Projects C10 vs c20 parts

I have a 66 c20, I'm trying to lower it with drop spindles in the front and springs in the rear, only problem is, I can only find spindles for the 1/2 through lmc. Will they work in my c20? Are there any kits out there for 3/4 ton c20's? Also what about converting it to a c10? What would I have to do? Does anybody have any knowledge to lend on the subject? Thanks!

66str86

 

What I did find out years ago, is that the C20 has larger tapered holes in the "steering linkage".

I was not converting a 3/4 ton. What I was doing, was putting 73-up C10 discs on a 66 C10, and that older C10 has smaller tie-rod tapers that needed to go into the late spindle steering arms. That small taper was used until 72 on C10s. I got lucky to have the centerlink and tie rods from a 66 C20, and that allowed me to bolt up the late spindles perfectly, because of their larger tapers.

on your question, no the tie rods won't fit, and we don't know if you are trying to keep the 8 lug drums? No, that drum won't fit a C10 spindle.

another thing that likely won't fit are the ball joint tapers.

I don't have a C20 to look at

 

3/4 ton stuff is all bigger than half ton stuff. If you want a lowered 3/4 ton, you probably have to do some work to figure out how to lower it yourself. You can cut coils out of the springs or cut and weld the spring pockets in the lower A arms, and hope you can align it properly. You might want to look into 1973-86 3/4 ton parts, they probably are very similar, although as mentioned the size of tapers on ball joints and steering ends may be different.

 

Speedway used to sell tapered reamers for suspension parts, I imagine they still do, so that's not a big hill to climb. There are two sizes. Its best to get the correct one.
That's probably going to be the easy part of your project.
Good Luck

 

Newer disc brake chassis components swap over to the C10, C20 with minimal grief. Arms, spindles, rotors, etc. Check out the C10 truck forums, they'd know. You might find a thread here as well.

 

If you are not trying to keep it 3/4 ton and are ok with 6 lug or 5 lug wheels, just replace the entire
front crossmember and suspension/brake****embly. They bolted in in that era. I believe but have never
checked that the 3/4 ton and 1/2 ton frames are virtually the same in the crossmember area- check
to be sure first. As you stated 1/2 ton modification stuff is everywhere.