1ton chevy recovery rig

rock_krawler84

New Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Location
Missouri
ok I know this has been discussed before on here but i have a new application. I have a half ton chevy truck 97 and i am looking to beef the suspension by converting it to a one ton. no haulin trailers or nothin stupid because i know the frame isn't stiff enough. the reason i want this is because when lifted a half ton with draw down real bad in the front when winching someone out. Can anyone tell me if it is possible of have any other solutions.
 
sell it and get a 1 ton truck
 
Sounds like you are just worried about the suspension squatting when winching?
A 1 ton swap is a lot of money to spend for just that.
 
You can't just convert a 1/2 ton IFS chevy to 3/4 or 1 ton. The suspension mounting points are all different in the front. What you can do is swap 3/4 or 1 ton torsion bars in the front for more load capacity, and the rear springs are a direct swap although you will get roughly the same result by adding AAL's to the pack. Tbars and springs will interchange from 88-07 trucks by the way, although the coding for the bars did change, just make sure the ones you get come from a 2500 truck and you will be fine, and the length of the rear springs went from 63" 88-98 to 64" 99-07(+08,09 for 3/4 and 1 ton).

Read up here:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65871
That lists all the codes for the different torsion bars for the front. The GK and GL bars are a common upgrade to the 1/2 tons, and are easily available at junkyards.

Also if your IFS Chevy is lifted in the front with a "knuckle" style lift (uses a taller replacement steering knuckle rather than the stock one, also has spacers between the diff and the CV shafts) It is possible to machine new diff to cv shaft spacers to accept the 3/4 and 1 ton CV shafts that are stronger, but more importantly allow a wider operating angle than the 1/2 ton shafts which is the main reason for CV shaft breakage on half tons. The outer end fits through the 1/2 ton hub exactly the same as the 3/4 ton hub (although the hub itself is different between the two, the spline count is the same).
 
thanks for the advise. I have an 88-89 1 ton chevy but the body is bad and the motor doesn't run i was wondering if i could use the torsion bars and springs out of that. If not then i will hit the junk yards. guess i need to do some measuring.
 
rock_krawler84 said:
thanks for the advise. I have an 88-89 1 ton chevy but the body is bad and the motor doesn't run i was wondering if i could use the torsion bars and springs out of that. If not then i will hit the junk yards. guess i need to do some measuring.
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Is it a square body 88-89, or the newer 88-98 body style? If it is the newer style then yes the torsion bars and rear springs will swap over. If its the old 73-91 square body style then no it wont work. The front suspension is different, and the rear springs are shorter.
 
yes its the newer body style i think only the duallys and burbans and k5s stayed until 91. thanks i will respond again after i do the swap. thanks for all the help.
 
rock_krawler84 said:
yes its the newer body style i think only the duallys and burbans and k5s stayed until 91. thanks i will respond again after i do the swap. thanks for all the help.
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Off topic but it had nothing to do with duallys, there are regular and extended cab dually 88-91s in the newer style, it was only crew cabs, K5s and burbs that stayed square body through 91.

But yea, since its the newer style (GMT400 body) then yea it will swap right over. But be warned, that since it is a full 1 ton, it will have the stiffest springs, I wouldn't transfer the complete rear spring pack, but instead pull some of the leaves so you have a stiffer spring pack than the 1/2 ton, but not a complete lumber wagon. Your 1/2 ton truck's frame weighs alot less than the 1 ton, so unloaded it will be much stiffer than even the ride in the actual 1 ton truck if you don't pull some leaves from the pack.
 
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