1/2 Ton or 3/4 Ton? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dunkinhard02 · 11-13-2004, 05:58 PM

I just bought a 68 Chevy pickup that originally left the factory as a 6cyl 2wd model. However, a previous owner has converted it to a 350CI, 400 Turbo Tranny, and 4wd. It has 6 lug axles, and discs up front. The rearend is a 12 bolt. I was told that the axles and frame MIGHT be 3/4Ton, but the previous owner wasn't too sure. Is there anyway to distinguish between years on these axles/frames, and how can I tell if the frame/axles are 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton? The front manual lockers on the front axle are inoperable, and I need to know what year/axle to order them for (they attatch to the axle with 6 small bolts with allen heads). Thank you in advance.

68w/sbc406 · 11-13-2004, 06:38 PM

6 lug is half ton and 8 lug is 3/4 and one ton. there are guys that can help you figure out exactly what you got under there so ttt for ya

**JIMs70GMC** · 11-13-2004, 07:51 PM

Supposedly no difference in the dimensions of a 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton frame. Except, I believe the rad core supports are different between the two, for 2wd models but the 4wd models are the same. Now my 1 ton shares a lot of the same dimensions as my 3/4 ton 4wds. The spring spacing in the rear is the same. It is different between 2wd 1/2 and 3/4 tons and their 4wd counter parts..

crew70 · 11-13-2004, 09:21 PM

you know I find this interesting. I have allways locked at it like you . 6 lugs
1/2 ton and 8 lugs 3/4 ton. I beleave that is the case for 67-72 but a my buddy has a 88 3/4 ton with 6 lugs. then another guy shows up with a 01 1/2 ton with 8 lugs.that is when I lurned abought the turms light duty and
heavy duty. I had never heard of a 3/4 ton with 6 lugs. My hole world was turned upside down,

ligth duty 1/2 ,heavy duty 1/2, light duty 3/4,heavy duty 3/4 ton

now I am not a ford guy but they have some trucks with 7 lugs...???
wtf???

whats the dif between HD 1/2 ton and a LD 3/4 ton

cant any buddy stick to the rules.

thank
crew 70

Longhorn Man · 11-13-2004, 10:51 PM

hey crew70...long time no see...welcome back.

1969 GMC · 11-13-2004, 11:07 PM

the confusing 6 lug 3/4 ton stuff didnt start until 88 when the new body style was introduced. besides the lugs, the gvw on the 8 lugger is higher.

I dont know when the 8 lug 1/2 ton started, but it was recently. iirc its only the 1500HD that has this. My question is, why is there a need for a 1500HD? But I digress.

Do you have any pictures of your truck? If the front axle happens to be a dana unit, it will have a number called the Bill of Material stamped into the long driver side axle tube. once you have found this 6 digit #, you can enter it into the decoder at
www.drivetrainsuperstores.com and it will tell you the year make and model of what it originally came under, as well as the gear ratio and axle spline count. good luck!

dunkinhard02 · 11-14-2004, 07:40 PM

Thanks for the help so far....the front axle has the codes...2, 38335, and 44 8F stamped onto the front differential. Here are a few pics as requested. Looks like its probably just a 1/2 ton with a Dana 44 front end?

**Palf70Step** · 11-15-2004, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1969 GMC

I dont know when the 8 lug 1/2 ton started, but it was recently. iirc its only the 1500HD that has this. My question is, why is there a need for a 1500HD? But I digress.

They did the same thing in the late 70's with heavy 1/2tons. Why?...Taxes and licensing. It is officially a half ton and has different rules from the HD "commercial based trucks". In the 70's it got around the pollution laws, but still kept the truck from having to be licensed as a "commercial" vehicle. Politicial BS again, sales gimmics, what ever you want to use as a reason.

**JIMs70GMC** · 11-14-2004, 07:53 PM

Yep, it's 1/2 ton. Nice looking truck. Welcome to the board.

dunkinhard02 · 11-14-2004, 07:57 PM

Thanks guys, now I can finally get my lockers to make this into an actual 4x4.

68w/sbc406 · 11-14-2004, 10:37 PM

nice truck. wouldnt mind having one like that

dunkinhard02 · 11-15-2004, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68w/sbc406

nice truck. wouldnt mind having one like that

Thanks, probably the best thousand bucks ive ever spent.

68w/sbc406 · 11-15-2004, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunkinhard02

Thanks, probably the best thousand bucks ive ever spent.

id second that

Mudder · 11-15-2004, 11:34 AM

Nice truck.....really nice price.....

11-13-2004, 05:58 PM	#1
dunkinhard02 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 21	1/2 Ton or 3/4 Ton? I just bought a 68 Chevy pickup that originally left the factory as a 6cyl 2wd model. However, a previous owner has converted it to a 350CI, 400 Turbo Tranny, and 4wd. It has 6 lug axles, and discs up front. The rearend is a 12 bolt. I was told that the axles and frame MIGHT be 3/4Ton, but the previous owner wasn't too sure. Is there anyway to distinguish between years on these axles/frames, and how can I tell if the frame/axles are 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton? The front manual lockers on the front axle are inoperable, and I need to know what year/axle to order them for (they attatch to the axle with 6 small bolts with allen heads). Thank you in advance.

11-13-2004, 06:38 PM	#2
68w/sbc406 Got Light Emitting Diode? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 2,485	6 lug is half ton and 8 lug is 3/4 and one ton. there are guys that can help you figure out exactly what you got under there so ttt for ya __________________ 1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's(the family car) 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler

11-13-2004, 07:51 PM	#3
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Supposedly no difference in the dimensions of a 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton frame. Except, I believe the rad core supports are different between the two, for 2wd models but the 4wd models are the same. Now my 1 ton shares a lot of the same dimensions as my 3/4 ton 4wds. The spring spacing in the rear is the same. It is different between 2wd 1/2 and 3/4 tons and their 4wd counter parts.. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

11-13-2004, 09:21 PM	#4
crew70 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: shafer,mn,usa Posts: 316	you know I find this interesting. I have allways locked at it like you . 6 lugs 1/2 ton and 8 lugs 3/4 ton. I beleave that is the case for 67-72 but a my buddy has a 88 3/4 ton with 6 lugs. then another guy shows up with a 01 1/2 ton with 8 lugs.that is when I lurned abought the turms light duty and heavy duty. I had never heard of a 3/4 ton with 6 lugs. My hole world was turned upside down, ligth duty 1/2 ,heavy duty 1/2, light duty 3/4,heavy duty 3/4 ton now I am not a ford guy but they have some trucks with 7 lugs...??? wtf??? whats the dif between HD 1/2 ton and a LD 3/4 ton cant any buddy stick to the rules. thank crew 70 __________________ 70 chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 402ci crewcab 3/4ton 94 gmc 1 ton dually crewcab 454ci 99 suburban 5.7 2001 500cc ski-doo mxz 95 500cc ski doo fan 650 bombardiar 4 wheeler

11-13-2004, 11:07 PM	#6
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	the confusing 6 lug 3/4 ton stuff didnt start until 88 when the new body style was introduced. besides the lugs, the gvw on the 8 lugger is higher. I dont know when the 8 lug 1/2 ton started, but it was recently. iirc its only the 1500HD that has this. My question is, why is there a need for a 1500HD? But I digress. Do you have any pictures of your truck? If the front axle happens to be a dana unit, it will have a number called the Bill of Material stamped into the long driver side axle tube. once you have found this 6 digit #, you can enter it into the decoder at www.drivetrainsuperstores.com and it will tell you the year make and model of what it originally came under, as well as the gear ratio and axle spline count. good luck! __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

11-13-2004, 10:51 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	hey crew70...long time no see...welcome back.

11-14-2004, 07:40 PM	#7
dunkinhard02 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 21	Thanks for the help so far....the front axle has the codes...2, 38335, and 44 8F stamped onto the front differential. Here are a few pics as requested. Looks like its probably just a 1/2 ton with a Dana 44 front end? Attached Images Last edited by dunkinhard02; 11-14-2004 at 07:47 PM.

11-14-2004, 07:53 PM	#9
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Yep, it's 1/2 ton. Nice looking truck. Welcome to the board. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

11-14-2004, 07:57 PM	#10
dunkinhard02 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 21	Thanks guys, now I can finally get my lockers to make this into an actual 4x4.

11-14-2004, 10:37 PM	#11
68w/sbc406 Got Light Emitting Diode? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 2,485	nice truck. wouldnt mind having one like that __________________ 1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's(the family car) 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler

11-15-2004, 11:34 AM	#14
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Nice truck.....really nice price.....

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