I have a '79 Chevy pick-up that I'm working on. It is going to be kustomized, lowered, air bagged, shaved, louvered, etc, etc. I'm in the process of getting it lowered. I'm going to use lowered spindles and dropped coils in the front, and a 4 link and air bags in the back. Anyway, the front suspension is VERY rusty. The A-arms are actually crumbling away, and the bolts that hold the brackets that mount the A-arms to the frame are so rusted that an alignment is out of the question. It all needs to be hot wrenched out and replaced. The frame is solid, but most of the front suspension components need to be replaced. I've been having a hard time getting the parts from a junkyard. I want them to cut off the frame rails at the firewall and sell me the whole front end. That way I can tear it all apart at work with air tools instead of trying to do it in the junkyard with hand tools. The junkyards around here are weird that way. Tonight I went to see the guy that punches louvers around here, and he told me he has an '82 Chevy pickup that he is in the process of parting out. All the front sheetmetal is gone, as well as the motor and trans. The cab is pretty much a shell, too. He is planning to make a trailer out of the bed, frame and rear end, and he is going to cut the frame off at the firewall. Everything I needed the junkyard to do. He told me if I wanted the front end he'd make me a great deal, even use his torch to cut it off, just to get rid of it. Now, my question. His parts truck is a two wheel drive 3/4 ton, and mine is a two wheel drive 1/2 ton. Are the A-arms and tie-rods, etc. the same? I realize that the 3/4 ton has bigger drums and 8-lug hubs and stuff, but I thought that the parts might be the same except for beefier spindles? Any help is appreciated. I figure I'd ask here first before any other message board. The answers here are always faster, and everyone here is more knowledgeable. Thanks............Layta E
I think they are the same, if not they will work. Guys are always swapping 3/4 Ton stuff on to 1/2 ton 4x4's, so I don't THINK there is too much different. Try coloradok5.com or chevytalk.org. They will know there for sure. Jason
og this is the place you need to look.. chevy truck message board but for the record I think it will work too..
i think the ball joints are bigger than the half ton. but it should work. just change to the half ton joints and spindles, springs. if you want a half ton i can fix you up with a whole front cut off where ever you want. our salvage yard will gladly sell a whole front cut off.
I've just done a simular thing putting an '82 front end in a '66, i used dropped spindles & fabricated some spring pockets in the A arms. I was told when i purchased the spindles that it was just the ball joint size that differed.....as stated before!
put a mustang II st up under it so you dont have any clearance problems since it is so rusty anyways.. or maybe find a front suspension out of a 88 or newer.. Talk with OGNC, He is Mr Truck Mag, he can lead you in the right direction..
im more of a ford truck guy,,, but my buddy has a chevy.... he was trying to lower it, he has a "heavy 3/4" truck. 8 lugs and everything... its different than the regular 3/4 trucks... he had a helluva time getting the right info on parts to lower the front end... the back end was the same as a one ton truck... he never did get the things he needed... all im sayin is, this parts truck youre looking at may be a heay 3/4 truck,,, where you are looking for light 3/4 and 1/2 ton parts.... but what do i know...
If all you mentioned is as bad as that why dont you just do a stub/clip and weld on his frame and parts intact?it can be welded and fishplated on inside of splice to make it safe.
The entire front crossmember on those pickups will unbolt with about 6 bolts on each side and roll out from underneath to work on or replace. The '82 entire crossmember will inter change with your 87 but there are differences between 3/4 and 1/2 ton spindles, coils, outer tie rod ends and ball joints. The ball joints and tie rod ends are considered consumables and will prolly need to be replaced anyway. I like cutting down the 3/4 ton coils for the front. Yeah, they're stiff riding but they keep their height better without bottoming out the lower control arms on the frame rails.. 1/2 ton spindles require 1/2 ton tie rod ends..same with ball joints.
og, how big a hurry are ya? might be able to come up with something or give Curtis at A-1 auto salvage a call.1-303-772-1520
Thanks for all the input everyone. I posted this question on a Chevy truck board that I belong to as well and the response was weak. One guy that answered said they were different, so who knows? I need get to the wrecking yard with my tape measure and snoop around. Flat-top, if you were closer I'd definitely get together with you, but shipping would be a killer. Thanks for the offer. Tomslik, I'm in no huge hurry, so if you come up with anything let me know. Thanks! Ed
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