The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 67-72 discs and PS in a 64

While scouring the local papers I have found 67-72 Disc Brakes and power steering from a half ton truck. I thought that the front end of trucks from 63-72 were similar. My question is: What would it take to put these components into my truck? I have not phoned the guy yet so I dont know what it all comes with, but I wanted to know if it is compatable somewhat. Thank you very much. Body of Knowledge.

Everything will swap; the entire crossmember will unbolt from the 67-72 (through to 87, actually) and bolt right into your 64. I swapped a '75 front end and rearend onto mine. This way I have 5 lugs and '75 parts all around.

Only thing I don't know about is the idler arm; it's different on the '75. It might be the same on the '67.

Mike, what did you do about the rear end? Did you have trailing arm mounts welded to it?

I'm gettin close to the front end project (using the front end of a 74 in my 64) and I'd really like to be able to use the rear end...but the 64 is a coil spring trailing arm set up and the 74 is a leaf spring deal.

Thanks,

These are just the discs brake parts, not the whole crossmember. What about 3/4 ton. I have an 85 chev 3/4 ton that I could use the crossmember an so on from. What about the power steering from 67-72, what will that take to put in my truck? I still have the six cylinder but am going to a V8 in a few weeks here. thanks for the replies!

i used a kit from www.earlyclassic.com to mount my rearend.

OK. I went to earlyclassics.com and saw a lot of interesting things there, but no kit to install a leaf spring rear end in a trailing arm application.

Did you go with the air ride kit? Did you use their 5 lug conversion axles and stay with the trailing arms?

Am I overlooking something?

I wrote to early classics about this and here is the response:

" Ray, I will get you on the mailing list for the catalog, as far as the
conversion goes, we offer axle saddles for the coil spring rearend, but not
the leaf spring rearends."

So I'm not sure what kit you're talking about.

Ray, I made a jig for the '64 rearend, then carefully washed the mounting brackets and trailing arm bracket off the '64 rearend. I cut the brackets off the '75 rearend, then put the '64 brackets and the '75 rearend in the jig, tacked them in place, then had them TIG welded.

Check the website; I documented the swap.

http://bkndsdl1.home.mchsi.com/rear_end_rebuild.htm

Thanks, Mike. I'd visited your site before and drooled over the OHC motor that you envision for your truck...and checked out the front end swap. This is exactly what I'll be doing. I just got the 74 C10 organ donor home tonite. I gotta pull the 454 and TH400 out...and then tear the sheet metal off...not necessarily in that order...but I'll use your site as a guide. I appreciate your thoroughness in documenting it.

And I understand what you did with the rear end. I'll have to find some help with that cuz the last time I did any welding was in high school and that was...well...what century is this, anyway? It's been a long time. But I think that's the route I'll have to go. I wanna have the 5-lug wheels front and rear, the same year brake components (like you mentioned) and the higher ratio rear end. So...we'll just keep pluggin away at it and when I get the rear end outta the 74, I'll see what my options are locally.

Thanks again...and high marks for your website!

ps...High 5 to Mark Martin for his win in the All Star race. He done good.

www.brotherstrucks.com sells the kit together.i bought the parts seperately from early classic.

Ray, about the only thing I see that you need to be aware of is the fact that the '75 front and rear are a little bit wider than those on the '64, but that can be made up with wheel offset. I cut the brackets off the '75 with a portaband, and I washed the brackets off the '64 with a torch. I can weld, but I opted to go with the TIG because it uses less heat. I didn't want to warp the housing.

Sorry for post jacking, Arctic......I don't know about the 3/4 ton stuff mating to 1/2 ton stuff.......I do know you can put the spindles on if you change the ball joints, but I wouldn't. If you just change out the spindles, you will have to pull all of your shims out of the uppers because the lowers are mounted differently from drum to disc; the lowers are closer together on the newer model. When I asked about the swap, I had someone post their experience with just swapping out spindles. I also know someone who just swapped spindles on a '65, and he had to pull all the shims out of the upper to even get it close to alignment; it's still out, but he can live with it. I can't.

Yes, Ray, Mark spanked 'em......I hope he does the same in the 600.

BTW, I got the frame blasted & painted....I just got my new machine @home, and I just loaded FrontPage on it last nite. I'll be updating the website this weekend.

thanks bkndsdl, I followed the progress on your website and it looks like it worked out nicely for you. by the way, good luck ray. Anybody have anything to say about the power steering? thanks again!

You can add power steering to your truck; you can buy an adapter from Brothers that will adapt the later model gearboxes to your frame without drilling any holes. The pump is simply attached to the engine, then run the hoses to the gearbox. I haven't done this yet, but I've done some research on it. You have to modify (I think shorten) your steering rod.

Glad I could be of help.......Like I said, I'm going to update my website this weekend hopefully; check it out.

Mike, you are about 60 miles from me. I would love to see your truck. You ever come to MS?

BTW, I have flown at Azalea city with Wes, so I must have met you there.

how can i tell whether or not i need to change my front/rear ends out?