The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 64 rear end and suspension questions

I've been reading through the forums and i can't seem to find the answer to my questions. I have a 64 3/4 ton that i am about to begin to restore. Along with restoring i am also going to upgrade some parts. I want to convert the brakes to 5 lug disc brakes. i have read that the whole front end (spindle to spindle)from a 73-late 80's chevy PU bolts up directly to the truck with very few new wholes to drill. In doing the front switch, i also have to switch the rearend and i was told on another forum that the 71-72 rear end will bolt directly on to my 64, but what about the front end from that same year?

So, will the rear end from a 73 or newer truck also bolt up directly to my 64 like the front suspension? or do i have to modify anything?

or will the front suspension from a 71-72 bolt up to the truck like the rear end? Any advice or input will be greatly appreciated.

Yeah, thats baiscally what i wan to do. But i need to know what years will transfer parts, that way i can just look for a donor truck. Does any one know?

Coil or leaf in the rear?

Hey, I hope you don't mind if I listen in here. I've got a '64 3/4 ton that I want to change the rear axle ratio on. right now the truck is screamin' at 55 mph; I'd like to go to a 3.56 or lower (numerically). I've heard that there's a good selection of ratios after '74 or so, but I don't know what all I'd have to change out to change the axle.

It has coils springs in the rear. i know the 71-72 rear transfers to my 64, but will the 71-72 front suspension also directly bolt on?

Transplanting any 1973-later rear axle from a 1/2 ton truck will require a little bit of fabricating. The 1973-later trucks use leaf spring rear suspensions with no panhard bar. 1963-72 1/2 ton trucks use virtually the same axle set ups. So, these would be a slam dunk bolt in, other than the correct length panhard bar. 1965-72 used the same length panhard bar, 1963-64 used a longer panhard bar, and 1960-62 used a slightly longer panhard bar.
To transplant a 1973-later rear axle requires changing the axle tube spring pads, and aquiring a panahard bar relocating kit. Or, if you are really skilled with the plasma cutter and welder, which I am not, you can cut the panhard bar mounting brackets from the 1963-64 rear axle and weld it to your donor axle. This is not possible with 1965-72 rear axles, as the panhard bar mounting point is cast into the differential housing.

Good Luck!

Oops, brain fart. "The 1973-later trucks use leaf spring rear suspensions with no panhard bar. 1963-72 1/2 ton trucks use virtually the same axle set ups."
Let me clarify. 1963-72 trucks with coil spring rear suspensions used virtually the same axle set up from 1963-72. This set up uses coil springs, long angled trailing arms, and a panhard bar.

Sorry for any confusion.

Seth K. Pyle

Thanks alot 66fleetside! You clarified alot of the questions that i had. I have a couple more questions. I read a post somewhwere else where a guy tranfered a 75 suspension in to his 64 and only had to redrill a few holes for the idler arms. is it the same thing for the 71-72 suspensions? Does the 73 or later suspension transfer better than the 71-72 suspension? Thanks everyone for your help. i really appreciate it.