Hello and a question.... or 2

[AUK5]

Hello everyone, just got my membership but have been looking on this site since i bought my truck back in October. anyways it is 1990 k5 that i picked up for 3500. had a rebuilt motor and rebuilt trans.
this is what she looked like when i picked her up

did the quick release door hinges from the write up on the site and couldn't be happier. thanks for the info

i was lucky enough to snag a STC soft top from a guy in texas

Yesterday when i was driving i let go of the gas and i started hearing a clunking noise. got under neath the truck and saw this. its leaking from the front of the shaft. the TC doesn't look to be messed up.

So with the being messed up i was wondering how hard it is to swap in a 12 bolt. also i am a college student so the 14 bolt is out of the question because i would need new rims. is it a direct bolt on. also what should i look for when i go to the junk yard. my future plans with the truck are a 6 inch lift and possibly some 37's

this is what i drive for gas mileage and when working on the truck. thanks

 

[Jason4x4]

If it were me, I would make sure to get a 12 bolt with an open carrier, and that way you can throw a locker in it down the road. just make sure you get one with the same gears.

 

[uao85]

Hey welcome to the site, also nice blazer and bike. I wish I could be of more help on the axle, but I dont have alot of experience with 10 bolts. From the looks of it, I would say it just needs that pinion seal, but with the clunk you mentioned, its bound to need pulled apart and checked out. You might be able to get away with another good carrier and set of gears to swap out, and if thats the case, then people give those away for practically nothing in the classifieds section. If something is broken that is completely unfixable or not worth it to you, you could always go to a rear 12 bolt. I think they are a little bit beefier, but again, I really dont know much about the 12 bolts, especially 12 bolts, someone else will chime in though.

Remington

 

[dbabicky]

Make sure you check your u-joints before tearing into the rear-end. Could save yourself some serious cash!!

 

[AUK5]

thanks for some of the info. what are some common trucks the 12 bolt came in. when i called the salvage yard he said i would have to give him a year and type of truck. said i could just go poke around his yard and see if i found something i could use.

 

[k2mslskier]

Mine looked like that too before I replaced my pinion seal. I had some bad vibration when I would let off the gas as well. New U joints fixed that problem.

Welcome to CK5.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Ask for a 78 K5 Blazer/Jimmy or K10 pickup. Any half ton 4x4 from 73-80ish should have a 12 bolt in the rear. Just make sure the gears match the front.

 

[Dafey]

Mine looked like that too before I replaced my pinion seal. I had some bad vibration when I would let off the gas as well. New U joints fixed that problem.

Welcome to CK5.

I had the same problem when I bought mine , only It was a lot worse than your leak.New seal an 2 u-joints later its been great for over a yr now.
Check those 2 things first.
And my 77 K5 has a 12 bolt.

 

[AUK5]

thanks ill be callin the yard tomorrow and see if they have any of those trucks. hopefully they wont want a ridiculous price for it. how much should one go for that is in good condition?

 

[NorCalKid]

Shouldn't be to much, they go for about 70$ or so for one in decent shape in my neck of the woods. I would check out the classified section and on craigslist, lots of people are just trying to get rid of them after the 14 bolt swap (and buying them with out having to deal with pulling them from the truck is always nice) If you are planing on going to 37's and wheeling hard I would recommend stepping up to a 14 FF. I know that comes with the added expense of new rims, but in the long run it will save you time and annoying breakages. If that is not an option (I understand the broke student thing) and you want a beefier axle then the 12 bolt while keeping the 6 lug wheels, you could look for a 6 lug 14 bolt semi floater. I rarely see them but they are plenty strong for 37's and moderate some moderate abuse, especially compared to a 12 bolt.

 

[supersize75k5]

Shouldn't be to much, they go for about 70$ or so for one in decent shape in my neck of the woods. I would check out the classified section and on craigslist, lots of people are just trying to get rid of them after the 14 bolt swap (and buying them with out having to deal with pulling them from the truck is always nice) If you are planing on going to 37's and wheeling hard I would recommend stepping up to a 14 FF. I know that comes with the added expense of new rims, but in the long run it will save you time and annoying breakages. If that is not an option (I understand the broke student thing) and you want a beefier axle then the 12 bolt while keeping the 6 lug wheels, you could look for a 6 lug 14 bolt semi floater. I rarely see them but they are plenty strong for 37's and moderate some moderate abuse, especially compared to a 12 bolt.

he hit the nail on the head..craigslist, and if you can find one, a semi floater

 

[AJMBLAZER]

www.car-part.com

Lists what parts are in local junkyards.