The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 70s/80s K10 Blazer or Suburban Axle Swap to '63 C20

Hey everyone,

I need as much information and resources as you can muster.

I have my stovebolt, a 1963 3/4 ton 2WD Chevy with a 292 and either a 3 or 4 speed. I want to make it a 4x4.

I have looked for a direct swap donor but I'm extremely low on cash so I'm looking for a cheaper route.

I may have a K10 Blazer and a Suburban at my disposal.

What I am wondering is, how hard would it be to swap the axles out of either of them and can I take the transmission and transfer case from either of them and bolt them up to my 292. I would like to have a manual transmission but that will have to come later.

I don't know what year either the Blazer or the 'Burb is but I have pictures that I will post. As far as I know, I don't think the axles will be a direct easy swap.

So if you guys have a link to a kit or a step by step of what to do to bolt the axles in and get them set up, that would be great. I would really like to be able to get this done by the summer. So the faster I get the information, the faster I can get started.

Also if you guys could tell me what gear ratios I can expect in either of the trucks, that would be cool too. I'm pretty sure the K10 on has a 305ci but the 'Burb has a 350ci.

Picture of the Suburban:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a33/draciel882/Trucks/IMAG4411.jpg

Picture of the Blazer:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a33/draciel882/Trucks/IMAG4406.jpg

Thanks a ton everyone. This will really help me out.

Personally I would leave the 292 in the 63. The transmission and transfercase from the Burb or Blazer should bolt right up. You'll have to cut holes in the floor for the transfer case.

Your next step is gutting the front suspension from the 63. You'll have to get spring hangers and mount the steering box from the later trucks. If your frame widths are different, you'll have to weld some spring perches to the newer axles.

It's alot of work, but definately able to be done.

I found this link, it gives the frame dimensions from the 73-87 Chevy's.

http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/framespecs.html

http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/models.html

These guys have all kinds of custom fab parts.

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/

http://www.offroaddesign.com/aboutus.htm

Good luck

Converting your 2wd truck to a 4x4 will not be a bolt up operation, some fabrication will be required to make the 4x4 suspension bolt up, mainly in the front. An easier route would be to swap the body from your truck, along with then engine and trans if you want to keep them, into the Suburban chassis. The 'Burb is only about 2 inches longer in wheelbase than your C20 (129" vs 1277" ). You will need to swap motor mounts to do this, and an adapter will be required for the transfer case. A little forewarning, that 'Burb looks to about a '78/'79, it should have the TH350/NP203 full time transfer case combo. I'm not 100% sure if a manual trans adapter is available for it, especially for the SM420 that your truck already has. The NP203 was only used with a manual transmission for 2 years, '74 and '75, and is very rare to find one that way. Advance Adapters would be the best place to check for that.