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new guy with axle compatibility q's

nutt7

nutt7

1/2 ton status
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Ahwatukee, AZ -> JBLM, WA
I have a 1/2 ton 89 burb w/ 3.73 gears and 35's. (350, 700r4) I know I need gears, and upgrading axles may be cheaper and better.

On CL, a dude is selling a rolling chassis from a 76 3/4 ton shortbed. He does not know the gear ratio as he is selling it for his dead buddy's widow. He tells me it has no body or engine, but it has the 4 spd manual tranny and the transfer case as well as the axles and a 4 inch lift. That is all the seller knows.

I believe the tranny is the sm465 and the t-fer case is an np205 (Am I right?) What is the most likely (and possible) gear ratio and axle (12b, 14bff/sf) for a 3/4 ton of that year? Will these axles fit my burb with my current lift? I understand I may need to make some minor mods like the front brake lines or u-joint.

I figured I can salvage the axles and possibly hock the rest for most of the cost of the rolling chassis.

I am new to this site, so if there is a resource I haven't found that would help with this I would appreciate you pointing me in the right direction!

Thanks
 
'76 should be a Dana 44 front axle, it could even have a flat top passenger side knuckle on it (a good thing, even if you don't want crossover steering it could eventually be worth something).

Trans/t-case will be an SM465 and NP205 (10 spline).

In my experience, the most common ratio for 3/4 tons of that era is 4.10 but that isn't the only option.

Those 3/4 ton axles are a direct swap for you other than new brakelines for the front (10mm on yours vs. 7/16" for the older stuff) and a conversion u-joint for the rear driveshaft (your stock rear driveshaft uses 1310 u-joints, the 14 bolt uses 1350 joints, there is a u-joint that has one size on two of the caps and the other size on the other two, easy to search for that part #).

Rear should be a full floating 14 bolt which is about as bulletproof as it gets short of 2.5 ton and larger military stuff.
 
Awseome, thank you.:waytogo: I think I will check it out. Now I just have to figure out how to get it to my house...uh, and where to put it. My neighbors abandoned their house, guess I can use their driveway.:D IIRC, the front brakes are slightly better then my current ones, right? Any other info/advice I might need?
 
nutt7 said:
Awseome, thank you.:waytogo: I think I will check it out. Now I just have to figure out how to get it to my house...uh, and where to put it. My neighbors abandoned their house, guess I can use their driveway.:D IIRC, the front brakes are slightly better then my current ones, right? Any other info/advice I might need?
Click to expand...

I believe everything you need has been posted, the calipers are the same between the 1/2 and 3/4 tons but the 3/4 ton rotors are bigger. As mentioned you'll need new brake lines or use your current calipers on the older axle (direct swap).

That trans/t-case (SM465/NP205) aren't worth a bunch but are far from worthless, it all depends on what you can get the whole setup for.
 
He has it posted for $500, might try and talk him down, but I would feel kinda bad since it is for a widow...

How does that price seem? I thought the np205 was a damn tough case, and its not aluminum like mine...I would keep it but I would rather have the ratio of my 241
 
nutt7 said:
He has it posted for $500, might try and talk him down, but I would feel kinda bad since it is for a widow...

How does that price seem? I thought the np205 was a damn tough case, and its not aluminum like mine...I would keep it but I would rather have the ratio of my 241
Click to expand...

The 205 is a tough case but as you mentionned it has lower ratio, and this setup is the older setup with 10 spline (weaker) input shaft.
It's not a bad setup but I would keep the 241 too if I were you.
As for price, I think it's not a bad price considering you can get a set of 3/4 ton axles for about $350-400 and the 465/205 is worth at least $200, if the frame is decent you can get $50 for it and I don't know if there is anything else in the package, tires wheels?
 
I have to ask but he said "rolling chassis" I hope it has some crappy wheels at least for me to roll it home. He said it has 4" rough country front springs and blocks for the rear. Could probably squeeze a few more bucks selling that, not to mention selling my current axles.
 
What kind of lift (i.e what brand, springs in the front, blocks in the back, etc.)? That drives some of the price.

I feel like $500 for the 3/4 ton axles and 465/205 is in the ballpark, but it's not worth it for parts that need to be rebuilt.

The NP205 is a VERY tough transfer case, as strong as it comes for basically any 4WD truck (of course there are some big cases in military and industrial applications). It uses a cast iron case and it's completely gear driven, it's a big step up from your current setup.
 
The lift is 4" rough country front springs with blocks in the back. Seller says springs are pretty new and shocks are good...
 
Seems expensive. I don't like to give more than $200 for 3/4 ton pickups.

Martin
 
82355 said:
Seems expensive. I don't like to give more than $200 for 3/4 ton pickups.

Martin
Click to expand...

I like to get things for free, I don't like to waste my money but it is a reasonable price nonetheless.
I have aquired some free trucks in the past 10 years and some had 3/4 ton axles.
:whistle:
 
I like free as well. I am just saying I keep looking when people want over $200 for 3/4 parts rigs, unless it has something I really want.

$500 seems high.

Martin
 
I plan to go look at it. From what I gather, 3/4 ton axles of that era are a ff design so that will be a give away. I am just praying they are 4.56s in there...
 
nutt7 said:
I plan to go look at it. From what I gather, 3/4 ton axles of that era are a ff design so that will be a give away. I am just praying they are 4.56s in there...
Click to expand...
fat chance if it's 3/4 ton, I haven't seen a stock d44 or 10 bolt front w/ 4.56
4.10 is more likely.
 
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