Looking for insight on 4x4

[chev-obsession]

So I drove by a place today and saw a 4x4 chassis in a lay down yard. The guy says it’s a 71 GMC on a 69 Chevy 4x4 frame. The truck is complete and the previous owner kept up on registration so he could drive it, however the body is SHOT so I didn’t take pics of it. But… I don’t see it taking much to get the truck running.

So I’m really only interested in the running gear and frame. It looks pretty unmolested but I’m not a 4x4 expert and not very knowledgeable outside of the basics, so I’m looking for any input, insight, other things to look for or keep in mind, any help is appreciated!!!

Things I know:
Frame is over all straight and not rusted or cracked
Frame is straight over the rear axle
T case mount is bolted in and has an angle iron piece bolted to the frame to the T case
The front axle is drum brake with open knuckle (1970?)
The aluminum hubs around the red dials are cracked around every bolt
Missing rear shocks… Why?
Passenger side shock mount bent
I believe the T case is NP205?

Questions:
What would it take/cost to convert front axle to discs? Is it worth to covert over buying a disc brake axle?
Will the wheels work with discs?
Anything else I should look for?
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[chev-obsession]

More pics
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[GSP7]

Looks good buy it

NP205, and both drive shafts are there, Dana 60 rear

Post pics of the trashed body

.

[57taskforce]

Looks pretty solid. Looks like a K20 frame which is an excellent start.

That is a ‘70 front axle like you thought. Np205 is correct, I believe you’ll need later wheels to work with the disks but I’ve never had drums so I could be wrong. If you can find a ‘71-76ish GM external hub 3/4 ton front axle you can swap your red dials in place of the blue or yellow dials if you’d like to keep them, and gain disks. Later axles use internal hubs. The hub dial housings that are cracked are not reproduced but they are still around used. You shouldn’t have much trouble finding some, you could post a want to buy in the parts board.

Any axle from a 71-87(91 for 3/4 ton suburbans,1 ton crews) 3/4-1 ton solid front axle 4x4 will bolt in and work just fine, this is how I would swap to disks.

Ohh and It looks like it’s got a lift on it. Rear blocks, four leaves in the front packs.
It’s also possible that is a ‘72 frame, based on the strap of metal welded across the front of the front of the spring eye on the driver front spring, front hanger. Does it have a piece of metal bolted behind the shackle on the drivers front spring? This was a factory ‘72 thing to prevent the spring from coming thru the floor in an accident. Some earlier trucks did have this stuff added in a recall if I remember correctly.

[GSP7]

Sombody welded something on the front driver side spring hanger. Could be cracked or busted

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by GSP7

Sombody welded something on the front driver side spring hanger. Could be cracked or busted

Sure enough, good eye. I didn’t notice that picture the first go around I was thinking along the lines of this. I don’t have a front view of it from my pictures on my phone. You can see the strap spot welded to the front of the hanger.

[chev-obsession]

Originally Posted by GSP7

Sombody welded something on the front driver side spring hanger. Could be cracked or busted

Thank you for the input!

Yes I saw that welded thing and didn’t see any cracks or weird bends, I wondered why that was welded like it was. The frame doesn’t appear to have any damage anywhere. I can go back tomorrow and get more pictures

[special-K]

Looks like a '70 chassis and that welded piece may have been done as a recall. The 71/72s have a piece welded there and the stop bracket at the rear. The NP205, open knuckle/drum brake axle, and that steering box/drag link set-up all began in '70 (except the NP205 in Blazer w/TH350)

[too much stuff]

Everything points to it being a 70 4x4 setup. The welded cage up front is correct and there should be a stop bolted to the frame behind the same spring. Drivers side only. Drum brakes with open axle joint is a 70 thing also. The red lockout hubs are also correct for a 70 i believe.

[special-K]

Cool Delco shocks. Big D!

[Fulcherma]

So, for informational purposes, what was the strap and stop for on the driver side spring? I'm restoring a 71 k20 and it has this.

[chev-obsession]

Originally Posted by Fulcherma

So, for informational purposes, what was the strap and stop for on the driver side spring? I'm restoring a 71 k20 and it has this.

The strap was done by someone else after the truck was made at the factory. It looks to have been welded with 6010. Wether it was from the dealer or at home… I can’t say.

[57taskforce]

I thought 72 was the only year to have the strap and rear spring stop from the factory. But maybe 71 can be included in this. The strap keeps the spring in place in the event of a broken eyebolt and as I said above the stop behind the shackle helps keep the spring from coming thru the floor in the event of a bad crash. After looking again a little closer, I really don’t believe the truck above has the factory installed strap on it.

I remember reading and I have heard that pre ‘72 these were added to some trucks per a recall.

[Bigdav160]

I don't think the dana 60 came in that truck.

[special-K]

It's a '71 GMC K2500, so the Dana 60 should be what came in it

[Fulcherma]

My 71 k20 is one owner and was my dads. I'm not sure when the strap was welded on, but the welding definitely wasn't from the factory.

Mine has the eaton rear.

[too much stuff]

Spring cage: My 69 k-10 shortbed project has one along with my 2 owner 70 blazer, 3 owner 70 jimmy, 70 parts jimmy and my old 70 longbed. I have to believe most 4x4 trucks had them. Not sure about older than 69 however. In fact i couldn't find a 4x4 here that didn't have one.

[too much stuff]

More spring info:

[57taskforce]

Interesting; thanks for the documentation! I’ve been honestly searching high and low for more info on this for a few days now and there isn’t much out there it seems. Most recall info from back in the day points to replacing the front spring eye bolt with little to no mention of the hanger strap. I would bet those are the recall parts you’ve pictured as they are different than what my 72 K20 has for sure. My 69 K10 has nothing and I know of a 70 K20 with no strap as well. I think i will start a new thread on this subject here so as to not clog this one up anymore. I’d love to learn more.