Getting 3/4T axles.....

[4x4shortbed]

Should be getting a set of 3/4T axles out of a '73 2500 4x4 PU tomorrow or Sunday. Just wondering if theres any pointers out there as far as brake hose/steering/driveshaft compatibility or anything else you can think of. Just looking for a heads up of any roadblocks before I tackle it. Also, anyone know what gears were offered that year? It was an automatic originally. It has the "big" locking hubs on the front, anything good/bad there? They're going in my '77 Blazer.

thanks- John

 

[muddybuddy]

that d44 has the external locking hubs, which are weaker then the later internal style. however, that d44 has flat top knuckles, so if you ever want to go to cross-over steering, you just need to get the knuckles machined. it may have 4.10s, thats what my ld set of 44/14 had a couple years ago from a '77 k20.

 

[4x4shortbed]

Ok, I got the '73 3/4T truck home, & have my frontend out of my Blazer getting ready for the swap. Do I use the napa 447 u joint for the rear? It's a '77 with a D44/TH350/203/12Bolt going to the '73 14Bolt rear & 3/4T D44 front. I'll be working on it more this weekend. So far I'm thinking disc brake swap on the 14B, proper u joint, new ubolts, & it should go right in.(yeah right!) Still wondering about brake hose threads compatibility & proportioning valve for rear disks...

Later- John

 

[onetonbb74]

Grab the top plates off the 14 bolt for the u-bolts, there a different size for the 14b vs 12b.

Brake hoses should bolt up fine, 44 to a 44 is the same fittings.

As for the proportioning valve for discs, i used an adjustable one from summit racing for around 40 bux in conjunction with the stock master and prop. valve already on the truck. I put it on the rear of the truck where the brake line went from 1/4 inch to 3/16 factory. Mounted it and plumbed it in right there near the frame in the back because the prop. valve only worked with 3/16 lines and the factory is 1/4 all the way to the flex hose. The rear brakes locked up easily without the valve on there.

 

[Beast388]

Do I use the napa 447 u joint for the rear? It's a '77 with a D44/TH350/203/12Bolt going to the '73 14Bolt rear & 3/4T D44 front.

Since your '77 has a 12 bolt rear, you'll need Napa #348.

 

[blazin_blazer]

not to hijack....bwtf....i've swapped a many a 3/4 ton axles and have seen 10b w/ the right u-joint for the 14b/big u-joint....but all 12b have always had a small joint and need a conversion joint...what gives?

 

[Beast388]

not to hijack....bwtf....i've swapped a many a 3/4 ton axles and have seen 10b w/ the right u-joint for the 14b/big u-joint....but all 12b have always had a small joint and need a conversion joint...what gives?

From what I understand, if your 10 bolt truck also has a SM465, then it already uses a 1350 rear joint.

 

[blazin_blazer]

it is stand trans..rear....so all 465's had a big u-joint?