First posting so bear with me here. I have a '68 chassis for my '62 body, but I am going to be adding the entire front suspension from a 73-79 for the disc brakes. I plan on taking the I-beams, radius arms, steering, springs, etc. My question is: is there a difference between the 67-72 and 73-79 springs? I thought I read somewhere that the springs are different in height so which set of springs do I need to retain for the swap. On another note, what year did the wheelbase change, was 2in. added in '67 or '73 or both years? I've read conflicting forums on the subject.
Thanks,
Mark

 

Hi Mark, Welcome to FTE and the 67-72 Forum.

Why don't you use the 73-79 chassis and save the extra work?

John

 

John,
Would definately had been an option if it wasn't for the fact that the '68 chassis was free and already stripped of its body. I guess that this way also forces me to replace all of the bushings and clean and paint everthing up real nice. Don't have a lot invested at this point, but to change directions would cost me more. I have more time than money, and time is hard enough to come by.
Thanks,
Mark

 

I believe the wheelbase was the same from 65-72 and stretched 4" in 73. Pre-65 I have no idea. Why not just keep the 62 straight axle? I've always thought the straight axle trucks are very cool.

 

Mark, Just because it glitters don't make it gold. Being free is not enough to go to all that work and still have to put the power steering and brake setup under it for me, but what do I know?

John

 

Sounds like a good way to proceed Mark. That is if like John said you don't mind a bunch of extra work..... How does the wheelbase match up on the '62 vs. the '68?

 

I dont know if there is a difference in the springs or not but my GUESS would be use the springs that came with the I-beams so that it doesnt change your front end alignment

 

I'll try and catch up here, but I started with a '62 that had a camper mounted directly to the frame, hence no box, but the cab and front clip are pretty sound, minimal rust, however to accomodate the camper the frame of the '62 was stretched and I felt it was best to ditch the solid axle frame. John, I don't disagree that a later frame would have saved me some trouble in regards to moving things around, but just being my **** self I probably would have taken it all apart anyhow for whatever sake. I also have a '69 Ranger with PS and PB, but without discs, however the front of the frame was twisted when the previous owner pulled it out of a ditch from a light rollover. The '69 is giving up its PS, PB, automatic column and maybe the 9" since it looks better than the 9" in the '68. I have a fella with the complete front disc assembly that will let it go for $125 and it is very clean. All in all I have lots of clean parts that more or less fit together. I know I'll have to do some light fabrication to fit the cab, but it seems fairly easy. Bit of a mutt of a truck, but I hope to end up with a good looking ride, that is reliable, inexpensive (relatively speaking) and don't require a $45 dollar and hour mechanic for diagnostics.
Mark

 

That makes better sense. If you're frame is junk as it is no sense in hanging on to it.

 

Mark, We make suggestions here, but leave it to you to pull the trigger.

John

 

Mark, the coil springs of the I beam suspension changed according to the gross vehicle weight rating of the truck - on the 3/4 ton suspension even the diameter of the king pin was larger for the higher GVWR trucks.

I would use the coils off the I Beam I was going to use, unless I ran into trouble. If you don't like the ride height or ride quality it is easy enough to change them out later.

 

Just wanted to thank everybody for their input and help. Great forum, has helped me alot, not always easy to find local people with the answers.
Thanks

 

Use the 68 coils, the I-beams were more or less the same, the difference was with the spring and perch. The rear of the frame, from behind the cab, got wider in 73. The front stayed pretty much the same.