Gearing

[nolidnoworries]

Ok so heres what i got, 85 k5 350 th350 10in lift 40in tires 10b front and rear. Heres the question, I bought this truck about a year ago with the th350 shot. The PO had just had it rebuilt and put it in right after installing the lift and tires. So im ready to buy a new th350 to put in it but im worried the gearing may be too high and thats what keeps killing the trans. Im pretty knowledgeable when it comes to everything else but i have no idea about rear end gearing or anything like that. So my question is is there lower gears available for the 10b or would it be better just to go ahead and get a 14b before i buy the new trans?

 

[fouronereason]

IMHO those 10B with some moderate wheelin arent gonna last, your best bet as far as drivetrain is to invest in a dana60/14bff. I just destroyed both my 12b/dana 44 in the same day with 37's, thats just my opinion.

 

[DeviousK5]

X2. To add to that the cost of gears/bearings/ and install cost (if you weren't going to do it yourself) is gonna be near the same price as a D60/14Bff. And when you're done only one combo is gonna get you back off a trail with 40's. IMO save the coin and step up , if you want to continue to run 40's and not worry about anything. In my slightly younger stupider days i sank enough money in just parts beefing 1/2 ton axles. I could have just bought a beefy pair of axles, and associated install parts and did the damn thing, and not been in the hole money wise 3 years later when i did the swap.

 

[nolidnoworries]

May have just hit the jackpot. Found a guy on cl with a 14b ff and sm465/205 combo, flywheel, pressure plate all for 500!

 

[nolidnoworries]

Is the dana 60 from a chevy or do i have to get a dodge/ford then have it modified? oh and im pretty sure i know the answer to this question but the only stupid question is the one unasked so... if i change out the rear to a 14b with 4.10's will i HAVE to change the gearing in the 10b in the front?

 

[blazinzuk]

Yes Chevrolet from 73-87 pickups and 73-91 crew cabs. Its pretty much a bolt in.

And yes you would have to change the gearing.

IMHO finding axles from a CUCV would be best 4.56s gears and a rear locker

 

[nolidnoworries]

somethin like this?

http://northmiss.craigslist.org/pts/2000008707.html

 

[owenst7]

Yes Chevrolet from 73-87 pickups and 73-91 crew cabs. Its pretty much a bolt in.

And yes you would have to change the gearing.

IMHO finding axles from a CUCV would be best 4.56s gears and a rear locker

I dont think GM used a Dana 60 until '78...not really important though .

Make sure you get an open knuckle, kingpin 60. There's old military trucks and I'm sure other applications that used closed knuckle 60s. They have smaller shafts and are just an oddball axle. Won't be a concern though if you get the axle from a run-of-the-mill 1-ton pickup or a m1008 CUCV.

If it's passenger drop and has kingpins, not balljoints, you're pretty much set. I have seen K30s and m1008s for sale that someone had swapped the 60 out for an 8 lug 10 bolt/Dana 44, so pay attention to what you're buying. Kingpins are the giveaway for a desirable 60 though.

somethin like this?

http://northmiss.craigslist.org/pts/2000008707.html

No, that's a Dana 44. It's 99.9% the same axle as what you currently have.