Hey guys!
The farm is in dire need of a new truck for beating around in the fields. They are using a gorgeous, low mileage 2000 Special Edition GMC Sierra at the moment, which is just wrong!
So, I've got an 89 Chevy half ton with literally half a million kilometers on the clock. It is in dire need of a front suspension job, and is pretty loose on the road. The rest of the truck is in relatively excellent shape though, and being an extended cab longbox, it is perfectly suited for the farm.
I'm tempted to buy a 1/2 ton 10 bolt front diff + all the brackets for the front and rear of the truck, and convert it to 4x4. I'd change the front diff to 8 lug outers, put a 14 bolt out back, and put some 3/4 ton, or if I can find a set, 1 ton springs on it front and rear, and convert it over. In it's half ton 2wd form, it'd be totally useless out there.
I wouldn't want more than a 4" lift or so, just enough to pack some 32 - 33" mud terrain tires onto it and not get a bunch of rubbing while it is flexed out on some of the hills out there.
I'd then use the divorced 205 transfercase I have to get the front and rear shafts the same length, and either stick with the TH350, or possibly convert to an SM465 for the transmission.
Now, while I would have no problems doing the SM465 swap, installing the 205, or getting driveshafts made, I'd need to know what all a guy has to do to get that front diff installed. I assume I'd need cross over steering for it, and of course I'd have to bolt the spring stuff on, and possibly move the spring perches, but what else would I need to be concerned with?
I'm hoping to spend relatively little on this truck, and if it will cost more than 1500 to build, I'd rather just try and sell it as is for that price.
The farm is in dire need of a new truck for beating around in the fields. They are using a gorgeous, low mileage 2000 Special Edition GMC Sierra at the moment, which is just wrong!
So, I've got an 89 Chevy half ton with literally half a million kilometers on the clock. It is in dire need of a front suspension job, and is pretty loose on the road. The rest of the truck is in relatively excellent shape though, and being an extended cab longbox, it is perfectly suited for the farm.
I'm tempted to buy a 1/2 ton 10 bolt front diff + all the brackets for the front and rear of the truck, and convert it to 4x4. I'd change the front diff to 8 lug outers, put a 14 bolt out back, and put some 3/4 ton, or if I can find a set, 1 ton springs on it front and rear, and convert it over. In it's half ton 2wd form, it'd be totally useless out there.
I wouldn't want more than a 4" lift or so, just enough to pack some 32 - 33" mud terrain tires onto it and not get a bunch of rubbing while it is flexed out on some of the hills out there.
I'd then use the divorced 205 transfercase I have to get the front and rear shafts the same length, and either stick with the TH350, or possibly convert to an SM465 for the transmission.
Now, while I would have no problems doing the SM465 swap, installing the 205, or getting driveshafts made, I'd need to know what all a guy has to do to get that front diff installed. I assume I'd need cross over steering for it, and of course I'd have to bolt the spring stuff on, and possibly move the spring perches, but what else would I need to be concerned with?
I'm hoping to spend relatively little on this truck, and if it will cost more than 1500 to build, I'd rather just try and sell it as is for that price.
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