12 bolt question

[64shortbed]

Ok I finaly got that 66 chevy I'm tearing apart for the cab. Now I'm thinking of takind all the rear suspention off it to replace my leaf suspention on my 64. I think the coil will give me a much smoother ride.

Now my gmc have a 12 bolt 5 lug underit now from an 80's pickup. The rear end on the 66 chevy is a 12 bolt also. Will the axles interchance? Or would I be better off trying to fine a rear end out of a 71-72 c10. Or is it easy to just take my 80's rear end and conver it to the coil style suspention? Any help would be great thanks.

 

[Rich 5150 69]

First of all does the GMC have the same crossmember as the chevy to mount the trailing arms...? if it does I would use the ( 80 ) axle to put under it probable a little more highway friendly..the axles are not interchangeable.

 

[64shortbed]

First of all does the GMC have the same crossmember as the chevy to mount the trailing arms...? if it does I would use the ( 80 ) axle to put under it probable a little more highway friendly..the axles are not interchangeable.

Yes it does. Just being a shortbed vs a long bed my crossmember is under the cab instead of right behind it. From what I understand the trailing arms are the same for long or shot bed truck.

So to put the 80 rear (leaf) on the 66 (coil) suspention what would I need to do? Cut the mounts off of the 66 and weld them to the 80? Or does some one make a kit?

 

[64shortbed]

Never mind I found some mounts. Ccp and preformace online has them.

 

[vwnate1]

Coil Spring Conversion

This sound very interesting , I hope you post up pictures of thr job so others can learn .

Yes , the coil spring rear suspension is very supple and not only improves the ride but the handling too ~ my '60 C/10 only has Bilstein HD Shocks and very good radial LT tires but it shi*ts & gits down the canyons very well indeed ~ I easily out run many " Sports Cars " as long as we're going down hill .