2wd to 4wd conversion

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,853
Reaction score
5,646
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,76,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, k30, k20, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350, 350
I don't think that's a valid reason for not recommending it. The 2wd crossmembers hang sooo far down compared to 4wd. Why couldn't you use the factory style 4wd crossmember? Or aftermarket?

This is a great thread by the way. The only question I have is measurements on the front rear spring hanger. It seems as just eyeballing will be fine for mounting location as long as both hangers are perfectly aligned with each other? As well as low enough to clear the spring eye on the frame.
 

Raybob9289

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2021
Posts
60
Reaction score
107
Location
Littleton
First Name
Raybob
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Cheyenne 30
Engine Size
454
Started frame swap Saturday
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20230702_154127447.jpg
    IMG_20230702_154127447.jpg
    226.9 KB · Views: 53
  • IMG_20230702_085336748.jpg
    IMG_20230702_085336748.jpg
    218.8 KB · Views: 57

Raybob9289

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2021
Posts
60
Reaction score
107
Location
Littleton
First Name
Raybob
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Cheyenne 30
Engine Size
454
Took all day. It's a ton of work. BTW the K30 SRW rear spring brackets are different.
I think they are the same as a K20??
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20230702_154149490.jpg
    IMG_20230702_154149490.jpg
    196.7 KB · Views: 59
  • IMG_20230702_154138625.jpg
    IMG_20230702_154138625.jpg
    165.2 KB · Views: 53

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,853
Reaction score
5,646
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,76,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, k30, k20, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350, 350
Took all day. It's a ton of work. BTW the K30 SRW rear spring brackets are different.
I think they are the same as a K20??
I believe that's correct, then to go even further the cab and chassis trucks have narrower axles and both rear spring hangers are different. Tucked up closer to the frame.
 

Raybob9289

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2021
Posts
60
Reaction score
107
Location
Littleton
First Name
Raybob
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Cheyenne 30
Engine Size
454
I believe that's correct, then to go even further the cab and chassis trucks have narrower axles and both rear spring hangers are different. Tucked up closer to the frame.
And the Dually spring perch brackets are like a factory lift.
 

Raybob9289

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2021
Posts
60
Reaction score
107
Location
Littleton
First Name
Raybob
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Cheyenne 30
Engine Size
454
Started Raining on me the next day. But I moved the cab back to start exchanging parts from 1 frame to the other. It should be way easier to swap the engine trans & T-case without a cab in the way. ;)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20230704_163157396.jpg
    IMG_20230704_163157396.jpg
    238 KB · Views: 58

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,917
Reaction score
4,116
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
Took all day. It's a ton of work. BTW the K30 SRW rear spring brackets are different.
I think they are the same as a K20??
K30 and K20 spring hanger are totally different. K30 are almost vertical. The K30 is mine. The shocks mount inside the frame due to the location of the spring. Shocks are also reversed from a K10/20.

Second group of pictures is a C20, but the same idea as a K20. K20 is 2" longer and has the spring eye bolt below the frame rail. Shocks sit between the frame and spring, forcing the hangers to sit farther away from the frame.

K30
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach


C20
You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Raybob9289

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2021
Posts
60
Reaction score
107
Location
Littleton
First Name
Raybob
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Cheyenne 30
Engine Size
454
K30 and K20 spring hanger are totally different. K30 are almost vertical. The K30 is mine. The shocks mount inside the frame due to the location of the spring. Shocks are also reversed from a K10/20.

Second group of pictures is a C20, but the same idea as a K20. K20 is 2" longer and has the spring eye bolt below the frame rail. Shocks sit between the frame and spring, forcing the hangers to sit farther away from the frame.

K30
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach


C20
You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
Your K30 has the same rear spring hangars. Thanks for the pics
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,438
Reaction score
28,342
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Yeah, K30 speing hangers are the same, regardless of dual or single. The C30 hangers are shorter. "However", the early K30's ('77-sometime in '78) used C30 hangers and lift blocks to make up the difference.
 

Raybob9289

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2021
Posts
60
Reaction score
107
Location
Littleton
First Name
Raybob
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Cheyenne 30
Engine Size
454
These are definitely different
 

Attachments

  • 0717231808.jpg
    0717231808.jpg
    127 KB · Views: 52

Raybob9289

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2021
Posts
60
Reaction score
107
Location
Littleton
First Name
Raybob
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Cheyenne 30
Engine Size
454
And fronts
 

Attachments

  • 0717231809.jpg
    0717231809.jpg
    107.4 KB · Views: 57

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,438
Reaction score
28,342
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454

Raybob9289

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2021
Posts
60
Reaction score
107
Location
Littleton
First Name
Raybob
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Cheyenne 30
Engine Size
454
So those are '77-'78?

My '79 K30 dually most definitely has the same hangers as the two sets I have from M1008 srw trucks.
The ones I'm holding up in the pics are off the 78 K30 frame. The spring perches I put on I got off a early 80's K30 cab & chassis in a junkyard.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,157
Posts
950,595
Members
36,272
Latest member
armchair
Top