What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Spacers.....again....

sreidmx said:
5/8th studs ftw..
Click to expand...
LOL if I had the money to choose everything overkill they'd already BE 5/8th

Stomis the specs I got with the spacers instructed torquing to 95 ft lbs so there's a problem right out of the box. I will probably address this stance "problem" ( the thing that started this whole headache) with either wider K10 truck rallys ( another item of contention :angry1: see my other posts) or a wider rear out of a new gen truck/suv.
I just really wanna know ( DAMNIT) why I've had 2 (!!!) 60mph 3 point landings on the shoulder while I can find very few others who had failures with these things.
I tend to agonize over potential problems with things before I ever grab a wrench. You can find proof in my numerous silly question posts :D
 
For the cost, my $.02, the 14SF is probably massively stronger than any 10 or 12 bolt rear out there, and while heavier, won't make you switch wheels due to lug pattern. To have matching lugs front and rear obviously some more work and money, but they are common enough that as long as you don't mind doing the work, compared to going with some one-off wheels, I bet the cost will be less. With more benefit.
 
I put a 12 bolt in summer before last. I was amazed at the difference between an 8.5 ring gear and the 8 7/8 in the 12 bolt! So when someone on another post mentioned the 99 and up Silverado rears being wider I got interested fast. I've found quite a few tempting rears to look for and was already leaning towards the 14 SF 6 lug now you guys cinch it :bow: I'll have to re-read the details anyway but...are the spring perches wider too? I don't have any welder connections at the moment. Hate to undo my happy upgrade with the 12 so soon but thinking about 9.5 10.5 or maybe even 11.5 is soooo tempting
 
I dont think there is a spring perch difference. You'd probably have to get new u bolts but thats no big deal. 9.5 is a pretty damn strong rear end....if youre wheeling like the stuff we do out here then you want to be over the top bomb proof 10.5.
 
If I do a swap I'll be ordering U bolts,plates,etc from DIY again. Bringing the leaf springs along from the donor might even be a good idea. I don't wheel much but I do haul a ton of tools and have uncompacted "driveways" to deal with so 10.5 or even 11.5 (:bow:) would be great. Question...would the 10.5 be 6 lugs or do I need to stick to 9.5s for those?
 
Apparently the newer work vans have even wider rears :eek1: I could have a dragster stance on my workbeast :grin: in addition to the bigger tires on the rear already.
For anyone wondering "what the hell is wrong with this guy?" I've always just HAD to tinker with ,well,everything and I've got a diehard love for the muscle car look...so...I'm running 30x9.5s up front and ,for now,31x10.5os in back....front diffy is original Corp 10 with 3.42s and rear is GM Truck 12 bolt with 3.73s. The difference in gearage allows me to run bigger rear tires ...irrelevant at the moment since the front rear needs everything replaced and I'm just 2 wheeling without the front shaft even in...but when I DO get 4 wheel capable I'll be matching gears to tire sizes and screwing with peoples heads :smokin2:


PS: If you think THAT looks crazy wait'll I delete the big glass and make it solid metal panel like a Sedan Delivery, add 4" tubes along my roofrack and do the body in a fade from glossy white roof thru gray ____liner to black wheel flares/bottom runners. With 'battleship'like prow and stern custom bumpers of course.
 
Last edited:
.........sorry guys. I tend to get overenthused about driving to jobs in my insanity made metal and rubber reality...........
 
9.5 are available in 6 and 8 lug versions.. 10.5 only 8 lug.. and 11.5 are 8 and 10 luggers..
 
sreidmx said:
9.5 are available in 6 and 8 lug versions.. 10.5 only 8 lug.. and 11.5 are 8 and 10 luggers..
Click to expand...

Well...I can "settle" for 9.5s over my 8 7/8ths. Just that slight difference over 8.5 made me happy so a full inch with 3.73s would be one hell of an upgrade.
 
Well I've been looking around online since the 14bsf advice and I've found 3 or 4 just on CL for around 400 bucks or less. Considering I'd 'fix' my tracking width obsession and an upgrade in torque/brakes and strength for less than running spacers or buying deepened rallys with inflated freight costs I'd say there's no question about it.
 
evolve991 said:
Well I've been looking around online since the 14bsf advice and I've found 3 or 4 just on CL for around 400 bucks or less. Considering I'd 'fix' my tracking width obsession and an upgrade in torque/brakes and strength for less than running spacers or buying deepened rallys with inflated freight costs I'd say there's no question about it.
Click to expand...

Depending on how much you want traction, the 9.5" gov-lock is a pretty decent unit too, not nearly as problematic as the 8.5's, if you wanted to try one out as you were perusing axles. Mine of course is now starting to not act quite right, but it's been years of pretty decent use.
 
dyeager535 said:
Depending on how much you want traction, the 9.5" gov-lock is a pretty decent unit too, not nearly as problematic as the 8.5's, if you wanted to try one out as you were perusing axles. Mine of course is now starting to not act quite right, but it's been years of pretty decent use.
Click to expand...

From what I've seen I'm assuming the 9.5 govlock is the most common of the 6 lugs isn't it? I want good highway traction in snow ( especially since I won't be 4WD capable for a while) and some rough offroading to jobsites. I know I had major problems with full time posi when I drove my Chevelle in the snow but my limited slip Buicks all acted like they were made for blizzards. I'd say my dream axle would be the later,wider 6 lug 14bsf 9.5 gov lock 3.73s with drum brakes. The 10.5 and 11.5 would be awesome but most likely have an 8 lug setup to change. I'd really love to get the Express Van version for even wider tracking
 
.....wish I could change the name of this thread to "Spacers,Rears and Rims" :cool: since 3 of my threads are all interconnected by subject
 
I just can't stop coming back to this thread LOL. I keep thinking of more benefits to upgrading the rear ( practice for convincing the wife I need more allowance :surepal:)
The 14 bsf would be a good step towards a later swap in of that 454 and a 4L80. That leaves my almost new 350 and best 700r I've owned ready and waiting for a pickup or Blazer body my brother can get excited over. Not to mention the 12 bolt I'd be yanking. That drivetrain in a smaller GM would rock,especially after the headers I've yet to bolt up and a nice cam upgrade.

sigh....like I said....I get a little hyper with ideas :screwy:
 
evolve991 said:
sigh....like I said....I get a little hyper with ideas :screwy:
Click to expand...

I do as well, but it helps to post it here and get different ideas....makes you think, many times I'll be yanked back into reality. :)

I've had the gov-lock pitch me sideways a bit in snow/ice (snow on a patch of logging road that was off-camber, and one that was sheer ice, downhill where compression braking effort overwhelmed traction) and that was a bit sobering, but that's going to be reality for any locked/limited slip rear end in low traction situations. Only difference being that posi and a locker would both be a bit more predictable. Not as predictable as a spool, but the gov-locks off/on/off has the potential to make things a bit interesting. But honestly, it's such a MINOR issue that unless I was always putting myself in off-camber or super steep downhills in poor traction conditions, I'd consider it superior to anything else out there when comparing on and off road manners and capability.

Gov-locks certainly have their limitations, but within those limitations they are very tough to equal.
 
That's exactly why I do post most of my silly ideas here before getting too far down the wormhole LOL. I'm confident the gov-lock will do just fine for me especially when I can get the front diffy swapped for a working one. I've never owned a 4WD before this one and got real good at wheeling my GMs in the snow where my Bronco and Mopar offroad buddies got stuck :rotfl:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom