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Need brotherhoods advice on drivetrain swap

KansasTwister

KansasTwister

1/2 ton status
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On my 86 k5, its currently running 700r4/np208/ 3.08 open ten bolts.

For axles, i have two options. one guy has a set of 3/4 ton 4.10 ratio, 10 bolt front 14 bolt ff rear. 300

Second is a guy with a set of 3.73 10 bolts front and rear, both open. 250

Trucks gonna be a daily driver/ semi toy, its too nice to wheel hard, so im thinking the 3.73s would make the overdrive on the 700r4 more useful, and since i have brand new 32/11.50 or 12.50/r15s i wouldnt have to do any clearancing or buy new wheels. I figure i could probably buy either pair at 200, and the 3/4 tons come with stock wheels/tires.


Second thing is a third guy has a th350/np205 combo from an 85, with both driveshafts from a k5. Trans was supposed to be rebuilt but left outside, he wants 250 for the pair, and i am afriad od tearing the 700r4 up and being stranded somehwere, but the overdrive is appealing (with 4.10s@65 2700rpm no overdrive, w/ od 2000rpm.), and also i wouldnt mind the twin stick 205 over the 208, although i dont know if it would cause both sets of driveshafts to not be right if there is a difference in the th350 vs 700r4 length.



Sorry for the random thoughts guys, just dreaming. I also have an 82 cab and clip, and was thinking if i get the th350/205 and the 3/4 tons in addition to the 10 bolts, find myself a cheap blazer frame and make a low buck trazer (ive got several running 350s).

But i figure for DD use the 700r4/208 with 3.73s and 32s wouldnt be a bad combo. Oppinions? Sorry for the random thoughts, its what happens when cabin fever sets in.
 
Personally i would go with the 4.10 geared axles. I don't like C-clip axles and the 14ff is almost bullet proof. The 4.10 gearing and tire size is pretty ideal but 3.73's will make the OD useless IMO.
 
The 700r4 is the longest of the setups for drivelines. Combined with the 208, you would have to do new drivelines if you went to a T350/205 combo. The front driveshaft on the 350/205 combo is only about 26" long collapsed, I had to have one out of a 350/208 combo shortened to replace the front shaft out of mine. If I had to guess, the front would have to be shortened, the rear is going to have to be lengthened to swap that combo.
 
4X4HIGH said:
Personally i would go with the 4.10 geared axles. I don't like C-clip axles and the 14ff is almost bullet proof. The 4.10 gearing and tire size is pretty ideal but 3.73's will make the OD useless IMO.
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But on a daily driver that will only see light trail use? with 3.73s+32s its gonna be at 1800rpm. (way better than the 3.08s).

Plus then i gotta worry about buying new tires, the 32s i have now are already paid for, and if not i have to buy 8 lug rims.


And the seller with the th350 has both driveshafts, only reason im considering it.


Haha, i think i may have my mind set already, just i dont know if ill ever lift the 86, and i know the 14ff is way stronger than the ten, but will i ever need it?
 
KansasTwister said:
But on a daily driver that will only see light trail use? with 3.73s+32s its gonna be at 1800rpm. (way better than the 3.08s).

Plus then i gotta worry about buying new tires, the 32s i have now are already paid for, and if not i have to buy 8 lug rims.


And the seller with the th350 has both driveshafts, only reason im considering it.


Haha, i think i may have my mind set already, just i dont know if ill ever lift the 86, and i know the 14ff is way stronger than the ten, but will i ever need it?
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Ask yourself this same question next year when you're swapping in different axles and a lift and bigger tires, and....you get the idea? This is an addiction, you just can't leave these rigs alone. :D
 
4X4HIGH said:
Ask yourself this same question next year when you're swapping in different axles and a lift and bigger tires, and....you get the idea? This is an addiction, you just can't leave these rigs alone. :D
Click to expand...


Haha, but i know where a 75 k5 is, full convertable, already rusted and beat up is for 500 (my brothers other k5, it gave the motor to my 86)

Or, id build a trazer (all i really need is a blazer frame frame) to beat on. This 86 is too nice imho to wheel that crazily, i just want a nice driver from it.

And yes, i have the storage for these vehicles, no worries there.
 
If you really don't plan on wheeling it then a twin sticked 205 or even a 205 seems a bit silly to me.

the 208 has a way better low range and will be plenty strong with your proposed plan of very nearly stock.

Remember when you swap out a 700 you also lose a very very good first gear.

Any trans that has been sitting outside is a crap shoot at best. sitting kills transmissions

I agree with Scott though I think the 4.10s would be a nicer gear to have with a 700
 
I'd go with the 3.73'd 10 bolts and the 32's. If the K5 is as nice as you say this will help keep you from going bigger and wheeling it hardovre later.

If I could find a cheap set of 3.73'd 10 bolts I'd run that exact combo myself as I also currently have the 3.08's and 31's. My OD is fine with the 3.08's, but it would be better with 3.73's.

If you're worried about the C clip end of things get some aftermarket shafts for the rear. They run about $120 each and the C-clip slot would be fresh and comparitively snug. The only C-clip axle I've had come out was from a worn and sloppy C clip slot.

Rene
 
Hes close buy with the halftons, so im gonna go other there asap and try to snag the pair (means i have to clean the snow out of my bed :haha:)


Ill pop the covers before i install them and check everything, may have dad over (hes the god of differentials).
 
doonjumper said:
I think I know her.......:whistle:
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I believe we have all met that one rearend that everybuddy and there brother has been through at least once, yoke was so lose felt like the gears could fall right through the case:haha:







On a serious note:crazy: or as serious as us folk can be :D


If i wanted to throw a posi, at least in the rear (maybe the front to while im there) what would be the best option for a daily driver? im thinking just a stock style posi in the rear (Should be easy to find, since the late 70's camaros (they changed posi styles in early seventies if i stand correct) and mid 80s trucks both use the same g80 posi unit, then what about the fornt? would it be best to leave it open or put a limited slip while im there? I plan to use the warn premium hubs as well (my 86 has the autolockers on it, and ive heard baaaad things about them)
 
i just wanted to go cheap route with a factory posi unit, i wont be wheeling this truck hard, now if i went a 14FF rear id use a detriot, but everyone hear always thinks long term :D, plus being a DD i think chirping round the corner would get old.
 
The G80 (Gov Bomb as they've been called) is a weak POS. I would not waste any money on one of them. I don't care what axle you choose but IMO a Detroit IS the answer and they don't "chirp" the tires unless you're trying to go around a corner with a heavy right foot.
 
4X4HIGH said:
The G80 (Gov Bomb as they've been called) is a weak POS. I would not waste any money on one of them. I don't care what axle you choose but IMO a Detroit IS the answer and they don't "chirp" the tires unless you're trying to go around a corner with a heavy right foot.
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not the gov bomb, im talking a factory positraction unit, like an eaton or whatever they are, i have one in the back of my 80 camaro, or did the trucks use that style of posi at all?
 
KansasTwister said:
not the gov bomb, im talking a factory positraction unit, like an eaton or whatever they are, i have one in the back of my 80 camaro, or did the trucks use that style of posi at all?
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Trucks use a 8.5" 10 bolt and i'm pretty sure the cars used a smaller 8.2" 10 bolt IIRC. I'm fairly certain that ALL trucks that had a "posi" used the G80 Gov-lock. I know that the GM cars did use an Auburn cone style posi unit (they are non-rebuildable).
 
4X4HIGH said:
Trucks use a 8.5" 10 bolt and i'm pretty sure the cars used a smaller 8.2" 10 bolt IIRC. I'm fairly certain that ALL trucks that had a "posi" used the G80 Gov-lock. I know that the GM cars did use an Auburn cone style posi unit (they are non-rebuildable).
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Well im not sure what the trucks used so you are more than likely right, how much does a used detriot go for?


Guy listed an 87 k5 for 700, said he would take six, i told him ive got 500 to spend, maybe ill get it? wheel it? flip it? Haha.

Going to look at the ten bolts tommorow, if i ddint already have new tires id get the 3/4s and just run some 235/85/r16s like whats on my 2wd c10 and dads c20's.
 
I'm fairly certain the Camaros and Novas got the 8.5 10bolt in '75 or so, probably the full size Chevys too. They were used in cars before the trucks got them. I don't know what style posi they used though.
 
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