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Converting C10 to K10. 67-72

bradshawtech

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I have a friend looking for a 67-72 K10 and not having any luck finding one, he’s seeing many C10’s short beds around. Is it feasible to build a 4x4 out of a factory 2 wheel drive? Are the frames the same? He’s pretty capable and could source the parts I think.

what say you?
 
I have a 67 GMC K2500 listed in the classified section.
I should’ve been more descriptive, he’s wanting a 1/2 ton automatic preferably. How tough is it to shorten the frame of a long bed?

I’ll send him pics of yours to see if he’s interested.
 
I know that it's possible, however I don't know how easy it will be to find the brackets.
And I personally, would look for brackets for '69 to '72. I had a factory '68 K10 and the front spring hangers were garbage, look at how they aren't tied into the radiator support mount. That truck had them welded up after breakage. The rear front hangers were for wider springs than newer trucks and the rear shackle hangers didn't have the brace underneath to the frame flange.
I swapped them for ones from a '69 K5.
The engine crossmember is easy as I would buy one from DIY4X unless going with no lift. It's a nice piece, I wish that my truck had one.

The transmission tunnel isn't a difficult thing, it just depends on what transmission. I believe that a TH350 will clear the low hump, but I think that anything else will require a bolt-in tunnel and the low one is part of the floor, not bolted in. A 4 speed or TH400 2wd bas the tall hump. I wouldn't cut a hole in one that doesn't have it, I would sell it and get a another, as the tall, no holes tunnel is less common.

I will also say that after cutting a K10 down to SWB dimensions, I would never do it again. The ride is crap compared to a long bed. My ORD springs helped immensely, now I just need new rear springs. But I don't understand the " I gotta have a shortbed" mentality anymore. No bed space with just a toolbox and spare tire, crappy ride... just my sentiment.
 
Aannd I just remembered that the Chevy trucks '72 and older usually had coil spring rear suspension. I have seen a few leaf spring Chevy C10 trucks in '72, but very few. GMC trucks usually had leaf springs.
That would bring more challenges with a coil spring truck, unless he put the axle under the truck arms. I saw one done that way years ago in a magazine. No idea if it worked well.
 
Aannd I just remembered that the Chevy trucks '72 and older usually had coil spring rear suspension. I have seen a few leaf spring Chevy C10 trucks in '72, but very few. GMC trucks usually had leaf springs.
That would bring more challenges with a coil spring truck, unless he put the axle under the truck arms. I saw one done that way years ago in a magazine. No idea if it worked well.
My buddy lives in Grand Junction, maybe I need to have him get ahold of you.
 
Message this guy. He has some K10's along with that he is buying every 67-72 longbed and cutting them up. I understand the why, but I had to unfollow got a bit annoying the rate with which he chops them up...
Anyway

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