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Tech question for a new guy

WestTXK5Guy

WestTXK5Guy

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May 10, 2008
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Location
Abilene, TX
I've recently(like a week ago) purchased my first K5. It's a 1985 with a 350 and a TH350 in it. I got under it today to see what transfer case I had and the tag says NP208. I'm the 2nd owner of this Blazer and am really anxious to get started on it. My question is this...How do I find out what gears are in the rearend? I'm really wanting to swap out my rear axle for a newer Chevy one with disc brakes and was wondering if the gurus here could help me out with how difficult this task is going to be. Oh and a 2nd question if anyone knows is....Will a 40/20/40 bench seat out of a new Silverado fit in my K5? I think it would look nice and be a definite upgrade from my worn out factory buckets.

Any help at all is appreciated.:D

Kris
 
WestTXK5Guy said:
I've recently(like a week ago) purchased my first K5. It's a 1985 with a 350 and a TH350 in it. I got under it today to see what transfer case I had and the tag says NP208. I'm the 2nd owner of this Blazer and am really anxious to get started on it. My question is this...How do I find out what gears are in the rearend? I'm really wanting to swap out my rear axle for a newer Chevy one with disc brakes and was wondering if the gurus here could help me out with how difficult this task is going to be. Oh and a 2nd question if anyone knows is....Will a 40/20/40 bench seat out of a new Silverado fit in my K5? I think it would look nice and be a definite upgrade from my worn out factory buckets.

Any help at all is appreciated.:D

Kris
Click to expand...

first off welcome.second, do you plan on going to 3/4 ton or staying half ton? either way a axle swap is pretty much a straight across swap. if you go 3/4 ton you can put disks on the rear. and you will need a conversion u-joint. with disks in the rear you are better off putting an adjustable proportioning valve in the brake lines.as for the seat im not sure, the best way is to just go measure.the best way to check your gear pattern is to pull the diff cover and you can inspect the gears while your at it. also check the glovebox for a detail sticker. it will tell you if its still there.
 
I plan on keeping it fairly stock. I'm not a huge rock climber or mud bogger. Just like to be able to go play for a little bit every once in a while. With that being said I'll more than likely stay with a 1/2 ton suspension. You say that IF I go to a 3/4 ton then I'll be able to do discs in the rear. Does this mean that I will HAVE to go 3/4 ton to do this? I'm sorry for the "newb" questions but I have never built a truck like this. I've worked on cars and tinkered with them since I was little but never anything this in-depth.

And thanks for the info on the detail sticker. I'll have to check it and see if it's still in there.

Kris
 
yah you may plan on keeping it pretty stock but if your going to be taking it offroad (doesnt have to be a rock crawler or mud bogger) it wont stay stock for long. im sure there are disk brake kits for 1/2 ton but i dont know why anyone would. i like to know that if i brake an axle shaft in my 14FF, the tire wont fall off.

you might check out some hotrod mags for theyre 4 wheel disk brake kits and it might be adaptable.
 
Ok. So if I were gonna upgrade it to 3/4 ton running gear then what would everyones best choices be for this upgrade? I wanna do it as close to right as possible the first time around. I definitely want one of Ryoken's custom dashes when he gets that process up and running. Man those things are nice! Anyways...I would like to hear from everyone as to what running gear they think would be best under my rig.

Kris
 
Pretty standard stuff, 14bolt full floater in the rear and dana 60 in front if you can find one, 10 bolt will work depending on use.
 
yah almost everyone is going to say a dana 60 front but if your not running hard or bigger than a 35 you can do pretty good with a dana 44 or 10 bolt. swapping in a 3/4 ton 44 or 10 bolt is basic unbolt the old axle and bolt in the new. making sure to use new u-bolts. the rear is pretty basic to bolt in also and can run disk brakes. make sure you measure the distance from your spring mounts, because a one ton 14FF is narrower at the spring mounts. 60" and 62" i believe. if your not doing the disk brakes yet, the one thing that is different is you will need a conversion u-joint for the rear.

doing the disk brake swap is pretty easy and you can use stock 3/4 4wd parts from any parts store for the calipers, rotors, brake lines. the only thing you have to get custom is the brackets for the calipers. if you run caddy calipers you will have your E-brake but if you use chevy calipers then you have to come up with something else for the E-brake like a pinnion brake or a line loc (or just go without). i got my brackets from DIY4X.com

a couple of upgrade items for your brake system is an adjustable proportioning valve, and/or a 99 chevy P30 brake master cylinder (factory 4 wheel disks).

it might sound confusing but once you get into it you realize just how easy it is. i just got done doing just about all of this.
 
Are those items things that can be found off of old military vehicles? I had a buddy at work tell me he knows where to get 1 ton and 2.5 ton axles and such that have been rebuilt for IMO really cheap. So if those could be found at the place he told me about I would be psyched!

Kris
 
2.5 tons (rockwells) probably wont be needed in your case and require alot of work. 1 Tons from a military, yup!
 
Sweet!!! The guy at work said they sell the overhauled ones at that place for around 70 each! I think I need to take a trip with him and see what they have to offer!
 
welcome and good luck with the build lets see some picks of what you got and check out my build thread
if your not gona be doing serious wheeling then 3/4 ton should so i have a 12 bolt spicer rear and a d44 in the front it works fine 4 now maby ill upgrade if i get the money

_____________________________
76 k5 :k5:

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232623&page=3
my build thread
 
West Tx Welcome! Could you give me the contact info for these axles I'm in Ft Worth and have been looking for these.
 
I will get that info from my buddy at work as soon as I get there tonight. I'll let you know as soon as I have it. If what he is telling me is true then there is a HUGE profit that could be made off of them.
 
Well he wasn't at work last night so hopefully he'll be there tonight. I really want to see if what he is telling me is true.

On a different note. I wanted to get an opinion of a paint color I've been thinking about. The greystone metallic that's on the new Chevy trucks. I'm gonna redo my interior in charcoal and think the greystone would be sweet as the other color. What do you guys think?
 
Gun Metal here to. West TX let me know what you find out from that guy.
 
I have seats from a '04 Silverado. Fit is great and you will like the charcoal color. The only problem I have found is the access to the rear seat is tough unless you figure out how to reuse the pass side mounts.
 
Hey thanks Bradshawtech! I really thought they would just wanted to know for sure. And where there's a will there's a way to make those mounts work. I'm now also trying to decide if I want to grab a 3rd row seat out of a new Sub/Tahoe to replace my back seat or maybe a couple of Captain's chairs. My 4 year old daughter rides back there so it'd be nice to make it comfy for her too! :wink1:
 
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