86 C10 Trailing Arm Conversion

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by JW76

.... Also, I am switching to a 69 axle that is setup for leaf springs. I am curious how to locate the trailing arm perches and center the axle. My plan was to leave the leaf springs in until the last steps so that I could use them to locate everything. I believe the perches on both the 69 and my 86 axle are in the same place so I was just going to unbolt the old axle and put the new one in and locate the crossmember based on that. Sorry if any of this is unclear. Thanks for any help or contributions.

Try finding a rear housing that's ready for truck arms. While this can be done several different ways, 12-bolt 67-69 truck rears aren't commanding premium dollars in used, non-posi condition. Become a supporting member ($25/yr subcription) & post a want-to-buy ad in the 67-72 classifieds. I bet you'd get a few hits from fellow members in your area.

[JW76]

Thanks SCOTI for your response. I believe that the crossmember has to go under the frame rails. This is the way they did it at hot rods to hell. I was going to modify the ends of crossmember and make some brackets out of 1/4 steel to attach to the ends of the crossmember and the outside of the frame rails. As for shocks I am torn between air and coil overs all the way around. I want the truck to be more like a pro-touring vehicle while still being able to hit the drag strip once in a while. I am wondering what you would recommend.

[JW76]

here they are...

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by JW76

....I believe that the crossmember has to go under the frame rails. This is the way they did it at hot rods to hell. .....

How low are you planning to run your truck? I am assuming you want it low because you mention Pro-Touring. With the crossmember mounted under the rails your not going to be able to run as low as you would with it mounted between the rails.

The truck you pictured that HRH built is a C/20. I'm not sure what the reason was for the T/A conversion but I will guess they have no intentions of running low.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

How low are you planning to run your truck? I am assuming you want it low because you mention Pro-Touring. With the crossmember mounted under the rails your not going to be able to run as low as you would with it mounted between the rails.

The truck you pictured that HRH built is a C/20. I'm not sure what the reason was for the T/A conversion but I will guess they have no intentions of running low.

I assumed 'under the framerails' meant between the upper & lower rail, but under the lip of the rail. JW76, can you clarify?

I'm familiar w/the HTH set-up. I like it but think the price is too much considering the dimension between the frame rails of 67-87's is basically the same width thus allowing a stock or aftermarket truck arm c.member to bolt in. Their PHB set-up is nice but it requires welding. If you have that ability.... fabbing your own PHB brackets so that the bar is level @ ride height shouldn't be an issue. Ditto on the CPP kit.