Axle swap & tire questions

[Highpsi]

Hi all. I've been reading the tech articles and trying to learn about what to do with my 86 K10 Chevy 4x4 for upgrading the driveline.

Right now, it has a pair of corporate 10 bolts & NP 208 since its a half ton, but I'd like to upgrade it so I can do some decent off roading with it. Specifically - I'd use it to do some towing (local only for boating, small trailer hauling) and mudding and off roading. I guess what I need help with is what I interpret to be the most important decision right off the bat - what size tires and wheels do I plan to use? And of course I've got other questions about axles too.

What I have in mind is at least 8" of lift and some 38" TSL boggers with 16 inch rims. From what I've read, it looks like I would have to have 16's to clear calipers on some axles correct?

I've been scouring craigslist looking for beater trucks that have rusted out bodies and k20 drivelines but I am hesitant to buy anything without reading up on prices and getting some good advice. I found a good running 91 K2500 for $500 but that's no good to me with a ("small" right?) corporate 14 bolt rear and ?? xfer case. I'd like an NP 205 since that's a heavier duty one. I have plenty of tools and a "blue flame wrench" so working on my own stuff is fun to me.. The local scrapyard 2 miles away is a plus too.

Other than that, there's no other trucks I've found that have HD front and rear axles for great prices (yea, I know that's subjective but I'm looking for advice and price suggestions!) At this point, my assumption is a Dana 44 up front and "large" FF corporate 14 in rear is bare minimum. I plan to completely rebuild / upgrade both axles with lockers and HD parts.

So my questions are these - should I wait until an HD older model GM truck shows up within a reasonable distance from where I live to pull home on a trailer? If so, how much is an NP 205 and 2 good axles worth? Just looking for a few people to weigh in on what they paid - I am sure I'm not the first person to upgrade my 1/2 ton for off roading here!

 

[dyeager535]

Used to be that people said the D44 was better than 10 bolt. Not so much anymore. I think there are SOME D44's that are better, but fairly rare if I remember right. I'm not a real wheeler.

As to the rears, the 14SF is not a bad axle. I still don't believe I've seen anyone break one from their supposed weak points, either the c-clips or the axleshaft just outboard of the bearing. The 14SF is pretty massive while still not adding the weight of the 14FF, nor losing quite as much ground clearance. Not to mention, both 6 and 8 lug versions are available, and if willing to convert the front to 1/2" lug studs, the rear lug nuts can match the front.

Edit: and yes I agree with the below. Big tires need serious axles, especially in the front, and the D60 is really the only game in town.

 

[80' 427]

With 38s I would look at 1 ton axles and gears. The 10 bolts will last awhile but they will break pretty easy with 38s. That 2500 was too new for you and the transfercase has the wrong side output. You need to be looking for K30s. I wouldn't personnally work about transfercases yet.

 

[Highpsi]

K30 it is!

With 38s I would look at 1 ton axles and gears. The 10 bolts will last awhile but they will break pretty easy with 38s. That 2500 was too new for you and the transfercase has the wrong side output. You need to be looking for K30s. I wouldn't personnally work about transfercases yet.

Ahh, I am indeed a newb. What a simple solution to the digging around on Craigslist I've been doing lately. I just tried searching my area for "K30" and came up with 2 potential good ones. Looks like I've found my Dana 60 and 14FF.

Looks like I will probably end up paying around 1200$ to $1500 for the pair. Gotta pay to play!!

 

[v30mongo]

K/v30

Just get the one ton truck. It comes from the factory with the D60,14bolt, NP205, hydraboost brakes,and a big frame, and big springs.
If you go through the trouble to fit these things to a half ton you will still have the half ton frame. There are plenty of 77to 91 one ton cab and chassies sitting around. It is easer to shorten the long wheel base truck than to fit all the one ton stuff on to a half ton. You can fit spacers on the rear hubs and run single wheels that will look like the front. A short wheel base one ton CC, now thats one mean truck

 

[Highpsi]

Parts found!

It is easer to shorten the long wheel base truck than to fit all the one ton stuff on to a half ton.

Well, I hear ya. I can totally see where you're coming from with that suggestion, and if I were living somewhere more appropriate to tackle a huge job like that I'd go for it. But right now in my neighborhood and without a decent shop, I don't think I'll jump in quite that deep right away especially being the rookie I am. I've done some minor fabrication with my welder and torches but I'm not %100 that I could get that one right in a reasonable amount of time. (Edit: I think I forgot to mention that this truck is indeed a short bed).

And also, after getting just these few helpful suggestions, it seems like I've found my "deal" for parts that I am needing. A guy that lives about 4 hours from me has nearly all the parts I'm really wanting from a 1984 Chevy 1 ¼ ton M1008 CUCV military truck, and a bunch of other goodies to go with it:


A front Dana 60 with 4.56 gears, posi (not sure which posi that would be), heavy duty warn lockouts, hardened joints and axles. A FF14 with 4.56 gearing, Detroit Locker, hardened axles, brand new uninstalled Cutthroat 4x4 disc brake conversion & billet spacers.


4 TSL 38.5 Super Swampers with %90 tread and 4 rusty wheels that will need sandblasting. He's going to give me some other metal wheels with smaller tires too so I have a set of rollers for right away. I plan to buy some nice wheels later on.


A TH400 HD Tranny with big input and output shafts from a 85 K30 and an uninstalled manual shift kit. This mated to a NP205 transfer case & some extra drive-shafts as well. These parts I am getting with the "package deal" because I really want that transfer case at least. Since I already have a SM465 that I love, I don't know what I'll end up doing with the TH400 but if anybody is looking for one.....


All this for under 3k and I was pretty satisfied. I guess I won't really be looking to nickel and dime a great deal and skimp on what's important. So the next thing I started doing too was looking at all the great stuff that ORD has. I'm sure I will end up calling those guys and going with one of their custom tailored lift kits and steering solutions that will end up leaving me with a truck lifted properly. I'd really love to go with the crossover steering too, but man I literally just put a brand new 4x4 steering box in my truck and I'd hate to have to pull that and put the 2wd version in there immediately for the crossover steer.


I guess it's kinda a shocker though to find out just how much expense is involved in the end if you plan to lift correctly and setup your drivetrain well. Whew.. I haven't even looked into the driveshaft issues I'll run into yet seriously either. Guess that's next!

 

[80' 427]

A th400 205 is not the same as a 465 205. Being it is a 208 465 the splines may be the same but the adapter will need work. Hopefully someone else can tell you for sure.

 

[Highpsi]

A th400 205 is not the same as a 465 205. Being it is a 208 465 the splines may be the same but the adapter will need work. Hopefully someone else can tell you for sure.

OK thanks for that info. I was thinking I'd probably run into issues with the output shaft being different or something too but I'll find out. I hope I can sort through the adapter issue as well.

 

[Highpsi]

Parts secured!

So I made the trip out of town over the weekend to go pick up my axles, tires, transfer case and tranny. Everything went great, aside from my rusted exhaust blowing out just behind the collector on the passenger side! Nearly went deaf on my ride home, unfortunately about 150 miles still from the house...

I was amazed at how HUGE and HEAVY this stuff is! Thank god the guy I bought them from had a tow truck to lift it all with. Over all, I was really happy with everything and I figure the tires and axles alone were worth the $2700 total I paid for all my stuff. (There's a set of 4 TSL SX 38s that are like new on the trailer, hard to see)

A couple of snap shots from the scenic overlook next to the Mississippi river near Iowa / Minn. border--

I probably won't be putting all this stuff in really until next spring since cleaning up the axles and servicing everything will take me a while to do and winter comes pretty early here. I'm going to make a small crane with a winch that will go in the receiver hitch to move things around for now too.

 

[82355]

That's not a bad buy with tires.

Martin