'99 Silverado straight axle swap?

[GRAYTEXK5]

hey everyone, I have a '99 ext. cab Z71 Silverado (1/2 ton, "new" body style), that will be paid off soon...and I wanna start planning now for a straight axle swap on it. does anyone know anything about doing this swap on one of these...how difficult, how expensive, what all parts I'll need, etc.? I've seen kits from ORU for the 88-98 body style, and for 01 and newer HD subs and avalanches....but I don't see anything for a '99 1/2 ton. does anyone know if they make one? or has anyone else on here done this swap? any help, links, etc. anyone could give me, would be greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[sweetk30]

try these guys www.setstr8.com thay have some nice parts. i have installed there tracksion bars and were good quality.

 

[divorced]

A friend of mine just got done installing a Ford D60 under his '03 2500HD using the Fabritech kit. It was real easy to do. He still needs to get a slip yoke eliminator for his front t-case output so he can have a front shaft made.

 

[GRAYTEXK5]

thanks for the info. do you happen to know if the fabritech kit comes with everything you need to do the swap? obviously I'll have to find an axle, and springs, but...just as far as all the hardware goes? and was there alot of cutting and welding involved? I'm sure it will be a little different on mine, being a 1/2 ton, but...just wanted to get a general idea of what their kits are like. I don't really wanna call them up just yet, because it will be a while before I'm actually ready to do it, but...just trying to gather any info I can for now. thanks.

 

[divorced]

The Fabritech was complete and even included the steering parts. Everything was bolt-on. You would position the brackets with existing frame holes and then drill a couple extra holes for the rest of the bolts. He did have to cut out a crossmember on the front that held the lower a-arms, but no welding was needed. With a taller lift spring (he used 4" springs) the crossmember could have stayed on the truck so it could be returned to stock if he wanted to.

 

[sled_dog]

A friend of mine just got done installing a Ford D60 under his '03 2500HD using the Fabritech kit. It was real easy to do. He still needs to get a slip yoke eliminator for his front t-case output so he can have a front shaft made.

Those have a slip yoke FRONT? I need to crawl under Dad's 2500HD when I get home apparently.

 

[divorced]

Those have a slip yoke FRONT? I need to crawl under Dad's 2500HD when I get home apparently.

Yep, it's a strange design. The driveshaft of course is a solid piece with out a slip in it, and it has a male splined shaft on the end that fits into a female spline piece that is the t-case front output. By doing it this way the female spline piece in the t-case has the seal around it instead of sealing around the driveshaft yoke, so he can just take his d-shaft out and no fluid is lost. It's kind of different than the 208 style slip yoke. My friend's is an '03 with a 5 speed manual, I'm not sure when this design started or what year your dad's is.