What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

86 Crew Long

Eat Soot

Eat Soot

1/2 ton status
Joined
Sep 15, 2011
Posts
178
Reaction score
0
Location
Washington
Hello Gents,

I recentlly picked up this 86 C30 Crew, I'm looking to convert it to 4WD. Quick question on swap. I know it will quite involved. Anyway I found a 87 1 ton k30 frame standard cab long bed. Do you know if the front rear axle spring hanger needed for the swap will be what I need? I can't see why it would be any different being a standard cab long. Basically I will buy this frame for the engine crossmember and all the spring hangers. I may just do a ORD shackle flip on the rear set. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance

86a.jpg

86-cc1.jpg
 
My thoughts, don't bother with the other frame. Just get a B52 setup from diy4x4 and a cross member from either off road design or any other company making them. Less rivets to grind, stronger stuff, and more options.
 
Love the Crew Cabs!

Just FYI the rear spring hangers are different between 2wd and 4wd. If you do the shackle flip you will still need to get a 4wd front hanger for the rear springs. Using the DIY4X kit on the front is a nice way to go and if you do i would use the A-BOMB kit so the lining up is easier. I would have went that way but im running 3" wide springs. You should probably check out Mrk5's build because he did the same swap you are talking about. http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303347
Keep it up!
 
Hell, I'm just jealous of a garage that fits that truck!

I second the A-bomb for what your doing.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. Looks like I will creep around DIY4X. Really not looking forward to doing another major project after doing the 72 Cummins thing. But hell finding a 4x4 that isnt toast is a challenge...so here we go again. Trying to locate a cheap D60 front now! .... ahh that isn't going to happen. $800 to $1000 where I'm at. Hopefully it won't be too bad of a swap. Couple more pics of Crew...she is a straight old girl.

86b.jpg

86-cc.jpg

86-cc2.jpg

86-cc3.jpg
 
I have done 2wd to 4wd swaps before. They are pretty simple. You can have the front end under it in a weekend pretty easy. The entire 2wd suspension including cross member and everything all drops out as a unit with like 8 bolts or something. Then just bolt in the new engine cross member. Then the hard part i removing the rivets ffor the front body mounts do you can bolt in the new spring hangers. Then the hard part after that is adding holes in the frame for the new shackle hangers. That's my least fun part.
 
^^^^X2^^^^ That hole for the front shackle hanger is no fun. Good hole saw and lots of cutting oil is how i did mine. Also don't forget to check out ORD for the FUSH shackle hangers!
 
I'd start with the front spring mounts, then move to shackle hangers. You can keep driving it with those being installed. When your ready with axle and springs, drop the assembly as noted and install the cross member and new 4x4 parts. If you've planned ahead a little and already have the axle set-up for cross over you are basically done.
So , first weekend install the front mounts and maybe the shackle mounts. Next week end drop out the 2wd stuff Saturday and install the axle and steering sunday.
 
Good call. For the shackle hole, I used a cutting torch. But I wasn't too concerned about pretty. If you had a plasma cutter, that would be ideal.
 
Ok you guys are making this sound pretty easy!....y5mgisi.....you live awful close to me...."hint hint" Ha! Anyway sounds good I will start collecting some pieces. Thanks for the suggestions. This is my first ever 2WD full size truck so not too familiar with the front engine crossmember. Maybe a dumb question: wait for it... wait for it... Do I have to pull the engine to replace the crossmember? The truck wont be back until Friday night from detail so I wont be able to see how its configured in there till then. Thanks for the help/advise
 
2wd conversions are tricky and can be a pain when you start adding custom springs and crap in the way. I found the hard way on mine and was creating a mess that wouldn't work correctly. I sold all of it off and doing a ORD 4 link to create the results I wanted.

I could have made the leaf springs work and I'm sure it would have been fine but my ocd and add kicked in and look a squirrel.


Have you thought about cutting the frame off and grafting from the front body mount forward onto your 2wd frame? The 2wd's have a different arch in the frame rails.
 
:haha: Just trying to give a heads up, it can be done and has been done. Personally if it was me and I had the ability I would z cut the frame and weld on the new portion with fish plates.
 
You think so? It was a nightmare for me the other way but I also made it a lot harder then it had to be and was trying to create a Ferrari suspension on a 80's chevy truck.
 
Havingdone it bbefore, I can tell you, I would much rather grind a few rivets as opposed to chopping my frame off.
 
Personelly I would get one of the hacked up ccabs in your area and strip it down and then build it up right at your own pace and leisure. Then when your ready swap over everything in a weekend or two.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom