The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 61-66

I have 66 2wd drive long bed. I bought a 61 4X4 frame complete with the drivetrain. The question I have is will the 61 4X4 drivetrain bolt onto under the 66 frame. Reason I'm ask is the frame on the 61 is rusted out.

The 60-62 & 63-66 frames were completly different on 2 wheel drive. Im don,t know where the 4x4 falls in but I have my doughts.

my 61 4x4 and my dad's 65 4x4 frames are relatively similar. I have no idea about bolting the 4x4 hardware onto a 4x2 frame though. It probably won't be easy.

No, a 2WD and a 4WD frame are completely different. A 2WD has a series of bends in it with coil spring rear suspension where-as the 4WD frame is a straight ladder type frame for leaves. I'm building a '63 K20 now and it had a rusty frame too. I bought a 2WD for it's body and considered using it's frame also. Once I had the two frames stripped bare, I could see that wasn't going to happen. I then repaired my 4WD frame instead,
Scott

my local 67-72 truck guru says 4x4 frames 60-72 were the same ladder type w/leafs fr & rear,,if both were 4wd it would work. my assembly manual show the 4wd frames 60-66 to at least be very similar,if not the same. 2wd is another story,,brian

Continuing this same discussion... let's assume his 66 body is already on a 4wd frame...(in my case a 65 with 4wd under it) and put on a newer 4wd frame... like an 88 or newer Chevy with IFS... is this any easier or would this be near impossible also?

I once got the bright idea of converting a 69 C30 to a 4x4 using my rotted out 72 K20 drive line. Trust me the frames are not the same. Now I have seen some trick 4x4's out there where a guy put leaf springs and the axle under his 64 1/2 ton short bed. He added longer rear springs to even out the height. Anything is possible. Just depends on how much fabricating you want to do. It's not a bolt in job.

As far as Bowtie65's question. I have wondered the same. If the newer chassis is straight or nearly straight where the cab sets on, I am sure it could. I know 73-87 frames raise up under the seat area of the cab so 60-66 cabs don't sit right on that. (Last weeks lesson learned)

kruzeag,,the C30 was a different animal back then,, they were real one tons,heavy thick channel frame w/leaf rear springs,if you had had a 3/4 ton or less it woulda worked,,I know a fella has a 64-6 swb GMC on a mid 80s 4x4-there is a drop in the frame behind the cab,,he used body lift spacers to mount cab. It is not real pretty but evidently works. the 88-up frames are flat but not sure how they work out. for me personally a 4x4 must have a solid front axle tho,,brian

Brian, Depends on what you want it for. Hard core four wheelin' needs a straight axle, a 4x4 to get through the snow to get to work, IFS is fine. IFS rides better the rest of the time.

The C30 4x4 swap worked. It was a great looking truck when it was together. Just a lot of work for what I ended up with. Shoulda kept it.

that c30 4x4 sounds like a mean truck,,brian