c20 suspension to c10

[cooper_joe]

I have a nice 85 c10 but i am doing a 12 valve swap that requires me to box the frame and beef up the suspension. i have an 84 c20 frame with a 14 bolt rear and front suspension, can i just take the c20 front suspension off and put it right on the c10 or do they make anything to make this easier? same for the rear. I know it would make more sense to swap everything to the c20 frame but the frame itself is majorly rusted and i’d rather just leave the lines and other parts on the original frame.

 

[Ricko1966]

Swap the whole front crossmember. As a unit. Swap springs and rearend. May have to do the hangers and shackles as well.

 

[Fat 454]

I went the other way and traded out my C20 running gear ( 8 lug ) for C10 ( 5 lug ). The front cross member is the same, and if I remember correctly the only difference is in the stamped arms. They hold larger ball joints for the spindles, and also the routing for the flexible front brake hose is different.
Basically you can leave the cross member in, and swap out the arms / spindle / brake assemblies.

 

[Fat 454]

Or go with the 1 ton front end, and 14 bolt rear ;-)

 

[Ricko1966]

I went the other way and traded out my C20 running gear ( 8 lug ) for C10 ( 5 lug ). The front cross member is the same, and if I remember correctly the only difference is in the stamped arms. They hold larger ball joints for the spindles, and also the routing for the flexible front brake hose is different.
Basically you can leave the cross member in, and swap out the arms / spindle / brake assemblies.

I just think it's easier to swap the whole unit rather that than take all the pieces off of both front ends than bolt all the pieces back on.

 

[Fat 454]

I just think it's easier to swap the whole unit rather that than take all the pieces off of both front ends than bolt all the pieces back on.

Agreed - only advantage is that you can leave the engine / box in whilst you do the swap ( which may help some folks ). In this case the OP is doing an engine swap and needs access to the frame rails, so ...