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A few questions from an FNG

Fixer

Fixer

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Hey ya'll.

I just bought a pretty clean 1973 K5. It is a lot of firsts for me. First 4x4, first chevy, and first V8 I've owned. I've been looking for the "right" one for about 4 years now and finnally found it. Ive just got a few questions and comments and want to gauge everyone's opinion etc.

I want an ultra reliable trail rig. This wont be a dedicated mud truck or crawler but I would like to do some sizeable trails, even Moab at some point. I believe it has Dana 44's on it now. I'd like to eventually have up to 38" tires on it. Is it correct that I would need Dana 60's or similar to do that size tire? Any advice here would be great.

I'm also a little confused about the way this 4x4 system works. Someone told me that mine is set up to have the front axle spin full time and not engage until I lock the hubs. The previous owner, however, told me that it had the transfer case converted to rid it of full time 4 wheel drive. How can I tell what this thing's actually got under it?

Any other questions or comments are welcome. Please feel free to offer any advice.

Let me know what you guys think...

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Hey welcome to the Brotherhood, You can run 38's with a 44 How ever the shafts are weak and It would be pushing it at that size of Rubber. How ever if you had Chromally Shafts and a not so sooped up engine you'd be fine and Id recomend some Gears 4.88 or 5.13. But it can be done other wise yes You would need a 60. Oh and at least a four inch lift with some fender cutting.

As for the 4X4 if you have to lock in the hubs at the front then you have manual locking hubs and that requires you to have to get out of your vehicle to engauge the four wheel drive. It it does not have that and does not say lock and Free then you simply pull the 4x4 stick and go. Most of us I think prefer to get out and turn the hubs in. I know I do. Just keep reading around here you will find just about everything you need to know. Keep us posted on what you find out and keep asking questions.

Good Luck

T-DAWG
 
Well you should have a D44 front and a 12 bolt rear. You can run 38's on them but if you add up the cost of gears, lockers, upgraded shafts, and other axle parts it's cheaper to just get a set of CUCV 1 ton axles with 4.56's and a Detroit in the back. Don't lock the front unless you plan to go with hydro assist steering unless you use a selectable front locker like an ARB. Being that it is a full vert get a good cage for it. Your t case is a 203 by the sounds of it and it might already have a part time kit installed. You have the beginnings of a Doubler with that set up too. Have fun with it.
 
It does have a 12 bolt rear. The truck also sits on a 4" lift and 33's right now. I was think that CUCV guts would be the best route too.

Wayne: Could you explain a little more about the last few things you said. From hydro assist to part time kit?

Thanks guys
 
He was saying that if you decide to put a locker in the front axle that hydraulic assist steering is very helpful. It is simply tapping your existing steering box in certain location do draw hydraulic pressure and send it to a ram mount on the front axle to the tie rod. When you turn the box send pressure to the appropriate side of the ram and hydraulically assists in the steering effort.

The part time kit is what sounds like the previous owner did to the t-case. 203's were originally full time cases (kind of like a limited slip inside the t-case) until you lock it in hi or lo lock. If you have manual hubs and can drive with them unlocked you have a part time kit installed.

If you put manual hubs on a full time 203 and unlock them the truck will not move as it will send off al of the power to the front axle because it has the least resistance (none) :D
 
Hydro assist is putting a hydro ram on to help steering. You will need to do crossover steering too. There is tons of information on the net about hydro assist steering and crossover steering. The part time kit is used in 203 t cases to convert them from full time to part time. I don't know much about the swap because I never did it or needed to do it.

Here are some pics of my hydro assist set up. You can see the pump set up and the ports on the steering box.

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Thanks, it makes sense.

And yes, I was told that the t-Case did have the conversion done but because I did not know that these sometimes had full time 4x4 I was confused as to the way that it would work with the conversion.

What advantage would the way this truck is set up have if I did decide to use a doubler?
 
Ok cool...

Also the truck has a 4 speed. I beleive it's a 700r4.

Thanks
 
A 4 spd auto? If so yeah it's probably a 700R4. That is definitely not stock.
 
Sorry,

Yes a four speed auto. No it's definately not stock. I wish I could post a picture : (
 
Don't get caught up in the whole dana 60, doubler and steering, big tires yada yada right now.

Make sure the truck is reliable and go wheeling!

Some of the most fun I have ever had was in a 4 inch lifted blazer on some 33's with open axles. Go wheel the thing and take note what its limitations are then plan your upgrades to suit what you want to do and where you want it to go with it.
 
supersize75k5 said:
Don't get caught up in the whole dana 60, doubler and steering, big tires yada yada right now.

Make sure the truck is reliable and go wheeling!

Some of the most fun I have ever had was in a 4 inch lifted blazer on some 33's with open axles. Go wheel the thing and take note what its limitations are then plan your upgrades to suit what you want to do and where you want it to go with it.
Click to expand...

That's some of the best advice I've heard yet ( Not on here but in general) I'm the type that dives in head first but this REALLY is a nice truck so sitting on it for a while won't be too bad. I can't post pictures until I get 15 posts :rolleyes:
 
Fixer said:
I can't post pictures until I get 15 posts :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I thought that was for non paying members. You should be able to post anything as a paying member. You can also just use the attachment option. before you hit Subit scroll down and click the button that says manage attachments. Browse for the picture then click attach.
 
Thanks! It won't let me hotlink to photobucket but I was able to attach an image
 
Well after seeing pics of it I would leave it alone. Buy another one to wheel. You will kick yourself in the ass after beating on that. Nice rig btw.
 
Thanks man I appreciate the compliment.

I would love a third gen to beat the piss out of but I like being married :p:

Like I said it REALLY is a nice truck, and I've been wanting one like it since I was about 7.

I see 35's and some other minor add ons in it's imediate future. I know there will be some people that will say I'm ruining it, but I think my plans are... Purposeful if not tasteful.

Thanks again guys!
 
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