3/4 ton to 1/2 ton?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jnova67 · 03-02-2017, 12:57 PM

Im working on a 1963 3/4 ton GMC 2wd and I would like to convert the 8 lug to 5 lug. I plan to swap the rearend out but the front suspension is what im not sure about. I would like to know what is the best way to do this swap? and what parts do I need and what parts can I use (if any) off my current setup? thanks

**paulspickupparts** · 03-02-2017, 01:31 PM

Hi Neighbor. If you were trying to get to 6 lug stock I would have everything you need from a 64. But because you are going to 5 lug I may still have everything you need from a 72 . If you want a dropped spring spindle I would not. That would be if you are trying to stay with a stock height spindle as both trucks are stock. Been a while but lolife99 is super sharp on these swaps if you want to upgrade to discs . Also Tx Firefighter also had some good tips on which to use. I think this has been covered before and may even be a sticky somewhere. Here is a little more info. Just depends on the end goal .

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=446279

jnova67 · 03-02-2017, 01:45 PM

I will probably end up going with 2" drop spindles but I don't know if those spindles will work with the 3/4 ton ball joints. I plan to drop it 4" at least in front and 5" in back, as of now.

jnova67 · 03-02-2017, 01:48 PM

I just noticed you were from seward, I grew up there.

**paulspickupparts** · 03-02-2017, 02:10 PM

Pretty sure you will have change your lower A arm . Here is some good information. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68&postcount=4

jnova67 · 03-02-2017, 02:12 PM

Am I able to put a 5 lug dropped spindle on the 3/4 ton control arms? Or can I swap ball joints out of the 3/4 ton control arms to a dropped spindle that will accept 5 lug rotors?

**paulspickupparts** · 03-02-2017, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulspickupparts

Pretty sure you will have change your lower A arm . Here is some good information. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68&postcount=4

Read this . It will answer a lot of questions

Cooper197 · 03-02-2017, 06:37 PM

The easiest way is going to be to swap out the front subframe from a 1/2 ton truck, then do drop spindles.
That's what I had to do on my '66 C20. Somebody else had already changed the rear end out with a 5 lug rear end.

siggyfreud · 03-02-2017, 06:55 PM

I have done this conversion. I have a 66 GMC 3/4, that is now on 1/2 running gear (or soon will be in the rear). I found a subframe from an 85 1/2 ton chevy, and brought it all over. I think I had to elongate two bolt holes, and drill two more, and then it bolted up just fine to the 66 frame. It's an easy way to swap to disc brakes too, at least relative to some of the other ways. It came with all the parts attached, but I opted to go with almost all new suspension parts, and since I wanted to paint it all I stripped it anyways.

I found my setup on craigslist. My build thread in my sig has some photos. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...0&postcount=40

**Captainfab** · 03-03-2017, 12:46 AM

Sorry but that will not work on a '63-'66 C20. Those do not use a round lower control arm shaft and consequently the crossmember does not have the saddles to accept a C10 round lower control arm shaft. I am not aware of a ball joint that will press into the '63-'6 C20 lower control arm and accept a C10 spindle. What I always suggest to the '63-'66 C20 owners, it to simply change the entire front suspension, crossmember and all. Just as Cooper197 and siggyfreud have done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulspickupparts

Pretty sure you will have change your lower A arm . Here is some good information. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68&postcount=4

03-02-2017, 12:57 PM	#1
jnova67 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 29	3/4 ton to 1/2 ton?? Im working on a 1963 3/4 ton GMC 2wd and I would like to convert the 8 lug to 5 lug. I plan to swap the rearend out but the front suspension is what im not sure about. I would like to know what is the best way to do this swap? and what parts do I need and what parts can I use (if any) off my current setup? thanks

03-02-2017, 01:31 PM	#2
paulspickupparts Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Seward Nebraska Posts: 1,596	Re: 3/4 ton to 1/2 ton?? Hi Neighbor. If you were trying to get to 6 lug stock I would have everything you need from a 64. But because you are going to 5 lug I may still have everything you need from a 72 . If you want a dropped spring spindle I would not. That would be if you are trying to stay with a stock height spindle as both trucks are stock. Been a while but lolife99 is super sharp on these swaps if you want to upgrade to discs . Also Tx Firefighter also had some good tips on which to use. I think this has been covered before and may even be a sticky somewhere. Here is a little more info. Just depends on the end goal . http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=446279

03-02-2017, 01:45 PM	#3
jnova67 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 29	Re: 3/4 ton to 1/2 ton?? I will probably end up going with 2" drop spindles but I don't know if those spindles will work with the 3/4 ton ball joints. I plan to drop it 4" at least in front and 5" in back, as of now.

03-02-2017, 01:48 PM	#4
jnova67 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 29	Re: 3/4 ton to 1/2 ton?? I just noticed you were from seward, I grew up there.

03-02-2017, 02:10 PM	#5
paulspickupparts Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Seward Nebraska Posts: 1,596	Re: 3/4 ton to 1/2 ton?? Pretty sure you will have change your lower A arm . Here is some good information. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68&postcount=4 Last edited by paulspickupparts; 03-02-2017 at 02:18 PM. Reason: more info

03-02-2017, 02:12 PM	#6
jnova67 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 29	Re: 3/4 ton to 1/2 ton?? Am I able to put a 5 lug dropped spindle on the 3/4 ton control arms? Or can I swap ball joints out of the 3/4 ton control arms to a dropped spindle that will accept 5 lug rotors?

03-02-2017, 06:37 PM	#8
Cooper197 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 199	Re: 3/4 ton to 1/2 ton?? The easiest way is going to be to swap out the front subframe from a 1/2 ton truck, then do drop spindles. That's what I had to do on my '66 C20. Somebody else had already changed the rear end out with a 5 lug rear end.

03-02-2017, 06:55 PM	#9
siggyfreud Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Portland Posts: 1,330	Re: 3/4 ton to 1/2 ton?? I have done this conversion. I have a 66 GMC 3/4, that is now on 1/2 running gear (or soon will be in the rear). I found a subframe from an 85 1/2 ton chevy, and brought it all over. I think I had to elongate two bolt holes, and drill two more, and then it bolted up just fine to the 66 frame. It's an easy way to swap to disc brakes too, at least relative to some of the other ways. It came with all the parts attached, but I opted to go with almost all new suspension parts, and since I wanted to paint it all I stripped it anyways. I found my setup on craigslist. My build thread in my sig has some photos. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...0&postcount=40 __________________ Current Build - Project "Ghost of Poseidon" 72 C10 Pro-touring build Previous Build - 66 GMC Pro-touring build. Sold.



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