[DENCOUCH]

I have a '74 chevy 1/2 ton & a GVW of 4200 lbs, I would like to shed a few pounds. Would there be a practical way to trim off about 500 or so? I am ready to give up being a "heavy hauler", and don't plan on going after any sand or gravel anymore.

Up front all I see when I open the hood is the huge front suspension pieces. The huge and HEAVY front suspension pieces! Do I need stuff built this stout? Could I ditch the front bumper & hardware? If so, how do I clean up the wound that is left with the bumper gone?

I have ditched the power steering & gone manual steering. I don't have power brakes, nor a/c. The jack & spare are gone, and I have an abbreviated exhaust system.

Any suggestions?

Thanks! :thumbup:

 

[eloc431962]

Is that a tommy lift on the back in your pictures, If it is it has to go. You can buy fiberglass bumpers also or a roll pan for the back. Cole

 

[BigBlockT]

chop the rear frame and resection it and put a short box on it , maybe try a fiberglass dog house if you want to be different go all fiberglass I thought there was a company on the net that sold fiberglass cabs,beds. just my 2 cents good luck.

 

[Chevrolet4x4s]

GVWR is not curb weight. A short box will lighten it up and make it look better.
http://usbody.com/ sells fiberglass parts and complete bodies but you're getting into big bucks there.
Shane

 

[DENCOUCH]

Ditch the pounds

Is that a tommy lift on the back in your pictures, If it is it has to go. You can buy fiberglass bumpers also or a roll pan for the back. Cole

Swap the motor+trans into a lil S-10 or Ford Ranger, or Toyota/Nissan/Mazda pickup. you need to ditch 1000 lbs.

Chop the rear frame and resection it and put a short box on it , maybe try a fiberglass dog house if you want to be different go all fiberglass I thought there was a company on the net that sold fiberglass cabs,beds. just my 2 cents good luck.

I ditched the liftgate & one can really feel the improvement in zip! This is what has served my interest in getting my truck on a diet. Today UPS dropped off a set of Lakewood traction bars and a set of 4.11's. Now I can ditch my old 3.40's. I should feel this change, I believe, no? I am thinking I would like a fiberglass hood and perhaps wheel wells.

What has my interest is perhaps knowing of some lighter front suspension & steering gear set up that would save me some weight up front. :thumbup:

 

[fast68]

GVW is not the weight of the truck


go weigh the truck on a gravel pit or scrap metal scale to find the actual weight of the truck

what it says on the sticker or plate on the door frame or door is not the trucks actual weight


earlier years trucks were actually lighter than the 73-up ones

the 64-72 years longbed 2wd's were average of 3850lbs actual weight


GVRW was 5000 to 6000lbs

suspension pieces arent that heavy

altogether with everything it is all heavy yes

but individually they are not much weight

i once weighed and entire 2wd longbed bare frame just out of curiousity, i cut it up into pieces and stacked on the digital scale. this was back in the day when i had about a dozen old trucks at any given time and was parting and cutting up ones i wasnt driving or swapping engines into.

i got 200lbs for entire bare frame weioght

the bare front engine cradle suspension crossmember 75lbs

the control arms are lighter than this by far

bare 12 bolt axle housing 75 lbs


the 73-up bodies are heavier and larger than the 72 older ones

thats the difference mainly.

front bumper you have to have legally it is safety equipment

same with rear in most areas.

check local laws though


eliminaye a/c and convert to a/c delete from a donor truck.

put in light weigh buckets from a car or minivan etc or use aftermarket ones

there are many things you can do still to cut off weight

aluminum intake also.

remove inner wheel tubs

fiberglass parts of course

aluminum raidator

remove sway bar equipment if so equipped

have fun