Getting hooked

[shotguntex]

I have owned my 77 k5 for 10 years... finally started to go to work on it. Looking to make it more for hunting and hanging out with my sons. Not really into the rock climbing thing, any do's or dont's, although I have recently realized the sky's the limit.

 

[jt512]

Don't hangout here or you will be "doing " alot more then you had originally planned .

My best advice is do lots of research here, ask lots of questions and see what has and hasn't worked for others. Just be realistic about what you plan to use it for and how deep into it you want to go. Oh and become a member, it is the best $25 you will ever spend on your rig .

By the way........welcome to CK5!

 

[simpleman83]

Depends on what you want to accomplish. If you're trying to just go for hunting as stated above, and you dont' want anything too serious, then you may want not really need to do too much except go to 33 inch tires. If you want something a little more agressive, a 4 inch lift with some 35's is a pretty popular setup and fairly easy to accomplish. Got any ideas about size tires, or any way you want people to steer you?

 

[shotguntex]

Actually got 33s now but lookin @ 35s... rock crawler friend of mine put me onto changing my gears first to maybe 4.56 or 4.88, but I need to figure out the stock gears first, any idea?

 

[lectric80]

If you are going to stick with the, I am assuming here, T350 trans, those gears are going to limit your top end pretty severely. My current plan calls for 4.10 gears with 35's, and that puts my RPM's real close to 3k at 70 MPH. With the much deeper gears your buddy is leading you to, you probably are not going to be able to get much over 60 without seriously revving the engine.

So with that in mind, how much freeway driving do you have between you and your trails? If it is more than a few short miles, I would stick with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears with 35" tires. For your setup, 3.73 is going to give you good power with the 35's, and still keep the RPM's lower, which will net slightly better mileage than the 4.10's.

As for finding out the stock gearing, you can check the RPO tag in the glove box as long as it hasn't been changed, rotate the axle and count the driveline rotation, or pull the diff cover and count teeth on the pinion and ring gear. There is also a number set stamped into the ring gear that can give you the ratio.

 

[medicdave]

Don't hangout here or you will be "doing " alot more then you had originally planned .
quote]

Very true! I came here looking at a 4" suspention lift and 35"s, now I have a stripped frame in the garage, building 1 tons, nv4500 and 203/205 from a doubler, 52's shackle flip and 40's, plans to rebuild the diesel...... Have fun with it, but break it down into smaller projects so you can see the progression and don't ge overwhelmed not seeing progress. Have fun....Dave