| 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) | |
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+3merlin5577 FaselZ71 TruckAddict 7 posters |
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TruckAddict Valued Member
Posts : 159
Age : 58 Location : Tornado Alley
| Subject: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) April 6th 2010, 2:48 am | |
| I had some questions about my 85 K10 that I will be building soon. Current factory set up is with 10 bolt front and rear diffs with 3.08 wussy wagon gears. I already have acquired a 14 bolt full float 4.10 rear axle with 56 inch springs (10 Leafs = HD 1 ton). So I am still looking for a D44 or D60 with 4.10 and 8 Lug hubs. I was wondering if the front springs were differant on a K10 and a K20, and I knew a C20 had 56 inch springs. I have a spare C20 frame and was considering using the 56 inch springs and hangers from the C20 frame on the rear of my K10. It appears I have my questions answered. Also being that K10 and K20 use the same master cylinder then by swapping axles and possibly adding a leaf or 2 to my current set up, the K10 is then converted to a K20, since the K20 also used 52 inch springs like the C10 did. Here is the info I found out.
Front Leaf Springs K10, K20, and K30 Use the same springs. Differance is, they come in 2 leaf, 3 leaf or 4 leaf set up. All 3 set ups are interchangeable between all 3 models. I'd imagine the K30 comes in the 4 leaf set up, but the K10 and K20 could be either the 2 or 3 set up depending on heavy duty RPO code or not.
Rear Leaf Spring 2WD C10, C20, C30. C10 can be 52 inch or 56 inch springs. Depending on Heavy Duty RPO code. C20 is 56 inch springs. # of leafs and thickness of spring pack depends on RPO code, ie... Smooth Ride, Heavy Duty etc. C30 is 56 inch springs. # of leafs and thickness of spring pack depends on on RPO code. 10 Leafs is Heavy Duty 1 ton.
Rear Leaf Springs 4WD K10, K20, K30. K10 is 52 inch springs. # of leafs and thickness of pack depends on RPO code. K20 can be 52 inch or 56 inch springs. Depending on Heavy Duty RPO code or not. (Appears that 52 inch may be more common) K30 is 56 inch springs. # of leafs and thickness of spring pack depends on on RPO code.
Also, the K10 and K20 use the same master cylinder and have the same frame specifictions, so by simply swapping axles, it is possbile to convert a K10 to a K20. Might aslo need to add a leaf to the spring packs. But it is very possible that a K10 with Heavy Duty RPO code, could have the same amount of springs and strength already, as a standard duty K20. Nevertheless, using the same size springs in lenght and width, and the same hanger locations, at worst, swap K20 springs with the K20 axles and your K10 is now a K20. This does not work on the C models (2WD). You could always change your rear hangers, and change from 52 inch rear springs to 56 inch rear springs, but the A frame assemby is also differant on the C10 and C20. You could always change the Subframe/A Frame assembly too to make the conversion. But still not as easy as the K10 to K20 conversion.
Hopefully someone besides me can use the info. | |
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FaselZ71 Almost Addicted Member
Posts : 1087
Age : 36 Location : Northern Lower Michigan
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) April 11th 2010, 4:38 pm | |
| Wow great info Truckaddict!! I learned a few things here that I didn't know!! lol | |
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merlin5577 Admin
Posts : 2938
Age : 38 Location : Taunton, MA
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) April 12th 2010, 1:00 am | |
| Holy info! Awesome! | |
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Thrive87 Active Member
Posts : 34
Age : 37 Location : Phoenix
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) May 19th 2010, 2:50 pm | |
| Im thinking of take the front end of a k5 and put it on my c10 So i can lift it am i gonna have to ake major changes wo put it in? | |
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In2Trux Moderator
Posts : 1381
Age : 61 Location : North Bay Ont, Canada
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) May 19th 2010, 10:36 pm | |
| Very useful info TruckAddict. You mind if I share that with some friends of mine? | |
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007jimmy Moderator
Posts : 1955
Age : 39 Location : levittown, PA
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) May 20th 2010, 11:23 am | |
| it would be alot easier to swap complete frames from a c10 to a k10 then it would be to modify a c10 frame to accept 4wd.. the 4wd frame is bigger and stronger and it has all the mounts already if your gona be using stock suspension..
if you gonna be doing a complete custom suspension like 4 link from and rear then it doesnt matter what frame you start out with.. | |
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semocoachworks Valued Member
Posts : 153
Age : 49 Location : rapid city south dakota
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) May 20th 2010, 9:57 pm | |
| One thing I would like to add is the rubber brake lines on the front will not interchange from a 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton. | |
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FaselZ71 Almost Addicted Member
Posts : 1087
Age : 36 Location : Northern Lower Michigan
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) May 20th 2010, 10:50 pm | |
| - semocoachworks wrote:
- One thing I would like to add is the rubber brake lines on the front will not interchange from a 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton.
I beg to differ semo... I do believe that they will and I say that because on my truck I used a 3/4 ton dana44 with 8ug outers and I used stock brakes from a 1992 Chevy C1500 because believe it or not but the C1500 brake lines are longer then the K1500 brake lines so they where long enough for my lift and they hook right together without a problem... P.S. THIS IS POST 1000 FOR ME!!!!! | |
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semocoachworks Valued Member
Posts : 153
Age : 49 Location : rapid city south dakota
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) May 21st 2010, 12:06 am | |
| - FaselZ71 wrote:
- semocoachworks wrote:
- One thing I would like to add is the rubber brake lines on the front will not interchange from a 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton.
I beg to differ semo... I do believe that they will and I say that because on my truck I used a 3/4 ton dana44 with 8ug outers and I used stock brakes from a 1992 Chevy C1500 because believe it or not but the C1500 brake lines are longer then the K1500 brake lines so they where long enough for my lift and they hook right together without a problem...
P.S. THIS IS POST 1000 FOR ME!!!!! When I put the 3/4 ton running gear from a 85 k20 under my 83 gmc, the lines would not hook up to the caliper. The alignment blocks on the line that the banjo fitting goes through was made different? | |
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semocoachworks Valued Member
Posts : 153
Age : 49 Location : rapid city south dakota
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) May 21st 2010, 12:07 am | |
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007jimmy Moderator
Posts : 1955
Age : 39 Location : levittown, PA
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) May 21st 2010, 12:32 am | |
| when going from 2wd to solid axle the lines are totally different but as long as you get the rubber lines with the axle then they bolt right up at the stock location on the frame.. | |
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FaselZ71 Almost Addicted Member
Posts : 1087
Age : 36 Location : Northern Lower Michigan
| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) May 21st 2010, 9:55 am | |
| Ok yeah I see where you're coming from semo... That's the nice thing about the brakelines from the 1992 C1500 is there is no alignment blocks oneside hasa bevel the other side is flat just make sure the flat side is against the caliper and your good to go... | |
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| Subject: Re: 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) | |
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| 73-87 Leaf Springs, C/K Models (K10 to K20 Conversion) | |
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