did a 74 dually front swap on a 72 c20, everything fit fine. The 67-72 tie rod will go in the 74 up parts a little farther.

[Jeff's bowtie's]

The 67-70 C/10 drag link with drum brakes are different from 71-72 drag link as the tierod ends are smaller in diameter than the 71-72 disc brakes which are somewhat bigger but not sure if they are the same (71-72) as the 73 and up

[RyansToy]

Noticed something else today; The studs that hold the upper control arm and shims on are F'd up on one side. Are these standard replaceable items? like a wheel stud?

[sean1969c10]

Yes the studs are replaceable. You could also just leave your crossmember in and use the 1984 parts, they will bolt right on. This way if you still have the engine in the truck you won't have to fight with it trying to change the crossmember. It's also a good time to replace the bushings and ball joints before swapping everything over. I did this on my 69, it's well worth it.

[Blakeman350]

I just did this same swap on my 67 this weekend. I used the spindles from the 84 and I bought new 84 ball joints and outer tie rod ends and used the 84 brake lines. The tie rod end threaded right into the 67 adjuster sleeves which made it even easier. I know there's alot of people that swap the cross member but there's many benefits to keeping the original and power steering can easily be adapted to it. I converter front and rear to five lug with the disc brake conversion in 2 days pretty much by myself and didn't have to mess with the drive train.

[Barnfind46]

I swapped 85 C-20 parts on to my 68 C-20 and kept the original cross member.Only thing was I had to use the 85' tie rod and idler arm, but the steering arm on my steering box worked just fine. C-10's might be the same.

[69chevytrucker]

i dug up a bunch of old pics i had of when i put a 84 silverodo front end on my 69 c10 i just un-bolted the a -frames and steering box and took it all in one piece and slidit under my 69 frame and bolted it right up








you can take the whole cradle and swap it all be careful of the ubolt on the bottom a frame some are thicker no biggy you just might have to get new ones.

[69chevytrucker]

first pic is what i have done since turned it into a 4x4 by putting the body one a 83 blazer frame

[RyansToy]

So i ordered a 1995 C2500 brake rotor to try on the 84 spindle.

Does anyone know where the brake surface moves? is it out further? or in more? How much?

Tomorrow I guess I will find out. The expensive way.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by RyansToy

So i bought a front end of a 84 c10 last night.

It doesn't have the center steering link though.

My 68 has a power steering conversion. Does that mean I already have a 80s center link?

Does the 68 vs 72 center link have different reams for the tie rods, or do I need that specific one (73-87)?

If you use 73-87 spindles its EASIEST to use the centerink since the 73-87 tie rods will not work with your 68 center link.
There are 3 different centerlinks:
63-70
71-72
73-87
Try to match all your parts to the spindles that you are using.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by RyansToy

So i ordered a 1995 C2500 brake rotor to try on the 84 spindle.

Does anyone know where the brake surface moves? is it out further? or in more? How much?

Tomorrow I guess I will find out. The expensive way.

I've never heard of anyone trying to install a 88-98 C2500 rotor on the 73-87 spindle. Are the bearing the same?
I HAVE heard of people using 88-98 spindles and the C2500 rotors with a lower control arm swap and balljoint and tie rod changes.
To me this is an expensive swap and it's already been proven by board members to casue TOO MUCH positive camber, that can't be fixed with a front end alignment.

If you want 6-lug discs just buy the CPP 6-lug rotors from Summit Racing, and bolt them directly to any 73-87 HD spindle. (not the light duty 1" version).
I think many spindle companies offer these but, CPP seems to be the cheapest.

[MikeB]

I messed up a chart of parts I had posted, so need to re-do it. Why is there no option to delete my post???

[MikeB]

Found these notes from back when I added disc brakes to my 1969 C10 using spindles, discs and calipers from a 1986 C10.

Be aware that some of the mid-80s light duty C10s used 1-inch thick rotors with different spindles and bearings. But pads are the same as C10s with 1.25-inch discs. As you can see, everything except pitman arm and idler arm is different starting with 1971. And the pitman arm changes in 1973.

Just remembered that I used a 71/72 C20 center link, which I think is the same as 73-87 C10. Also, I think 1970 C10s used the same parts as 1969.

[RyansToy]

These are some of the images, to show the fitment of the 1995 Chev 2500 6 lug rotors.

The rotor surface is obviously moved outboard about 12-8mm.



The inner bearing seal needs to be dealt with.



I think the offset created with the newer rotor might be able to be moved, with machining the rotor, and a spacer to move the outter bearing to match the spindle spacing.





The outter offset is 12.3mm and the inner offset measured 8.3mm.

[RyansToy]

so I tried to look up an ECE rotor to fit the 1984 spindle. I could not find a 6lug rotor. Do they not fit from the 1967-72 generation? is there a differencE?

[RyansToy]

Just checked with ECE... $140.97 to ship to me. man, that is a lot to get them here. Damn exchange rates...

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by RyansToy

Just checked with ECE... $140.97 to ship to me. man, that is a lot to get them here. Damn exchange rates...

Check CPP rotors from Summit Racing

[RyansToy]

lolife99. Took your advice. The CPP rotors from Summit were $194.44 inclusive.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by RyansToy

lolife99. Took your advice. The CPP rotors from Summit were $194.44 inclusive.

Pair or each???

[RyansToy]

For the pair and shipped to Nova Scotia Canada

[RyansToy]

The rotors arrived last week. I have the sub frame assembly sitting in my driveway.

How do I safely remove the springs - separate the assembly. I would take the ball joints apart on the truck if it was all mounted. Then jack the truck up and let the springs drop.

Any suggestions for the assembly not mounted?

[RyansToy]

Also wondering what to do about the Brake Booster/MAster cylinder.

Do I get the one for the square body truck? The JB5 version is 509089. I assume there is some modifications to get that one to work with the 68 fire wall?