1971 c20 4x4 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Jjdad · 05-15-2014, 08:30 PM

I'm new at this looking for help I bought a 71 C 20
4x4for my 15 year old son we have one year to get it ready would like to switch the front end out for more modern disc brakes can anyone help me with what will be an easy swap I was told up to 1984 will bolt in this anyone know for sure

**special-K** · 05-15-2014, 09:04 PM

A 4wd 3/4 ton is a K/20. C/20 mean 2wd. If your truck is a '71 K/20 it should already have disc brakes on the front. I'm curious what you might actually have. As far as the 10-bolt axles used through the '91 V2500 (post-86 3/4t 4wd...ok,'87s were V20s) crewcabs and Suburbans goes,yes,it's a direct bolt-in

Jjdad · 05-16-2014, 01:45 PM

Special K sorry this the first chevy I have owned and currently I have it off of my property to surprise my son on his birthday so I thought it was a c 20 the guy I bought the truck from had told me the last time they did brakes they had trouble getting parts and they didn't work very well truck is also lower geared than I would like so my thought was to swap out for the most modern axles that would be a quick and easy

mjensen · 05-16-2014, 05:09 PM

As Special-K mentioned, '71 should already have the front disk brakes which from my understanding are pretty much the same all the way up to '84ish when they went from the 7/16 banjo fittings to the 10mm. My assumption is that brake parts for the front axle are still plentiful.

The rear axle may be a different story though, depending on what it has in it. I know parts for the Eaton rear axles are getting harder and harder to find.

On mine, I replaced both axles because mine had 4-wheel drums and mismatched gear ratios. I found a front axle out of an '84 3/4 ton and the rear is a full floater out of a '91 crew cab. They are now both the 4:10 gearing, and other than moving the rear shock mounts on rear axle were a direct bolt in.

mjensen · 05-16-2014, 05:12 PM

Oh, and BTW...welcome to the forum! There are A LOT of knowledgeable and helpful people here that are willing to help...oh and make sure you start a build thread if you tear into it

Jjdad · 05-16-2014, 06:29 PM

Thanks for the help like I said I'm new to gm trucks so I might be asking some dumb questions in the next year getting this ready for the boy
Chad

mjensen · 05-16-2014, 06:46 PM

Well you picked a great vintage :-). There are no dumb questions. Just be careful, this site is addicting and hard on the wallet

JasonLS1 · 05-16-2014, 08:17 PM

definitely no dumb questions here, im proof of that lol I USE to love the 2WD C's but since found a love for the K trucks, so please post some pics when time allows

jason

freakshow108 · 05-17-2014, 08:31 PM

My son and I just finished his 71 K20, if you need any help or advice feel free to contact me, we are "just " over the pass. Parts for the front brakes are easy to come by, as was mentioned earlier, if you have the eaton rear end, they are a beast. We converted the eaton rear to disc brakes for the same price that it would have cost to rebuild the drums. You guys have a ton of options in this area. Good luck with the build and welcome to the forum.

05-15-2014, 08:30 PM	#1
Jjdad Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Cle elum wa Posts: 6	1971 c20 4x4 I'm new at this looking for help I bought a 71 C 20 4x4for my 15 year old son we have one year to get it ready would like to switch the front end out for more modern disc brakes can anyone help me with what will be an easy swap I was told up to 1984 will bolt in this anyone know for sure

05-15-2014, 09:04 PM	#2
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: 1971 c20 4x4 A 4wd 3/4 ton is a K/20. C/20 mean 2wd. If your truck is a '71 K/20 it should already have disc brakes on the front. I'm curious what you might actually have. As far as the 10-bolt axles used through the '91 V2500 (post-86 3/4t 4wd...ok,'87s were V20s) crewcabs and Suburbans goes,yes,it's a direct bolt-in __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

05-16-2014, 01:45 PM	#3
Jjdad Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Cle elum wa Posts: 6	Re: 1971 c20 4x4 Special K sorry this the first chevy I have owned and currently I have it off of my property to surprise my son on his birthday so I thought it was a c 20 the guy I bought the truck from had told me the last time they did brakes they had trouble getting parts and they didn't work very well truck is also lower geared than I would like so my thought was to swap out for the most modern axles that would be a quick and easy

05-16-2014, 05:09 PM	#4
mjensen Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 1,562	Re: 1971 c20 4x4 As Special-K mentioned, '71 should already have the front disk brakes which from my understanding are pretty much the same all the way up to '84ish when they went from the 7/16 banjo fittings to the 10mm. My assumption is that brake parts for the front axle are still plentiful. The rear axle may be a different story though, depending on what it has in it. I know parts for the Eaton rear axles are getting harder and harder to find. On mine, I replaced both axles because mine had 4-wheel drums and mismatched gear ratios. I found a front axle out of an '84 3/4 ton and the rear is a full floater out of a '91 crew cab. They are now both the 4:10 gearing, and other than moving the rear shock mounts on rear axle were a direct bolt in. __________________ Mike '69 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 Build Thread

05-16-2014, 05:12 PM	#5
mjensen Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 1,562	Re: 1971 c20 4x4 Oh, and BTW...welcome to the forum! There are A LOT of knowledgeable and helpful people here that are willing to help...oh and make sure you start a build thread if you tear into it __________________ Mike '69 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 Build Thread

05-16-2014, 06:29 PM	#6
Jjdad Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Cle elum wa Posts: 6	Re: 1971 c20 4x4 Thanks for the help like I said I'm new to gm trucks so I might be asking some dumb questions in the next year getting this ready for the boy Chad

05-16-2014, 06:46 PM	#7
mjensen Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 1,562	Re: 1971 c20 4x4 Well you picked a great vintage :-). There are no dumb questions. Just be careful, this site is addicting and hard on the wallet __________________ Mike '69 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 Build Thread

05-16-2014, 08:17 PM	#8
JasonLS1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Gallup, NM Posts: 102	Re: 1971 c20 4x4 definitely no dumb questions here, im proof of that lol I USE to love the 2WD C's but since found a love for the K trucks, so please post some pics when time allows jason __________________ 70 Chevelle \| 71 Camaro RS/SS \| 71 K20 \| 98 TransAm \| 10 Ducati 848

05-17-2014, 08:31 PM	#9
freakshow108 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eatonville WA Posts: 296	Re: 1971 c20 4x4 My son and I just finished his 71 K20, if you need any help or advice feel free to contact me, we are "just " over the pass. Parts for the front brakes are easy to come by, as was mentioned earlier, if you have the eaton rear end, they are a beast. We converted the eaton rear to disc brakes for the same price that it would have cost to rebuild the drums. You guys have a ton of options in this area. Good luck with the build and welcome to the forum.



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