Comprehensive Axle Swap list

[HeloCrewChief]

I’m building a 70 C10 long bed and acquired a 1972 K20 chassis for it. It does not have axles and was wondering if anyone had a list of 8 lug axles that would be both an upgrade over the HO72 type rear and a direct bolt in. I would love a set of CUCV M1008 axles but, they are hard to find and seems more cost effective to buy an entire M1008 than just the axles. Thanks in advance!

['68OrangeSunshine]

Coleman Surplus in PA used to have M1008 axle/differentials NOS on pallets for reasonable money FOB. The killer was shipping. Especially to the West.

[57taskforce]

Any squarebody 1 ton (not full floater 8 lug 3/4 ton) rear axle will be bolt in except for the rear facing shock mount. These are the only later axles that will bolt in without moving perches. Most are 14 bolts but there’s a few Dana 70/80 dually rears I’ve seen as well. The front is easy, any GM K10, K20, or K30 dana 44, GM 10 bolt, or GM dana 60F will bolt up. 71-87(91 for suburban, blazer, K30 crew cab) will be a direct bolt in with disk brakes and the correct steering setup for the K20 frame you’ve got.

[HeloCrewChief]

Thank you for the phenomenal responses. I actually live in Alabama now so I will reach out to Coleman in PA. There is an outfit down near Dothan, Alabama that wanted $3,500 for CUCV used axles. I’ve seen a few complete trucks in that price range range.

[57taskforce]

The thing you gotta watch out for with the cucv 1 ton axles is that you can have anywhere from 4:11 to 4:56 to 4:88, depending on what your goals for the build are. If you are lucky and can snag a set with front and rear posi’s you are doing real good. It’s pretty hard to beat that front dana 60.

Another sometimes cheaper option is to look for a beat up K30 and buy the truck whole for the axles and transmission/NP205. That’ll get you the 14 bolt and Dana 60 with either a SM465 or th400 with a 205 behind it. 85+ is the bees knees with the stronger round pattern 205.

At the end of the day unfortunately, all these badass K30 parts are getting a lot harder to find as time goes on. I don’t see a ton of it any more like I did 10-15 years ago.