k2500 frame under k1500 truck

[deadbeat]

I am replacing the frame in my 1997 centurion k1500 crew cab with a 1999 k2500 crew cab short bed frame. The only measurement I see different is the upper control arm brackets. Can I simply bolt on a K2500 upper control arm and put in a 1/2 ton ball joint in it? Last time I swapped one of these frames I cut the front off and welded on a 1/2 ton boxed frame front, cut that is a lot more work than simply changing a ball joint or moving the upper control arm brackets.



To catch you up on the build to this point go to the build thread of the truck
https://www.gmt400.com/threads/deadbeats-1997-centurion-conversion.27953/

 

[b454rat]

Why not just run the 8 lug stuff? I had a Centurion, what I wanted to do.

 

[deadbeat]

I don't want 8 lug, I have all fresh 6 lug stuff. It is kinda cool having a 6 lug crew cab gmt400 1/2 ton when they never made a 6 lug crew cab gmt400 1/2 ton.

 

[deadbeat]

I read somewhere that 2 of the holes line up with the half ton ball joint, but welding up 2 others and drilling out 2 holes is required. What I didn't catch is if this is correct for a 4x4 application.

 

[Supercharged111]

Front differential, CV shafts, knuckles, hubs, and upper control arms are different. 2500 knuckles are taller than the 1500 bits, hubs are 4 bolt vs 3 bolt. I believe either CV shaft will spline into either hub, but that won't help when the knuckles themselves are incompatible.

 

[deadbeat]

Im not using any of the 3/4 ton stuff except the upper control arm. I am trying to see if there is a way to put a 1/2 ton ball joint in the 3/4 ton upper control arm. I will use my cv joints, spindle, hubs, front diff, etc.

 

[Supercharged111]

You'll need to fabricate a diff mount and graft the 1500 UCA mounts onto the 2500 frame. Or run the 2500 stuff and have a beefy truck. I would LOVE to do an 8 lug frame swap on my 1500.

 

[deadbeat]

The diff mounts are tthe same, i just measured them.

 

[Supercharged111]

The diff mounts are tthe same, i just measured them.

The bottom one on the driver's side is different according to a member here who swapped a 2500 diff into his 1500. You'll also need the passenger mount that bolts to the frame as those are different too. Why the desire to change frames and stay 6 lug?

 

[deadbeat]

All my 6 lug stuff is new, the mounts all measure the same except top control arm. 8 lug is not an option I will consider on this truck. Besides, I have a bare frame, if I went 8 lug I would have to go buy it all as I have nothing that is 8 lug. I dont even have the controls arms to compare, thus why I started this thread.