Swapping to a driver side transfer case?

[Jason Blair]

I'm in the process of designing a build for my 73 Blazer, and I'm going to put in a 6.2 L86 engine, which will work with both a 6L80 or 8L90 transmission. I really love the 8L90 on my wife's Yukon, but Advance Adapters doesn't yet make a transfer case adapter for the 8L90.... So my options seem to be settling for the 6L80, OR using a newer-style transfer case with a driver-side drop. My question is this: are there front axle swaps that fit fairly well with minimal modification, and if so, what are they? I looked into using parts from whatever wrecked Escalade or Yukon I end up sourcing my drive train from (which would also give me IFS and coil springs for a better ride, as well as big brakes), but it appears that the newer front ends would stick out way too far to mount deep dish wheels on. What should I be looking for, and what are some pitfalls I might not be thinking of? (My build is intended for very mild offroading only...) Thanks!

 

[sweetk30]

78-79 ford leaf sprung front axles fit under our trucks easy and direct bolt in spring width wise.

plus the bonus high pinion diff for better drive shaft angles.

also half way down this page . swap kit for np205 to 6l90 trans. ford or gm case options. http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/NP205 Parts.htm

 

[Jason Blair]

Yeah, if I go 6L80 or 6L90, there are plenty of adapters available. Things only get tricky if I go 8L90. I've spoken to Advance Adapters. They told me that the 6L adapters will NOT work with the 8L90. He did tell me they "were looking into a solution for the 8L90," but gave me no timetable. I COULD proceed with the build and just hope they come out with something before my Blazer is done... But that's a risk! Worst case scenario I could just skip the transfer case and run it as a 2WD until they come out with an adapter, but that would also be no fun!

 

[UpnAdam]

That would be ill advised imo