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change gearing possible for a noob?

ashman

ashman

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I'm currently running 3.73's in my '72 and it's just not cutting it. I have a D44 up front and 12bolt in the rear. I need to go lower, but I'd like to do it myself if possible. thing is, I have ZERO experience with it.

is this something I could tackle on my own with some advice, internet research and patience without getting myself killed?

what gears would you guys recommend? I have a 383/nv4500/203 setup pushing 35's. I want it low enough that I can crawl a bit, but still be able to hit 75-80mph in 5th gear. as it sits right now, I can't even use 5th because I can't hold speed with the engine turning that slow. :rolleyes:

one more thing. I have a gov-lock in the back, and I think a tru-track or something (been a long time, don't remember for sure) up front. will I have to replace both my lockers if I change gearing, or can I keep them?
 
you should be able to do at least 4.56's. and as far as the gear change and set up... I'm a noob too:waytogo: I wanna do my own in my burb but I'm scared:haha: I've heard that it isnt for the impatient type. It sounds like its a bunch of back and fourth
 
Seems like a 383 and nv4500 would be pretty happy with your current setup. If you want to go a little lower I'd find a 14ff and matching 8 lug front (10b or d44) with 4.10's. You'll spend about the same amount of money even factoring in wheels.
If that's not low enough at least you have a good setup to put some money into. I wouldn't waste the time or money regearing 1/2 tons in a full-size with a 383 and a manual with a good low.

You could also find a set of 1 tons out of a military truck with 4.56's and a Detroit out back. You're going to pay for them but then you're done.
 
From the research I've done, setting up gears is an art form and difficult.....especially for a newbie. It also requires some specialty tools so that would add to the cost. I've done brakes, axle shafts, ball joints, etc but gears are too much for me. You are better off finding a complete axle with the gears you want.

Changing gears in your current axles ends up costing a lot....

New ring and pinion
New bearings
New seals
New ring bolts
Labor

It adds up quickly and then multiply that by 2 for each axle.
 
It's not freakin' rocket science. :haha:

I've done it 3x, now.
I'm also patient. :waytogo:

If you frustrate easily, or don't learn fast, find a matching pair of axles, or pay a shop to regear it.
Matching axles is the cheapest and easiest route.

Feel's a lot better to get a dial indicator, and read the pattern. :thumb:
 
TheBeast_88K5 said:
It's not freakin' rocket science. :haha:

I've done it 3x, now.
I'm also patient. :waytogo:

If you frustrate easily, or don't learn fast, find a matching pair of axles, or pay a shop to regear it.
Matching axles is the cheapest and easiest route.

Feel's a lot better to get a dial indicator, and read the pattern. :thumb:
Click to expand...

I agree noob is a pretty generic term, if your half intelligent you should be able to do it piece of cake.

I've done one set with just a sledge hammer, bearing puller, and a sledge hammer. That was a pita but possible. Highly recommend buying a cheap press from harbor frieght. Also need a magnetic dial indicator forgot about that one. About $150-200 in tools.

Also OP should do himself a favor and rent this video
http://smartflix.com/store/video/1356/Differential-Rebuilding
 
awesome link man!

so what I'm gathering is that if I've got reasonable smarts, I could do it, but it would actually be cheaper to buy a matching set of 3/4 ton axles and just go that route. hmmm...

Seems like a 383 and nv4500 would be pretty happy with your current setup.
Click to expand...
it does fine on the low side honestly, but between 3rd and 4th gear just sucks. seems like for cruising speed 3rd is too low or 4th is too high, and I never even get to use 5th.
since 4th and 5th are a lot closer together than 3rd and 4th, it would seem that I could go low enough that 4th would end up between the current 3rd and 4th, and 5th would be about where 4th is now.

hope that all made sense. lol

anybody know what gears I would run to get the final ratio with 35's back to what it was with stock sized tires? seems like that would be a good starting point.
 
Sorry for the minor hijack,,,,, kinda relative,, but what do people even charge to set up gears for you. If its a LOT I'm gonna try it myself and pray. But I'd pay 2 or 3 hundred to get a set done. I'm figuring 2k for gears, tru tracs, install kits and set up on both axles. 10 bolts due to NOT wanting to replace rims. If its alot to get 'em done I'll use the link above:waytogo:
 
I think a shop quoted me about $400 per axle. That's too much for me so

I did mine in Supermotard750's garage.

It's like anything else, once you tear into it and learn the tolerances you get the feel for it and it gets easier.

It's definitely something you can't rush.

You know CK5 is the best support group in the world and right here at your fingertips so why worry?:waytogo:
 
1BEATK5 said:
for $2k, you could have cucv axles with 4.56s, detroit and new wheels.
Click to expand...
I cant find the axles alone for that:eek1:
then they might need rebuilt too:dunno: Its the 8 bolt wheels I dont want, the 8b version of the rims I have are nasty
As for the tools,,, I can bring all of what I need home from work for free, then take it back when done. Thanks
 
The main tool most poeple don't use is the inch lb torque wrench, not a clicker you have to have a beam bender or a dial one.

The beam bender ones can be found at some bike shops, needs to read 1 to 35 inch lbs.

That is to set pinion bearing preload. Most people set em way to tight and that can greatly diminish the life of the pinion bearings. At worst it can cause massive heat and kill the gear oil and carrier bearings.

I charge 250 per axle to do gears. If the axles are in the truck. If they are out then 220, if they are 3rd members and you bring me just the third then 200, the 200 also holds true if you bring me just housings with no disassemble on my part needed.

So I basically charge 200 to do gears and about 50 bucks to take apart your axles so I can change them :D

I have heard guys doing them as low as a 100 bucks or as high as 500 so its quite a range. A mechanics shop who does book rate will probably charge you well over 500 closer to 800, I don't know book rate on all rear ends but the newer Dodges book rate is near 10 hours for some reason.

If you have patients anyone can do gears. If you don't have the tools you can get em really close. Which is fine for most people but I expect my gear setups to last the life of the truck. At min 200k with no problems. So I am very careful with my setups.

Also I have helped a couple guys that set up their own gears that had worked for a long time but their settings were way off.

A bigger axle is more forgiving of a poor setup. If you are setting up a sami axle for a guy running 35s or a toy axle running 40s you better be dead nuts on
 
shady said:
I cant find the axles alone for that:eek1:
then they might need rebuilt too:dunno: Its the 8 bolt wheels I dont want, the 8b version of the rims I have are nasty
As for the tools,,, I can bring all of what I need home from work for free, then take it back when done. Thanks
Click to expand...

Rick I might be able to find those axles fix them and deliver them to you for just over 2k :D:D:D:D:D:D
 
250 for the shop I'm going to
325 for the shop that does way more, but I can't afford.
I trust the first shop
 
K85 Octane said:
250 for the shop I'm going to
325 for the shop that does way more, but I can't afford.
I trust the first shop
Click to expand...

$250 would be great
I got a couple guys to ask, I may see if my tranny dude will do 'em. he's set a lot of them up and has everything to do it. Plus he loves my burb:thumb:
 
I just had gears/lockers installed in my axles and it worked out to about $250 an axle. That included running the front ARB line and tapping the housing.

The axles were completely gutted down to the housings, old gears removed and everything cleaned so you could eat off it.


On the flip-side there is another shop in town called fearless gear that I talked to a while back and they charge near $1k an axle period. In the truck, out of the truck, doesn't matter it's kind of a set price which is crap. You just need to ask around and see who your local people prefer, it'll become clear pretty quickly who to go to.
 
Damn I want to know where you got 250 that's awesome.

Like Pblaze said we did both his axles took a few hours each. For 250 I woulda paid though but I got a quote for 800 for a Dana 44 with new seals and a locker install with gears. Parts an labor less the locker. I bought a HF press a dial indicator an a micrometer and gears. For less the 400 now I have the tools and I could have screwed up the gears twice for less then 800. Sorry hope that all makes sense.
 
supermotard750 said:
Damn I want to know where you got 250 that's awesome.
Click to expand...

I think the key is finding a shop that actually charges hourly and not a flat rate for a job. By having the axles out, gutted and cleaned his job was "easy". He setup the gears, installed new bearings/seals in the process and that was it. I put them back together from there.

It's a shop over in Clovis, Ca. PM me if you want more details.
 
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