Ok, since it's getting time to pull the Blazer in for the winter rebuild, I would like some suggestions to the axle upgrade. The Blazer is technically a mall crawler/summer convertible toy. It will see some offroading, but no extreme trail time. It will see occasional tow time pulling my 7500# cap trailer with my Heep Cherokee on it, but that is only if we run locally. Long hauls to rides will get the HD involved. My 383 is going in as the power plant and it is backed by the current t400 and a 208. 35’s are the biggest that will go on since I won’t clear my garage door with anything bigger.
So now the question. It currently has the 10 bolts with I am thinking at best 3.42's. I haven't pulled the covers yet, but it originally came with a 305 and it's get up an go from a dead stop is lacking, so I am assuming that is possible best case scenario.
I have a 1/2 ton Dana 44/12 bolt combo with 3.73's from my old trail rig, an additional 1/2 ton 10 bolt front with 3.73's, and a 3/4 ton Dana 44/14 bolt combo with 4.10's. I actually haven’t brought the 44 half of the combo home yet, so I don’t know the overall condition yet.
Should I:
1) Swap in the 1/2 ton 44 and 12 bolt? I would need to swap hubs from the current 10 bolt since these do not have lockouts, but the pro’s to this is that they have new joints in the front shafts and the rear has had some recent brake work. I also have an extended driveshaft that was made up last year for this type setup (208 to 12 bolt). I also know the history of these axles.
2) Swap the 3.73 10 bolt gear set into the current front end and use the 12 bolt as in option 1? The axle itself wouldn’t be swapped since I’d have to change hubs and shafts as well. I was thinking just a gear switch would be easier.
3) Swap in the 3/4 tons? But, do I really need this for what I am looking to use it for. The pro is a much stronger driveline, at least in the rear for towing, but I gain the extra weight and I’d also need to get another driveshaft made. That and I’d burn more gas during my 75% time usage for cruising.
Thoughts? I want to start dragging the axles I don’t plan to use out of the garage soon so as to free up space for the teardown.
So now the question. It currently has the 10 bolts with I am thinking at best 3.42's. I haven't pulled the covers yet, but it originally came with a 305 and it's get up an go from a dead stop is lacking, so I am assuming that is possible best case scenario.
I have a 1/2 ton Dana 44/12 bolt combo with 3.73's from my old trail rig, an additional 1/2 ton 10 bolt front with 3.73's, and a 3/4 ton Dana 44/14 bolt combo with 4.10's. I actually haven’t brought the 44 half of the combo home yet, so I don’t know the overall condition yet.
Should I:
1) Swap in the 1/2 ton 44 and 12 bolt? I would need to swap hubs from the current 10 bolt since these do not have lockouts, but the pro’s to this is that they have new joints in the front shafts and the rear has had some recent brake work. I also have an extended driveshaft that was made up last year for this type setup (208 to 12 bolt). I also know the history of these axles.
2) Swap the 3.73 10 bolt gear set into the current front end and use the 12 bolt as in option 1? The axle itself wouldn’t be swapped since I’d have to change hubs and shafts as well. I was thinking just a gear switch would be easier.
3) Swap in the 3/4 tons? But, do I really need this for what I am looking to use it for. The pro is a much stronger driveline, at least in the rear for towing, but I gain the extra weight and I’d also need to get another driveshaft made. That and I’d burn more gas during my 75% time usage for cruising.
Thoughts? I want to start dragging the axles I don’t plan to use out of the garage soon so as to free up space for the teardown.
