1976 C10 custom deluxe

Ok So as of right now its 2 wheel drive but lifted but the coil springs are pissing me off I wanna basicly take a k5 front end so i can do leaf springs in the front im kinda new to this So anyone opinion on what i should do would be a great help I have 3 inch blocks on the rear and 2 inch spacer in the front but i wanna go bigger for looks i know i wanna make it four wheel drive just not yet I was wondering if i get the whole front end axle leaf springs together whats my biggest problem im gonna face?

Kyle

the best way to do a 4wd conversion is to get a donor truck and park it next to it and start swapping parts over. Best of luck to you, im planning on doing the same thing to my F250 one of these days. sorry I cant be of more help

welcome..

your biggest issue will be mounting the K5 leaf hangers in the right location. yes, it's basically a bolt up job, but you have to make sure you get the hangers in the correct place.. the best person on this subject with your truck will be bryan (fasel).. his truck has a leaf spring SAS under it that he did. i also posted a thread on this subject.

http://www.mytrucksource.com/suspension-tech-f12/sas-parts-list-and-information-for-2wd-and-4wd-ifs-ford-and-chevy-trucks-t1072.htm

Well a it's relatively easy yet time consuming process. The bracket placement basically comes down to the length of springs you use. Now seeing how you have a 76 your frame is straight from the front bumper back where as my frame starts narrow then widens out. So you'll be able to use different rear shackle brackets which will also making the front end lift process alittle easier... However if it's just for looks then front axle pinion angle is of no concern but if you plan to eventually convert it to 4x4 then you'll have to account for pinion angle. The rear axle will need to have pinion angle re-adjustment if you plan to go any higher then a 4"lift... Even with a 4" lift you should adjust the pinion but it's not terriblely nessasary. My truck needed a pinion reset. As for lifting the rear the easiest way would be a shackle reversal. That'll net you about 6 to 8 inches depending on where you weld the rear shackle brackets. Any other questions just ask and I'll be glad to answer... 79 has alot of great info in his thread... I'd recommend running cross over steering for any lift higher then a 6" lift otherwise you'll have horendous bumpsteer.

Wow thank you i do have a few questions like as of right now its a 3 inch in the rear so any higher ill have to what now? and with the leaf springs in the front what should i look for in making sure they are right?

if at all possible, try getting the front axle and springs out of a truck similar to yours and close in year. there are a couple ways of changing your pinion angle.. the easiest way is to get pinion wedges that go between your leaf spring and axle. the other way is to cut your stock leaf spring purches off your axles tubes and weld in new 1's to correct your angle.. you're better off going with the wedges in your case

Ok yeah as chris said pinion wedges would be the easiest way but not exactly the best way... The best way would be to relocate the perches. They best thing to do as far as front springs go would be to find a set to rear leaf springs from a 80's half ton short bed. The leaf springs are 50" long they have 2" offset because when doing a SAS you'll want to axle to be located 1" forward farther then stock do to suspension cycle characteristics... They also flex really good and will give you about 3-4" of lift depending on where and how you mount the rear shackles. Now just a question. How are your metal fabrication skills? I ask because there is gonna be welding and cutting involved and if your not very skilled at welding or cutting then I'd highly recommend you get someone who is. Now if your gonna be doing this you better plan on alot of long posts from me and 79_bronco. Your also looking at about 4 days of straight build time. I got mine done in 3 days but I had 4 people helping me and I did a complete SAS and swapped out my half ton suspension for 1 ton and put 1 ton axles under my truck and rebuilt my axle and built my steering as I went. So mine took a very long time. Now if you have all you bracketery built and your axle is ready to roll and your steering is already mocked up you could get yours done in about 3 days too.

One little question do u think that if i bought like a late 70's k5 frame mine would kinda mount up or are we looking at crazy amount of modding?

Well honestly if you can get a late 70's k5 frame. I'd just swap your body onto the k5 frame. If that's not possible then yes the parts from the k5 would virtually bolt up... You may have to drill some holes in the frame for everything to bolt up properly but yes you could go that way.


The SAS seem alittle to much? lol

My cab would bolt up right?

to the k5 frame.. noo.. you would need a k10 frame..

So Not even with some drilling an making spots?

its a shorter frame.. your cab would mount up in the front but the back is different.. you would have to make new rear cab mounts and hack up your bed to make it shorter.. it would only be like 4ft i think..

Now thrive are you sure it's a k5 frame? Because aren't k5's blazer frames? I didn't think about that in my earlier post. It's funny how in 1987 they where called k10's and in 1988 they began calling them k1500's

yeah the k5 is the 4wd blazer frame.. its about 2ft shorter then the k10 shortbed frame..

Yeah I know that. So I'm gonna guess that Thrive is talking about a k10 frame.

Well no Im just wondering which frame might be bolt up but down here its hard to find any k10's a lot of k5's :/

Oh I see well you could always extend a k5 frame but if you gonna do that might as well just do the sas

Ok i feel stupid What is SAS and ya i could or might not use the back lol

SAS is Solid Axle Swap


Swapping out the independent front suspension a solid axle style suspension

Solid Axle Swap... sorry.. wheeler talk.. in your case i would say it would be alot easier to find a k10 frame.. they are out there.. check craigslist in your area... look for a part out or something

grrrrr im looking

I have a 86 k20 3/4 ton 4x4 frame you can have if you want to come to south dakota to get it.!!!

talk about a haul hahahah

No kidden!!! LOL Good time for a road trip maybe???