Build Thread - 1-ton Chevy Swap

[JohnnyU]

The proportioning valve came from Speedway Motors, as did the spring buckets and weight jacks.

I bought bushings from Poly Performance. They are the 2 5/8" width just like the JJ's.

I got the front end torn about 50% down tonight thanks to Wirsch helping me out. I probably wont get another chance to work on it until Tuesday or next week.

 

[leumas12]

Looks like a sweet project! Like what everyone had been saying, a wheeler is a wheeler Im building an '88 BII with dodge axles and will likely end up with a chevy motor (Im gonna be calling it "the mutt" for obvious reasons ). If you decide to look for a solution to rust problems look into Chassis Saver from Magnets Paints. It was on Gearz first episode i think. Anyway its apparently better than POR 15 and it doesnt take hardly any prep work plus its just one stage (wire wheel loose rust off, paint on, done). The whole belly and cab of my truck are gonna get it. Again, nice build

Sam

 

[c_note]

hell ya... thats what i like to see! a chevy build done right.

 

[JohnnyU]

A little update....

Got the front suspension removed, and most of the brackets cut off the frame and ground smooth.

Pile of parts:

Pitman arm from WFO Concepts

Tapped my Sagniaw box for hydro ram assist:

Removed the IFS cross member, so I welded this tube in as a replacment front cross member

Now that I have the old suspension and brackets removed, I can begin mocking up the new axle and brackets. That's the fun part, all this cutting and grinding sucked.

 

[dabomb5756]

Yea, all the cutting sucks, but like you said, now its fun.
Box and crossmember look good.

Wtf is this?

 

[JohnnyU]

Wtf is this?

The reason that I don't make much progress very fast.....

 

[JohnnyU]

Finished welding the front crossmember, bolted up the steering box, finished cutting brackets off the frame, and started figuring out how to mount the coil buckets to the frame.

I also snapped a picture of the tires. 38.5x11r16. I haven't mounted them on my rims because I am trying to get a set of rock rings made. I may just mount them without the rings for now.

 

[Evan]

Looking good man!

 

[koda6966]

Did you fab up your own spring hangers?
If so.. would it be possible for me to lets say.. make myself a set for the ranger to include 2 inches of lift? (2 inches longer)

 

[metalmacguyver]

Some skinny tires. Looking forward to fab pics!

 

[Kdawg532]

as much as i hate chevys this looks like an awesome build that i will deff keep up on, i love watching people fabricate stuff and fix it up

 

[bobbywalter]

I posted a few pics of my sas on my 2 wheel drive gmc and no one was interested. Maybe you can appreciate it. Here are a few pics.

awwwwww stop it









looks like its gonna be able to git it awn biggie style...

 

[Will]

SO how many axles did you blow up plowing with that wimpy 6-lug Chevy?

 

[mhughes165]

am i missing something here???, i would assume hes puttin in a ford d60 or 44, because in thos years IFS truck if im not mistaken for a SAS you use a ford front rear due to the drivers side drop....

SO how many axles did you blow up plowing with that wimpy 6-lug Chevy?

 

[JohnnyU]

I'm using a King pin High-pinion Dana 60 from a 1979 F250 with the snow plow package. I chose that axle because it was cheap ($1000 for front/rear 60's), had the kingpins, and the narrower spring pads/differential. There is much more room on the short-side axle tube of this axle for mounting brackets and such without having to weld onto the cast center housing.

The wheels are off the Dodge that my buddy (redjosh) was running the tires on.

I blew up the 10bolt rear more than the IFS half shafts. Balljoints, pitman/idler arms, and tie rods were another story. Wimpy? At least it was 4wd..... I'm removing all of the 'wimpy' stuff now. Actually its all in a pile on the garage floor.

as much as i hate chevys this looks like an awesome build that i will deff keep up on, i love watching people fabricate stuff and fix it up

I hate brand loyalty. I think it's extremely ignorant., but I appreciate the comments! I'll build anything provided the price is right. I've had this truck for 8 years, so it has long since been paid off, and since I bought the Dodge, I really wasn't driving this truck much anymore. Now I will....