2wd to 4wd conversion

[bucket]

So, lift it a little or rig up a higher clearance crossmember? Are you running any kind of bump stop?

 

[Turbo4whl]

BTW, Does anybody know where the hell I can find a Dana 60 housing vent tube??
I'll post pics of the frame when I get it.

Maybe. Is it threaded in? What is the thread pitch? I just recently found two 90 degree threaded vent to hose fittings.

 

[Raybob9289]

Bucket, I have decided I want it to be correct. In my mind the only right way is with the correct frame. I'm weird that way...

 

[Raybob9289]

Maybe. Is it threaded in? What is the thread pitch? I just recently found two 90 degree threaded vent to hose fittings.

It is kinda threaded I'll go out to the shop this morning and snap a pic and check the threads. The part still in the housing actually prayed out like its just barbed not threaded. Weird...

 

[scrap--metal]

I was happy with my conversion until I went thru a dip and the Front axle made
contact with my fabricated Front crossmember. Luckily it only broke the vent tube
off the font axle.

Was this a normal sort of dip, or an "oh $hit" sort of dip that you knew you shouldn't have hit that hard?

I've hit both and don't raise/lift my vehicles because they've bottomed a time or two. Consider your other options before thinking it was a waste of effort.

Are you running any kind of bump stop?

A solution like that sounds much better.

 

[Raybob9289]

See broken 90° vent tube

 

[Raybob9289]

Was this a normal sort of dip, or an "oh $hit" sort of dip that you knew you shouldn't have hit that hard?

I've hit both and don't raise/lift my vehicles because they've bottomed a time or two. Consider your other options before thinking it was a waste of effort.



A solution like that sounds much better.

I wouldn't say it was a yuuuuge dip and Old Blue with 4:56's can't really go fast. But the engine crossmember is just too close for comfort. I think the 4x4 frame is 2" taller over the front diff than the 2x4 frame.
So moving forward I would recommend to anybody that wants to do the conversion
to just find a 4×4 frame.

 

[Raybob9289]

BTW I'll be sellind a lot of frame parts on CL and EBay.

 

[shiftpro]

Bucket, I have decided I want it to be correct. In my mind the only right way is with the correct frame. I'm weird that way...

There's nothing weird about wanting functional suspension.
You could still B52 your front end, but the truck will be considerably taller. The springs will cost a lot... good luck finding rear leafs from a junk yard that aren't beat to hell.

 

[bucket]

I wouldn't say it was a yuuuuge dip and Old Blue with 4:56's can't really go fast. But the engine crossmember is just too close for comfort. I think the 4x4 frame is 2" taller over the front diff than the 2x4 frame.
So moving forward I would recommend to anybody that wants to do the conversion
to just find a 4×4 frame.

Went out and took some ballpark measurements. The frame itself, in the area of the engine crossmember, is only about 3/8" taller on the K30 vs the C30. The K30's axle bump stop protrudes about 2.5" below the frame rail. The bottom of the frame rail is (roughly) even in height with the core support mount surface on the K30. And also the nearby K5 frame I measured. The C30 frame has less of an arch in the crossmember area, about an inch or so lower.

For trying to keep stock height on a 4x4 swap (who the heck does this anyways?! @Raybob9289 ), the crossmember design is very important. The factory crossmember is shaped so that it will clear the differential on full stuff.

 

[bucket]

Factory crossmember, K30 and K5 shown.

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...looks like my passenger side U-bolt plate studs are coming out again.

 

[Turbo4whl]

See broken 90° vent tube

Dug them out of the box, look like they were never installed but a dent or two on the tube. I said 90 degree but they are 45. 1/8 pipe to 3/8 tube. Copper tube sweat to brass pipe.

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They are tarnished, they look as old as me. NOS with shelf wear.

 

[Raybob9289]

Dug them out of the box, look like they were never installed but a dent or two on the tube. I said 90 degree but they are 45. 1/8 pipe to 3/8 tube. Copper tube sweat to brass pipe.

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They are tarnished, they look as old as me. NOS with shelf wear.

GM was all over the map, Both mine are at a 90 degree turn weird

 

[Turbo4whl]

GM was all over the map, Both mine are at a 90 degree turn weird

Do you want one? PM me your address if you do and I'll put it in the mail. I will put the other one back in the box of hardware that I'll probably never need.

 

[Raybob9289]

The retreaval of K30 frame is complete. Layin a field down east of Divide Colorado. Usual deal guy bought 1 ton for Diffs. Bare frame $200 I wish I would have found this a year ago.