Straight axle conversion?

[wilwith1l]

Has anyone done a straight axle conversion on a new Silverado? I know this is probably the wrong place, because I see mostly "pretty" trucks on here, but I would like to talk to someone who has gone through the process. I would love to see a 14 bolt on the front of a Silverado.

[99redsilverado]

you got some balls.....you think just cause our trucks look good means that they dont get used and they are highway only, right??? wrong...i wouldnt want to spend the time or money on a straight axle conversion..... there are kits out there for the c/k models for sure, dont know about the silverados or not...search the net...youll be sure to find something...

[BlenderWizard]

Originally Posted by 99redsilverado

you got some balls.....you think just cause our trucks look good means that they dont get used and they are highway only, right??? wrong...i wouldnt want to spend the time or money on a straight axle conversion..... there are kits out there for the c/k models for sure, dont know about the silverados or not...search the net...youll be sure to find something...

Yeah, I know my truck spends most of its time in an airconditioned garage...

[chuck16]

Seriously dude, mine spends more time hauling around compost, and yard material than it does staying clean... Isn't that what trucks are for?

[wilwith1l]

No need to be offended, it isn't a bad thing, just two types of truck owners. Chicks dig those trucks. But if you buy a 2500 Duromax/Allison with no intention of ever pulling more than 5k lbs, your wrong.
I've seen kits, but I would like to talk to someone who has done it. Here the after effect.

[twomorestrokes]

Originally Posted by wilwith1l

No need to be offended, it isn't a bad thing, just two types of truck owners. Chicks dig those trucks. But if you buy a 2500 Duromax/Allison with no intention of ever pulling more than 5k lbs, your wrong.
I've seen kits, but I would like to talk to someone who has done it. Here the after effect.

Do a search engine and check the sites and forums. I looked a couple over this morning. I love the GM IFS, as it seems to get great traction plowing on uneven surfaces and rides nice. Works great for what I want, but it does have it's limitations. But you are correct...hard core off roaders can sometimes benefit from the swap, durability wise, and just having an easier time getting them "up there" as high as you want it. The kits I've seen are a little expensive, but so is a basic lift kit for the IFS. There are so many individual components that need to be dropped in the IFS system to still be able to have some kind of working geometry, sometimes it makes sense to look into going the other route.

[99redsilverado]

well its kinda bullsh!t of you to come in here and make ASSumptions like that...like i could say wow that jeep means you have small balls, but i didnt.....

the straight axle conversion can be done to where you have all the ground clearance and all the flex in the world, but with that, like all other lifts, they are usually not engineered to have good on-road characteristics...theres nothing to really hear about except for how much people have spent on the conversion, and how much flex and ground clearance there is.....theres nothing special anyone can tell you about the conversion if you know what your doing in the first place.

[twomorestrokes]

Wow. I'll bet you're glad you asked that question here, eh Wil?

Red, usually folks that swap over to the straight axle front aren't after good "on-road characteristics". They are looking for something a little more hard core off road. To each his own. No reason to get worked up about it. However, I'm still trying to figure out if Wil's coments were meant to instigate or not...comments like "pretty trucks" and "chicks dig trucks like those" probably could have been left out of the thread if he really wanted some serious responses from someone that may be able to add some insight.

As I said, I'm a fan of GM's IFS, but in stock form or close to it. Mine's cranked up and realigned, but if I was going to get more serious about REAL off roading, I'd buy a cheap straight axle vehicle for that purpose only and leave my IFS alone. 66-77 Bronco? Rusted Samarai with a lift and Tracker engine? Dented up K5? Hmmm. I want one.

Hope I didn't rile up anyone with lifted IFS trucks. They are cool too, and usually do better as a dual purpose vehicle.

[wilwith1l]

First, I didn't make any ASSumptions, merely voiced my observations Go to the Jeep forum, and you see plenty of "pretty" Wranglers. I know plenty plenty about straight axles on-road charachteristics, and I like a truck that drives like a truck. I know anything can be done, all it takes is time and money. One thing I want to know is steering: Drag link connected, high knuckle, or true crossover

[Moose is loose]

IFS and straight axles both have thier positive sides. My '04 Dodge 3500 4x4 actually drives, handles, and rides better than my '03 Silverado, and it's of course a solid axle. With that said, my Silvy is a 1500; not meant to compete with a 3500. I have plenty of freinds who have done the solid axle conversion and love it. Full throttle, CST, and West Coast all make great kits if cash is no problem. I have a 6" kit on my Silvy and love it, but it's no Solid axle setup. One tip from my Jeep days is always make for sure your drag link and track bar are PERFECTLY paralell to each other, unless you like bump steer! BTW, my '03 Silvy with the 6" lift sits even with my Dodge, and it's stock! Sad.

[wilwith1l]

When I said "Chicks dig those trucks" I didn't mean those trucks are for chicks. I meant chicks like those trucks and guys that drive those trucks more than they like my 85 straight axle. I have seen one straight axle 00' 2500 HD with what looked like a Dana 60 high pinion, and chrome moly true cross over steering. Baddest silverado I have ever seen.