Steering Box Question - 2wd to 4wd conversion r3500 Crew Cab

Craig 85 · Oct 29, 2020

Yes 2WD and 4WD hangers are different. 4WD also have bracing for the hangers. Photo #3 is my truck. You can see the spring eyes are below the frame. Photo #4 is from LMC. The parts are for a K20, not a K30. The braces I'm referring to are parts #12 & 27. Since the K20 springs sit more outboard than a K30's, these would not work.

FYI, ORD is now offering a custom K30 front spring hanger for the rear suspension. They also have a front spring hanger for front springs for 2WD to 4wd conversions.

https://www.offroaddesign.com/76-91-k30-rear-suspension-main-eye-hanger.html

https://www.offroaddesign.com/2wd-t...ion-brackets-for-81-87-91-gm-trucks-pair.html

C30 2WD

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K30 4WD

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ORD K30 rear Hangers

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ORD Front Suspension 2WD to 4WD Conversion

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Skyfall · Oct 31, 2020

Thanks for the information. I placed a huge order from ORD for the front end parts a couple of days ago. Just to make sure I am clear:

If I use 5" rear blocks and 6" front springs, I will also need the rear spring hangers from ORD or my truck is going to have a serious squat. Is that correct?

Thanks~!

Rusty Nail · Oct 31, 2020

You lost us at 5 inch blocks. :boxed:

...

shiftpro · Oct 31, 2020

Skyfall said:
I've spent hours researching the Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd swap and can't seem to find an answer to this one.

Regards,

I can answer this....

The frames are different, the upward sweep to make clearance for front suspension is different. The sweep starts a bit later on the 2x frame.
So you can NOT convert it to 4x4 with the stock system. Fortunately there is one option, use DIY's B-52 kit, to use a rear 52" spring pack.
It makes for a tall truck with lots of wheel travel. It is somewhat of a bolt on kit, but you still need to ready to maybe fab and weld a little here and there.

https://diy4x.com/product.php?productid=17715&cat=250&page=1

Skyfall · Oct 31, 2020

Yes, I know 5" blocks are crazy big, I will eventually purchase rear springs...either way, I am installing ladder bars to help with the axle wrap.

Shiftpro - Unless I misunderstood what I just read (and I very well may have), I can't use the 6" front springs that I just ordered from ORD. Is that what you are saying (52" is the only option for my r3500)?

77 K20 · Oct 31, 2020

Skyfall said:
Nice Suburban!

I think I have all of the information that I need, but I have one more question. Is $515.00 a good prince for a used Dana 44 front end (with 4.10 gears to match my rear) out of a 1979 K20? That price includes shipping. I have seen prices all over the place. I just want to make sure I am in the ballpark

Thanks...

Are you sure it is a D44? Cause by 1979 they switched from Dana over to their own GM10 bolt front axle. Some of the parts are interchangeable... just don't want you ordering a bunch of stuff before it gets there and have it not fit.

Skyfall · Oct 31, 2020

I ended up purchasing a different axle. It is a Corporate 10 bolt.

77 K20 · Oct 31, 2020

Skyfall said:
Yes, I know 5" blocks are crazy big, I will eventually purchase rear springs...either way, I am installing ladder bars to help with the axle wrap.

Shiftpro - Unless I misunderstood what I just read (and I very well may have), I can't use the 6" front springs that I just ordered from ORD. Is that what you are saying (52" is the only option for my r3500)?

As part of your order with ORD did you also order their 2wd to 4wd conversion brackets for the front suspension?

https://www.offroaddesign.com/2wd-t...ion-brackets-for-81-87-91-gm-trucks-pair.html

shiftpro · Nov 1, 2020

Skyfall said:
Yes, I know 5" blocks are crazy big, I will eventually purchase rear springs...either way, I am installing ladder bars to help with the axle wrap.

Shiftpro - Unless I misunderstood what I just read (and I very well may have), I can't use the 6" front springs that I just ordered from ORD. Is that what you are saying (52" is the only option for my r3500)?

77 K20 said:
As part of your order with ORD did you also order their 2wd to 4wd conversion brackets for the front suspension?

https://www.offroaddesign.com/2wd-t...ion-brackets-for-81-87-91-gm-trucks-pair.html

I don't think he did... he didn't mention it. I would go with the DIY B-52 kit.. it's much better and everyone I've seen the springs end up in different holes so... you kinda need the adjustment available (much more than ORD) from the DYI kit.

shiftpro · Nov 1, 2020

Skyfall said:
I ended up purchasing a different axle. It is a Corporate 10 bolt.

Ok so you can't convert these to cross over steering. Also a heads up on the D44 front end regarding cross over steer... only the
older 44s from the mid 70's had the flat spot on the passenger knuckle. The newer, latest before the 10 bolt showed, did not have the
flat spot (needed to bolt down the steering arm.

shiftpro · Nov 1, 2020

Skyfall said:
Yes, I know 5" blocks are crazy big, I will eventually purchase rear springs...either way, I am installing ladder bars to help with the axle wrap.

Shiftpro - Unless I misunderstood what I just read (and I very well may have), I can't use the 6" front springs that I just ordered from ORD. Is that what you are saying (52" is the only option for my r3500)?

Don't feel bad... I'm a little confused too. The truck your working on is a 2x crew cab? You want to convert this to 4x4? Then yeah you better
phone ORD tomorrow morning and cancel the order bro.

ORD has a bracket kit to run 52s... but I think the DIY kit is much better. It has more adjustment and they have been doing this mod for a long time. The ORD bracket is a new part as far as I know.

To be honest, this conversion (with DYI kit) is a bot of a bitch for first timers. You might want to completely rethink things here. Perhaps find a beat crew cab 4x4 which are one tons with a D60 up front.

shiftpro · Nov 1, 2020

Craig 85 said:
Yes 2WD and 4WD hangers are different. 4WD also have bracing for the hangers. Photo #3 is my truck. You can see the spring eyes are below the frame. Photo #4 is from LMC. The parts are for a K20, not a K30. The braces I'm referring to are parts #12 & 27. Since the K20 springs sit more outboard than a K30's, these would not work.

FYI, ORD is now offering a custom K30 front spring hanger for the rear suspension. They also have a front spring hanger for front springs for 2WD to 4wd conversions.

https://www.offroaddesign.com/76-91-k30-rear-suspension-main-eye-hanger.html

https://www.offroaddesign.com/2wd-t...ion-brackets-for-81-87-91-gm-trucks-pair.html

C30 2WD

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

K30 4WD

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

ORD K30 rear Hangers

You must be registered for see images attach

ORD Front Suspension 2WD to 4WD Conversion

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Also a little tip using the website here... use the 'quote' button to respond, that way we see it and can get back to you. I was wondering how you were making out and I had to dig up your post and sure enough, you responded to my post and I wouldn't have seen it otherwise.
Lots going on here and we are all very busy and important! So use the quote feature and we won't miss a thing.

Rusty Nail · Nov 1, 2020

LoL

Yes yes...busy and important.

shiftpro said:
we are all very busy and important!

gotyourgoat · Nov 1, 2020

Rusty Nail said:
You lost us at 5 inch blocks....

Lost me at 2wd to 4wd.

Are there kits available to go in the other direction?

Been sort of interested in a few trucks but they were 4wd which I'm not interested in and am unsure what all would be required to convert to 2wd.

Skyfall · Nov 1, 2020

77 K20 said:
As part of your order with ORD did you also order their 2wd to 4wd conversion brackets for the front suspension?

https://www.offroaddesign.com/2wd-t...ion-brackets-for-81-87-91-gm-trucks-pair.html

Yes.

Steering Box Question - 2wd to 4wd conversion r3500 Crew Cab

Craig 85

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Skyfall

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Rusty Nail

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shiftpro

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Skyfall

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77 K20

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Skyfall

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77 K20

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shiftpro

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