New toy!
 

Feeling better so i got a new project. 72 C50. My plans are a bit different than most. I want to get rid of the 14ft bed and get a 8 ft one. I'll use it for mostly daily driving so I'll update it that direction. The 4 speed trans will be replaced with a 700r4. Here's where things spin: i want disc brakes on all corners. The easiest way is to use axles already with them. At the same time, 4 inches of front springs and 8 of rear need to go. I'm thinking of using power brake booster, axles and suspension from a C20. Thoughts?

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Im in to see this one .

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Congratulations on the new truck. I have been preparing to do something similar with my 59 Viking 40. Some things to consider would be tire height, I’m not sure the exact size tires your truck has but they are probably in the realm of 36 inch tall (diameter). Map out the wheels and tires you can get with the axles you are planning. Also consider track width (tire to tire width), again not sure the track of yours but it is likely wider than the c20.

You might consider a 3500HD for axles. Here is a link to my thread where some axle options are discussed (including the 3500HD)

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=751789

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Nice read. I was looking for the dimensions and your posts help tremendously! I was looking at the 3500 but I don't want duallys so I'm thinking the 2500 is the way to go. I do plan on running 17 or 18 inch wheels so tire height isn't an issue, at least for now...

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some pics

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more

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and

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Nice truck

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seen a few people swap in gm 4500/5500 axles for the disk brakes and use that hydroboost unit .

as to the 700r4 in this truck :dohh: i dont think that trans will live long with that much weight of a truck . better look in to a 4l80-e and www.usshift.com controller unit. and if you find the 4l80-e from a 3500hd truck from the 90's it will have the parking brake rear tail option also .

the newer axles also open you up to aluminum rims from the same trucks .

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With the bed replaced with a standard 8' bed and a respective portion of the frame (6 feet!) removed, 4" and 8" of springs replaced with a couple thinners ones and the big axles swapped with smaller ones, it will weigh less.

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better get a BUILT 700r4 then . . .

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Too bad not closer, I have a 3500hd I’m parting out. NV4500 with e-brake, disc brakes all around. Cheap too, want it out of my yard soon.

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Bummer

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Don't underestimate the weight of that frame and the newer axles on that 700r4. You will still be a good bit heavier than a factory pickup that tries the limits of that transmission. You will find the 3/4t front suspension to be very narrow under there. I would try to stay with solid beam medium duty axles and leafs. You can run singles on those axles

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OK, you guys convinced me. Doing research and the weight issue has gotten into my noggin. I'd rather build a more bulletproof truck than have to worry about wearing things out quicker and overbuilding to compensate deficiencies.
The front axle switch is definitely a no go. I don't want to mess with geometry, front and rear mounted steering boxes switching at this time.
I've been reading on the Allison 1/2/3000 series transmissions. Seems there's a bunch of issues with them. Anyone have knowledge on them? Suggestions on autos? I still would like discs on the corners.The hydroboost is a bit scary. The rear needs to be changed. Gear swap or axle?

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I used steering knuckles off of an 89 c60 on my older front axle, this got me disk brakes on the correct width axle. I did have to take the axle to a machine shop to have the kingpin bores enlarged slightly to accommodate the 89 kingpins. I have a bit of info on post #14 on my build if you want to see specifics.

-Richard

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Going a different direction: brakes. Got axles with discs. Next is new master cylinder.

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What axles are you going with? Have you checked the mounting and track widths to see how they fit? I was curious because I've seen both ways done (wider/newer axle shortened with added mounting perch or stock standard axle used but had king pin bore enlarged with donor spindles/brakes). Was just curious which donor you got the parts from and what direction you were going to go with it.

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The rear is from a 1990 F350. It's what was at the yard plus it has a 3:73 ratio, better than the 7:20 for daily driver usage. I just want to get things rolling. They cut the frame so i have the spring holders. If i have to adjust them on the axle, no biggie. The front is going to be a bit more. It's from a 93 C3500. My initial thought is to remove 5 springs so I'll have 3. I took basic measurements and they looked good but as soon as the weather breaks I'll do exact numbers.

My thought is going towards master cylinder. Vacuum vs hydraulic booster. 2500 have vacuum. 3500 have hydraulic. Besides the booster, i can't find anything else for the system. I'm leaning towards the 2500 to make things easier. It won't be carrying anything too heavy and i don't even have any kind of trailer.

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Nice C50 and nice plans for it.

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make sure its NOT a c3500HD front axle . . . you said 3500 axle for the front .

3500 = ifs suspension . your pic shows solid drop beam = 3500HD truck . totally different parts when you go to the store .

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Are you sure that rear is from a 1990 F350? They never had 3.73 or disc brakes in 1990 F350s. Maybe a F-superduty rear axle?

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and if so it will be ford STUPID duty metric 8 lug pattern .

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You're right. Rear is from a 99 E350. Front is from a 98 Chevy 3500, must be HD.

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only problem i see now is fun finding rims that will work with 2 different axles and look the same . i would have grabbed the rear from the front axle doner truck . then you would have got 19.5 rims .

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I thought of that too but right now I don't care. It'll be close enough. The rear wasn't available.

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Another thing I've been looking at is the 99-up Ford have a different lug pattern but the 98 and earlier have the same as Chevy and Dodge. The big difference is the center hub. The Fords have bigger hubs. Does it matter if the bigger Ford wheel fits on the Chevy hub? I'm thinking it's the studs that keep the wheel on so no.

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The 99 up fords are 8 on 170mm instead of the 8 on 6.5". If you get into F450s and F550s they are a different bolt pattern yet. The 97 down dually wheels are called Budd type. The have a locating pin that helps center the wheel on the hub. They do center on the hub center too and the lug nuts just hold the wheel square. I have used dodge wheels on fords but I had to use 4 cone type lug nuts to center them and I used 4 regular ford lug nuts for peace of mind.

My Dad has a 47 Dodge we're gong to put C30 IFS in the front with P30 direct bolt wheels. I happen to have a large eaton rear but it is big 8 lug with 19.5s and has massive disc brakes. It is 3.31 so we might use it but having 2 different wheels is the hold up. It makes rotating tires a pain and you'd need 2 spares on a trip.

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if I recall ford vans still used 8x6.5 pattern . just the trucks went metric 8x170.

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Yes, that's right. But I can't remember if that is true with the drw vans. If it has a D80 in the rear, it's probably metric though.

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I might be in the market for that 7.20 diff carrier, post some pics if available, shipping might be a killer?

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Switching gears. Seriously thinking of swapping chassis. Looking at. 3500 hd or G50 or rv. Time for research.

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OK, going back to original idea. Big question is steering geometry. Old truck has box and driver's knuckle connecting in front of axle.

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...25&oe=5C0ADE0A

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...40&oe=5BDB91A2


New axle the drag link is behind.

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...cf&oe=5C0E8FB6

Is this going to be an issue?

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I have a plumbing company that has a few F series 1993--1999 350--7000s flat bed trucks and work trucks that have the desiol engine in them with 250,000 miles or a little more but calif law wanted them off the road so you cant drive them in Calif at all they just had to scrap a running dump truck 10 yarder

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too far to ship. can get cheap stuff here.

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So I had another question. If I throw the stepside long bed on and the rear axle is lined up in the fender, would the wheelbase be shorter than a C10? I know the C50 front fender is shorter than a C10. Could someone verify this?

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OK, I'm confused. On my 68/89 the drag link is in back but the steering box hooks to the front. See post 97 in my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...3&postcount=97

I thought they all had the steering box in front and drag link behind... Can you show me a picture of what is under it now?

-Richard

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Yes, you're right. the first 2 pics are current and what you have too.

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Ok, so how is the donor axle set up? Is it the Chevy 3500 axle?

-Richard

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yep. The bottom pic shows it.