Okay, I've no idea where to start but I need to upgrade the suspension in my '63 C10 and wanted to know if there are any bolt in front ends from another model year or different vehicle, Mustang, etc. If fabrication is in the equation that's not a problem, can do, although I'd like to keep it simple. I plan on keeping the current motor, 292 6, love the torque! Primary goal is to make the truck much better handling so any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Doesn't your truck already have IFS? Probably the best and cheapest course would be to rebuild or replace worn parts as necessary and get an alignment. It is also possible newer Chev truck parts will fit such as newer spindles for disc brakes, better steering, and sway bars. You might find your existing suspension is fine if you put it back the way it was supposed to be when new.
yep the "IFS"you have is rebuildable and if its stock your after that would be the way to go, if you want it to handle better get HD springs and matching shocks front and rear! no idea about these guys but youll get the idea of what to get if you look here http://www.performanceonline.com/19...-Suspension-Kits-Coil-Springs-Front-and-Rear/
Disc brakes and some dropped springs or dropped springs and spindle. Everything is bolt in from a later model chevy truck and super cheap. 63 is coil spring chev and gmc. earlier is torsion bar. use everything on your truck. You can upgrade to disc brakes. YOu will need new spindles for these. Parts are all over for these. You can upgrade up to 87 I beleive. Everything bolts on. No need to change the cross member. Doing my third one of these in two years right now. super easy and awesome looks.
60-62 is torsion bar. 71 was first year for disk brakes. They used the same basic front suspension from 63-87 in pickups and thru 91 in suburbans
Adding a sway bar from the later 1/2 ton trucks will greatly improve the handling. A good pair of shocks, Monroe Sens-a-tracs.
The '84 is also a near bolt in you have to drill one hole for the cross member. or you can use the spindles and brakes from an '84 by making a spacer for the upper ball joint. But no reason to mess with it if you can get hte entire euspension. it really isn't an improvement, the C-10 suspsneion is good suspension from the start. If it is disc brakes that you are after you can use the hubs from a disc brake truck say like a 71 or 72 and make your own mounts for the calipers. Just a thought.
i'm with everyone else just rebuild or up grade what you have it's a lot better than mII and add a sway bar if it doesn't have one
AWESOME! I feel a helluva lot better now. Rebuilding current frontend is the way I'll go; new bushings, sway bar, springs and shocks oughta do it! THANKS A BUNCH, YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!
I'be got the 230 inline in my '63 c10, all I did was replace the suspension joints and replaced all the parts for the brakes. Truck stops great, and rides nice. If you are wanting better brakes, just split the brake line at the front crossmember, and put in a late 60's Chevy car drum/drum master cylinder. If you want upgraded suspension, just bolt up the spindles from a '71-81ish Chevy/gmc upfront, the bolt in the rearend from a '71-'72 chevy/gmc truck with trailing arms, some had leaf springs out back. Rearend will be 2inches over all wider, but you will have tje 5 bolt pattern to match the front. If you can, get the brake ***embly, and power sterring setup too. David
I agree to keep what you have and improve it: The 63 to 70 with the metal control arm bushings will hold an alignment, where the later rubber bushing will deform with time. Not to metion no deflection with metal on hard cornering with radial tire grip. Sway bars from the 67-72 will be easier to find and are bolt in, and 3/4T is beefier. Skip the discs, add a brake booster and the 69-87 PS box, you will be thrilled with how it stops, rides and handles. Discs are not needed unless you live on top of a big mountain and are carrying very heavy loads, or towing...
My '66 Suburban has a complete front suspension from one of the later disk brake trucks, it literally bolts in with no welding and gives you disk brakes and power steering, plus the best part is it makes it 5 lug bolt pattern (5 on 5") which opens up a lot more wheel possibilities. Has the rearend out of the same truck added so the patterns all match. If you could find the suspension out of a low mileage truck that doesn't need every single piece rebuilt or replaced, might be a lot easier and cheaper than rebuilding all the stock stuff. Don't know what it's like in your area but around here the 4x4 guys pretty much give away the 2wd **** like that.
Everyone, thanks for the help! F&J, I found a sway bar from a '72 3/4 ton and it's going in this weekend, that'll help a "ton" no doubt, Thanks! I'm happy with the drum brakes, I rebuilt the entire brake system and the truck stops great! As for towing I have a 1963 DeCamp (1,200 lbs) travel trailer that'll be behind the Chevy very soon; if my Ridgeline can tow it no problem, the Chevy sure will! Thanks again everyone!!!!!!!!!
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