Swapping between c10 and c20 front supsension?

[78C10BigTen]

Ok so eveyone knows i have a 78 c10... the rear needs replaced and i keep finding good posi rears with the gear i want but in 6 lug. I have no problem making my truck a 6 lug as i have many wheel options for it in my possesion. My question is for the front.... were c20's a 6 lug and could the spindles and such be swapped to a c10 without much grief being theyre both 2wd??? Or are they completely different?

 

[yevgenievich]

C20 are 8 lug. I think I seen some later van parts make it possible to change to 6 lug for the front, but not certain

 

[78C10BigTen]

C20 are 8 lug. I think I seen some later van parts make it possible to change to 6 lug for the front, but not certain

Were C30's 8 lug also?

 

[yevgenievich]

Were C30's 8 lug also?

Correct. 4x4 were 6 lug, but that does not help for the front and in late 90's all trucks became 6 lug. There were some 2wd vans with 6 lugs that match, or so was written some where.

 

[78C10BigTen]

Correct. 4x4 were 6 lug, but that does not help for the front and in late 90's all trucks became 6 lug. There were some 2wd vans with 6 lugs that match, or so was written some where.

Id like to know if thats true or if it is if they can be swapped to a truck.

 

[HotRodPC]

I'd be asking about axle length. If possible, why not swap your 5 lug 2wd axles and drums into the 6 lug 4x4 axle? I'm assuming you're finding 10 or 12 bolt K10 axles right?

 

[yevgenievich]

That is a good point, a equivalent rear end can swap axles.

 

[bucket]

Yeah, just pick up a 12 bolt with the ratio you want. If it's 6 lug, all you have to do is reuse your stock axle shafts and brake drums. If you unbolt your backing plate and brake shoe assemblies, you can leave the lines hooked up and you won't even have to bleed your brakes after the axle swap.

 

[78C10BigTen]

Im not opposed to swapping my 12 bolt 5 lug axles into a 12 bolt 6 lug rear but if its already an assembled 12 bolt posi 6 lug id rather leave it but id want my front to match 6 lug. Id rather 6 lug being as i already have a bunch of other 6 lug wheels.... but id want the front and back to match. Thats why i thought id ask if there was a front swap of sone kind.

 

[HotRodPC]

Really? So 5x the work, 10x the expense? Getting new wheels too huh??? Swapping axles consists of bemoving the brake drums, remove the rear cover, drop the C clips, slide the axles out, slide the donors back in, insert C Clips, put the cover back on, install the donor drums and done.

 

[idahovette]

Hey guys ,what's he supposed to do about the front end that is STILL gonna be 5 hole? Wasn't that the question??

 

[HotRodPC]

Yes, the Original question was how to convert the front to 6 lug if he found a 6 lug rear axle. Then the suggestion came up, why go through all that? Just swap the 5 lug axles out of his current rear end into the 6 lug replacement rear end and be done with it keeping the same wheels etc.

 

[yevgenievich]

Swapping axles does not interfear with gear setup, just need to refill with fresh fluid. Have to dig around for campatible parts if converting front to six lug. Or maybe just redrill?

 

[ajd89]

https://www.ebay.com/i/112628447752...8%26rvr_ts%3D3ce6c0b31640ad789b571dadfffe2e15

I wonder if you could use something like this for the front? I guess it depends on if the spindles are the same diameter on a c10 or c20. I didnt look to see if they have a 6 lug for a c20 but i remember seeing these or similar on here before.

 

[bucket]

https://www.ebay.com/i/112628447752?chn=ps&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F711-117182-37290-0%2F2%3Fmpre%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fi%252F112628447752%253Fchn%253Dps%26itemid%3D112628447752%26targetid%3D394103744309%26device%3Dm%26adtype%3Dpla%26googleloc%3D9017246%26poi%3D%26campaignid%3D886127435%26adgroupid%3D44133422373%26rlsatarget%3Dpla-394103744309%26abcId%3D953836%26merchantid%3D113607405%26gclid%3DCjwKCAjwyMfZBRAXEiwA-R3gMxt_5OHd6FHOA3UsZTCQMKexNaAMd_iHmLklNlBjRU919YfNIXMWwRoCrZgQAvD_BwE%26srcrot%3D711-117182-37290-0%26rvr_id%3D1578816277968%26rvr_ts%3D3ce6c0b31640ad789b571dadfffe2e15

I wonder if you could use something like this for the front? I guess it depends on if the spindles are the same diameter on a c10 or c20. I didnt look to see if they have a 6 lug for a c20 but i remember seeing these or similar on here before.

Those look to be a bolt-on swap for 6 lug. Pretty cool.