Axle question to death

[Hubnut]

Sorry, yet another new person with most likely the same old questions. I just bought a 1991 Jimmy. This is my first GMC product--been a Ford and Jeep guy most of my driving life, but always liked the K5 look. Anyway, from what I've gleened from the "garage" the 10 bolts won't hold up long to my 35 inch tires (especially off road). Here's the point. I have an opportunity to buy an M1008 CUCV (military 1 ton). The gears are 4.56:1 and the axles much more stout. Bottom line: Is this a fairly easy swap into my Jimmy? Thanks.
Steve

 

[toomany]

It should be a bolt in deal if you have the other truck there to rob parts off of. The main thing you would need is the spring plates for the D60. The rear axle won't bolt in without relocating the perches.

 

[jt512]

That depends on your idea of "easy" , is this a super common swap that most k5 owners have done or want to, yes. Is this swap worth it if you are going to do a decent amount of wheeling and may want to go larger then your current tires in the future? Yes. This swap is not that hard, but there it is more involed then unbolting the u bolts and swaping the rears. If you are buying the whole M1008 that will help, because you will have most eveything you will need. I would call this an easy swap, but that is just me.

 

[USSkoval]

Being in the south (not much rust), I'd say fairly easy. It's just heavy parts to change and relocate the rear spring perches and shock mounts. Or switch the rear spring hangers and upper shock mounts.

 

[Hubnut]

Thanks much. I will have the entire M1008. I guess I'm getting a little mixed information. I was led to believe that the 10 bolt GM axles would not hold up to my 35s with a little off roading. From some of these responses, if I read between the lines correctly, that would hold up okay. Agreed?

 

[dfl701]

if you read other posts, the 10 bolts will not hold up to any abuse. they will be fine with 35s, but if you go bigger you could have problems

 

[obijuan]

10 bolts are probably fine with 35s, ive had 37s for a couple years now. there so many variables too. however the cucv axles are the bees knees, can i have em?

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Yeah as mentioned above the 10 bolts will hold up to 35's fine with proper maintenance, and mild off roading. When you start getting in to rocks or wheeling harder or add lockers in the diffs then you have to drive with a bit more finesse or you'll start to break parts.

If you know you are going to wheel it hard and want lockers then slap those one tons in and go. You already have them so why not.

Front is a direct bolt in to the Jimmy. Just need the U-bolt plates from the donor truck and some new U-bolts.

Rear you'll need to move the perches and shock mounts and a conversion U-joint if your Jimmy is an auto.

 

[AZ79K5Project]

Here's the 10 bolt action thread:

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198556

 

[Hubnut]

Cool. Muchos gracias! I think I'll try to run the 10 bolts until something pops!