My next project is to restore an 81-87 Chevy pickup with a 454, 14 bolt rear and a Dana 60 front on a short bed frame.  This seems like a lot of power and weight to have on a ½-ton frame.  My question is: Is there a difference in frames between the ½, ¾, and 1-ton 4X4 frames, other than length?  Is the frame on the ¾ ton and 1 ton a heavier and bulkier frame to accommodate the larger axles and engines, or do they all basically use the same frame?  Also, can you tell me any differences between the ¾-ton and 1 ton four wheel drive trucks?  What did the 1- ton come with that the ¾-ton didn’t?  I believe they used the same axles and engines, but what about brakes, suspension, etc.? One more question:  Have you ever heard of somebody converting a 14 bolt rear end to a front end set up?  Is this even possible? Thanks for any help.  

Hey about your 81-87 Chevy question. I did a swap on a 77-78 Chevy 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton. I Had transplanted the '78 1/2 tons good drivetrain and parts into the '77 3/4 ton's good body the only difference was the axles. The frame is the same including all the holes for clutch linkage and everything, the 78 was a stick and the 77 was an automatic. I swapped everything out with no problems including the steering column, also the holes for the clutch were already in the frame from the automatic. The one difference with axles was the 1/2 ton had a 12 bolt in rear and a dana 44 up front. The 3/4 ton had a dana 44 up front and the 14 bolt rear the 44's were the same in fact later I had to swap an axleshaft because I bent one. As far as one tons go I think the only thing that changed was the inclusion of a dana 60 in some models. I hope this helps.  

So the frame on the 3/4 ton is the same size as the 1/2 ton?  I figured it was a little beefier.  

Not that I saw on my two trucks it was identical down to even the holes that were drilled for the shift linkage even though the 77 had and automatic in it. Although the manual transmision out of the 1/2 ton did have one more crossmember that the automatic 3/4 ton didn't i had to install this