Best Donor Year

[buffy]

What's the best year for the one ton Chevy 4x4 that I want as a donor rig for my '77 K5. I'm just trying to find out what's the best year? I know NP205s were pretty much the norm through the second half of the 70's to '91. When did Chevy switch from kingpin to balljoints on the D60s? What about the second generation 14 Bolt FF with additional ribbing on the housing? 700R4 Tranny? Talk to me folks. I want to buy a donor rig that will qualify as my parts department for my build.

 

[Bhintz]

87-91 one ton 4x4s

 

[mtrdrms]

Roger on the 87. First year of the FI and last year of the solid front axle (for 1/2 ton pickups that is)

 

[thor]

Chevy didn't switch to ball joints in their 60s. But the did go from a necked down 30 spline inner shaft to a non necked 35 spline in or after 81.

 

[jekbrown]

What's the best year for the one ton Chevy 4x4 that I want as a donor rig for my '77 K5.

depends on what parts you want off of it... if its the entire drivetrain, yeah 87-91 would net ya FI and the good axles/trans/engines.

When did Chevy switch from kingpin to balljoints on the D60s?

chebbie? D60? ball joints?

What about the second generation 14 Bolt FF with additional ribbing on the housing?

wouldn't worry about this... don't think there is a version of the 14 that anyone considers "weak", webbing or not.

700R4 Tranny?

700R4s got better after...errrmmm, was it 88? they were always improving them, but I can't remember when the "you should get one from 198x or later!" year was... grrr. In any case, won't most 1 ton rigs have 465s or TH400s? wasn't even aware any 1 ton rigs used the 700.

j

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

The 700R4 never made it into 1 tons. The 4L80 (the overdrive version of the TH400) replaced the TH400 around 1990.

 

[atho]

Watch the late '70s K30s, some had the NP203 behind the TH400.
For auto's, any year is good. If you want 4 speed, shoot for '85-'91. These have 32 spline 465/205 (no drive sleeve, yay!) and hydraulic clutch. And of course, '87 was the 1st year for TBI.

 

[dremu]

The 700R4 never made it into 1 tons. The 4L80 (the overdrive version of the TH400) replaced the TH400 around 1990.

4L80E's came in 1991 ... at least some 3/4's had them, i.e. Burbs, donno if it's only the max GVW trucks or not.

1990's had TH400's (at least Burbs, and I believe the R/V pickups as well.)

-- A

 

[atho]

Oh yeah, forgot about that. 1991 was the only year for the 4l80e/NP205 combo.