Axles from a '80 K20 camper special p/u?

[MtnJIMMY]

A buddy bought a property that this truck was on, not running bad engine. He was planning on rebuilding but realized he never get to it.
Being the great friend that I am I offered to take it off his hands for $200.
I wasn't planning on a build that included axle swaps but heck if it's got 4.10's
maybe it's worth it?
The front is a 10 bolt the rear is a 14 bolt. Anyway to tell the gear ratio and Would these be a good swap?
Thanks for any input.

 

[super k]

You want these under a 73-91 K/5,I assume. They would be a nice easy swap. I think you'll need a conversion u-joint for the 14-bolt. The best way to get the ratio is pull the cover off and find the numbers on the ring gear. The fluid could probably use a change anyway.

 

[sweetk30]

You want these under a 73-91 K/5,I assume. They would be a nice easy swap. I think you'll need a conversion u-joint for the 14-bolt. The best way to get the ratio is pull the cover off and find the numbers on the ring gear. The fluid could probably use a change anyway.

x2

 

[MtnJIMMY]

Yea they would be going into my '89 Jimmy.

I guess I was wondering if the 14 bolt was a D60 FF I keep reading about.
What does FF mean anyway?

 

[82355]

FF = full floater. Is there a hub sticking out of the end of the axle, past the rear drums, with some half inch bolts securing a cap to the end of it?

That is a full floater.

The front axle will be a generic GM 10 bolt or a Dana 44. Chances are it's a Dana 44. Some one could have swapped in a Dana 60, but I highly doubt it. Does it have ball joints or king pins?

Martin

 

[82355]

Yea they would be going into my '89 Jimmy.

I guess I was wondering if the 14 bolt was a D60 FF I keep reading about.
What does FF mean anyway?

I just reread that part. No, all 14bff are GM axles, not Dana. The Dana 60 is the front axle that came in one tons from 1977-1987(91). Those one tons used a 14bff rear axle (unless they were a dually, those used Dana 70s).

Either way, these 3/4 ton axles would probably be an upgrade. The rear axle is much stronger, the front axle is the same as what you already have. What gears do you currently have? The 1980 will have either 3.73, 4.10, or 4.56's. It will also have an NP205 transfer case.

Martin

Martin

 

[super k]

The 14-bolt FF is a corporate axle used in 3/4t and 1t trucks starting in '73. Those are hard to beat. I would assume a Camper Special had this rear. GM started using the 14-bolt SF (semi-floating) axle by then. Even if that rear is in it you will gain a beefier rear than what you have. Prior to '73 GM used the HO52 corporate rear in most Chevys and Dana 60s in GMC 4wds.

 

[MtnJIMMY]

The rear axle is much stronger, the front axle is the same as what you already have. What gears do you currently have? The 1980 will have either 3.73, 4.10, or 4.56's. It will also have an NP205 transfer case.

Martin

The front axle is an 8 bolt my Jimmy is a 6. Don't know for sure what my gear ratio is in the Jimmy, I assumed 3.08's?? So if these K20 axles where already geared 4.10's or even 4.56's all the better to run 35's. I don't plan on wheelin
hard just see an opportunity to up grade for cheap. This truck was headed for scrap.

Sorry for a dumb question but how does a full floater work different then a stand axle? What is the benefit?

 

[paratrooper307]

A full floater axle shaft slides into the axle tube and fastens to the hub with multiple bolts. Full floaters generally are significantly stronger than other axle types, and should you need to change/remove a shaft, you merely unbolt it from the hub and slide it out. Just about every heavy duty/commercial truck axle design is based on the full floating concept.

 

[wazzabie]

The Dana 60 fronts can they be from a 1ton and still fit a k5?

 

[82355]

The front axle is an 8 bolt my Jimmy is a 6. Don't know for sure what my gear ratio is in the Jimmy, I assumed 3.08's?? So if these K20 axles where already geared 4.10's or even 4.56's all the better to run 35's. I don't plan on wheelin
hard just see an opportunity to up grade for cheap. This truck was headed for scrap.

Sorry for a dumb question but how does a full floater work different then a stand axle? What is the benefit?

Yeah, the 3/4 ton axle will be an 8 lug, but it is still the same axle as your K5, it just has 8 lugs to match the rear.

The axle ratio of the 3/4 ton axles will be 3.73, 4.10, or 4.56. All of which will be better than the 3.08s you currently have.

A full floater axle has a spindle on the ends of the axle housing for the bearings to ride on. Meaning the axle shaft isn't supporting any weight like a semi floater.

Martin

 

[82355]

The Dana 60 fronts can they be from a 1ton and still fit a k5?

Yes.

Martin