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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Vermont
Posts: 8,538
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Axle Upgrade
Need to upgrade my axles, big time.
What I have: 79 Ford F350 up front - stock and open 98 3/4 ton chevy in the rear - stock gov-lok 5:13's in both w/37" tires. Have a doubler also. What I want/need: To be able to wheel the truck into some fairly gnarly places. ![]() So any info or personnel experience with different options or brands of parts would be great. I'm thinking for drivability issue's about using a Detroit in the rear and a limited up front. Cha-Ching... ![]() |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Vermont
Posts: 8,538
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Re: Axle Upgrade
![]() If a Mod would be so kind please... ![]() |
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#3 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Axle Upgrade
I have a Detroit No-Spin from the factory in the rear axle of my 69. Yes you have to remember it is there, but only once has it caught me by surprise. If you do a turn when it is slippery out, it can throw you a bit. Nothing that would keep me from wanting it, but just something to be aware of. Obviously they work awesome. I have dirt pile near my barn and the 69 will walk up it in 2wd. My 4wd 95 Yukon can't go up it in 4wd.
I can't speak about a traction device in the front axle.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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#4 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Lockers in rear are great.You have to get in the habit of drifting through sharper turns.Or,if power is needed to start off or get up a grade,go light.It`s alot chraper than any air or electric locker.Up front,I like the tru-trac.That`s all I`ve experienced.An air locker(or electric)can give you full-locking,but sometimes you don`t want that and with it off you just have open.You can switch back`n`forth,but what a pia.Never tried an Auburn unit in front,just the rear of my street `90 Blazer.I really like it.I don`t think they`re good for over33",though.I had the Tru-Trac in a`71 Blazer with 37"Swampers/Locker in rear.I can only imagine with a doubler how unstoppable it would have been.`Cause it was unstoppable w/o one.And I had a TH400.
Did you ever see the crappy picture of it on about the 5th page(11/04)of the 4wd Blazer sticky?
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 10-29-2005 at 09:31 AM. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Seneca, Kansas
Posts: 38
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Re: Axle Upgrade
If you have the 10.5" 14-bolt, you will need an open carrier in order to put in a Detroit Locker. If you have the 9.5" 14-bolt (which I doubt), it's just a differential swap. For the front, Dana's factory Power-Lok was a good differential and should be fairly easy to find. If you want to put in 35 spline axles in the front for added insurance., you will need the Dana 70 side gears
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: shafer,mn,usa
Posts: 316
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Re: Axle Upgrade
I have a 85 chevy frame with front dana 60 and 14 bolt rear its from a diesel
I dont have it home yet. I dont know what gears either.it is from a 1 ton single rear wheels.so it DOES NOT HAVE BUD WHEEL SPACERS ON IT.I would like 1400
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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 |
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#7 | |
User #12137
![]() Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: kingsport,upper east tenn
Posts: 11,598
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Quote:
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#8 | |
User #12137
![]() Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: kingsport,upper east tenn
Posts: 11,598
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Quote:
i have got sum questions for ya have you broke anything yet on the truck ? do you plan on driving the truck on the road alot after the mods ? the resion i ask these questions is theres a fine line from street driveing and 4x4 ing rigs the best 4x4 rigs suck when driving them on the street and the street rigs suck off road the off road rigs mostly run lockers front and rear , thats good off road but sucks on the street also sucks in the snow and on a snow trail even sucks worse most rigs running lockers up front dont use lock out hubs cause the will brake what tires are you running ? well theres tons of questions and tons of ancwers to be ask here |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Vermont
Posts: 8,538
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Quote:
Thanks tn, all good questions/issues. It's primarily a trail use vehicle that will see only limited street time. I acquired this K5 solely to wheel it, the bigger focus is on trail performance. No interest in running a locker up front for all the reasons you brought up. Drive train specs are: 350/th-400/203-205 w/triple sticks/5:13's w/37x12.5 SSR's on Weld wheels. |
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#10 |
Just here to help
![]() Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Norwood,Mo
Posts: 3,893
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Re: Axle Upgrade
it is moved for you sir,have a great day.
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#11 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Hey Crew70,He already has a D60 Ford in there.I`d go for that stuff if you were closer.Hae you listed it in parts yet?
The Loc-Rite is another great upgrade for the f/e.They are still made by Detoit Gear.
__________________
"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#12 | |
User #12137
![]() Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: kingsport,upper east tenn
Posts: 11,598
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Quote:
is there lots of mud? is there lots of rocks?i am talkin bolder size stuff lots of deep ruts ? i am talkin 3 feet and deeper here is it just old login roads type thing ? is there deep water at times ? as in 3 feet or deeper whats your drivin style ? wfo? crawling ? just trail ridin use what ya go when ya need it , oh by the way with the w/triple sticks it will take sum time to find out what they need to be in to get the hang of what you need it to be in does the rig have a winch ? the resion i ask these questions is theres differant 4wheelin in differant parts of the country all drivers have a differant driving style all rigs work differant in differant terrain<sp? what works good in one type may suck in a differant type terrain you didnt say if you had broke anything parts yet ? if not you not trying hard enough ![]() ![]() Last edited by tnblazerk5; 10-29-2005 at 03:03 PM. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Rubber City
Posts: 5,498
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Re: Axle Upgrade
I would recommend Detroit in the back and ARB up front. Having gone on a few trail rides with CK5 guys, the ARB is great. Expensive, but great. And when you are on the road, you can turn it off and its just an open diff.
I was looking at a Power-Lock for the front, but they get too expensive too quick. You can buy a brand new one, but they cost about the same as a Detroit. You can make one using a conglomeration of D60 and D70 powerlock parts, but it's still not cheap.
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1969 GMC K2500 ![]() 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650 |
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#14 |
User #12137
![]() Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: kingsport,upper east tenn
Posts: 11,598
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Re: Axle Upgrade
here a few other things you may want to do too before ya go to changing alot of stuff
get a spare axles (yes both front axles compleat ones theres 2 differant lenghts short side and long side ) and one rear axle (they sould be the same lenght in the rear so ya only need one extra ) security strap them in the blazer sumwhere out of harms way get extra front lock outs pack them in the blazer too . extra u joints for every place there is a u joint (you may have differant sizes and you may not, most older 4wheelers have changed all the ujoint to the same size and only carry one or 2 extra u joints with them ) have ya got a high lift jack ? if not gat one you will need it sumwhere along the line even if you have a winch you will still ne the high lift jack . for tools get ya sum kinda box to put them in and bolt the box in the blazer sum where try to carry all the tools you may think you need to change all of the above stuff plus sum ![]() like a air compresser under the hood or a air tank straped in the blazer sumwhere is ya opt for the air under the hood you can run air tools and a arb locker and few other things just remember if ya run the arb off the compresser you will need a regulater of the arb . i dont think i would go to changing a bunch of stuff on the blazer till ya know what to change hince why i ask ya what all you had been brakeing while 4wheelin they to go 4wheelin is kinda like the boy scouts go prepared and go in groups of at leat 2 rigs, perfribly more that way when ya get stuck you got more help to get out ![]() |
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#15 | |
User #12137
![]() Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: kingsport,upper east tenn
Posts: 11,598
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Quote:
there are a few people 4wheelin here with open fronts and just locked down in the rear and they seam to do just fine but there are times when the locked front really come in handy (i have a open front end in my 78 blazer and there have been times i wish i had a locked front end ) what i hear and read you just need to go 4wheelin more and get use to the blazer ya got try to have all the spare parts that ya can fit in the blazer and have fun once you start seeing things brake consistantly then you need to look at what ya need to change till then just go have fun after all thats what it is all about anyway !!!!!!!!! ![]() |
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#16 |
Having issues
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eldorado Ca, an hour east of sacramento
Posts: 696
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Re: Axle Upgrade
that truck drives very smooth on the road. (aside from the swampers that pounded the snot out of ya while cold) Aside from that, that rig needs serious help in the traction dept. That thing got spanked in my driveway trying to climb up the ledge. Gov locks suck bigtime.
![]() That ford 60 has 35spline outers in it, very beef ![]() for a serious trail rig, the best way to go is spool in the rear, and detroit or selectable in the front. IIRC, that t-case is modified so you can run 2wd low range and not have to get out and unlock a hub for sharp turns (assuming you lock the front) A locked front end does not turn very well, supposedly if you dont apply power to it, it will?? If your heart is set on running a limited slip for the front, go with either powerlock shimmed to within an inch of its life, or a good torque baising unit. Avoid the trac lock, that isn't much better than being open. Limited slips are nice for extra traction, but if you get one wheel in the air, all the power will wind up going there, unless you have a good tight unit If snow driving is an issue, keep a hub unlocked ![]()
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Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati. The Man's Prayer: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." |
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#17 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Vermont
Posts: 8,538
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Quote:
Thanks m/b a very usable bit of info. ![]() Last edited by vtblazer; 10-30-2005 at 08:55 AM. |
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#18 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,051
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Kurt, FYI: Tony (Masterbeavis) is a friend of mine and did alot of the work on the blue blazer. He's driven it way more than I have in it's current incarnation.
Last edited by FormerMember; 10-30-2005 at 06:11 PM. |
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#19 |
Having issues
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eldorado Ca, an hour east of sacramento
Posts: 696
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Re: Axle Upgrade
I no nawtsing....
![]() ![]() Hey John, do you still have that pintel reciever? I went to tow a big compressor, thought i had that guy sitting around, and scratched my head for at least an hour wondering what I did with it..... [edit] I have a line on a detroit that will fit an open carrier too, but I cant post it cuz I dont subscribe :P
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Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati. The Man's Prayer: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." Last edited by masterbeavis; 10-30-2005 at 06:40 PM. |
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#20 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,051
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Yes, I do. It was on the back of the blazer from your Pismo trip and is now on the back of my Ram for towing a 1 and 3/4ton trailer.
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#21 | |
Having issues
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eldorado Ca, an hour east of sacramento
Posts: 696
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Quote:
:flipoff2:
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Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati. The Man's Prayer: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." |
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#22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 894
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Re: Axle Upgrade
The Gov-Loc is but a ticking time-bomb. I like the Detroit I put in my Nissan, I need to get one for my K5... Like Yukon Jack said you can wheel in 2wd where lesser 4wds can't.
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-Chris Building a stripper, one part at a time: 1969 K5, 307, 3spd, 3 seats, hard top. Added Pwr Discs, Pwr Steering, Aux Battery, T-case Skid, Lighted Sidemarkers, HEI, Lock-Right Diff, ECE Class IV Hitch, 32" MT/Rs. Parts to Install: Hand Throttle, Console, Tow Hooks, Dual Horns, AM-FM, Dealer Swing-Away Tire Carrier, Gas Tank Skid. Also building a 1950 Willys CJ-3A and off-roading a 2001 Nissan Frontier on 1-Ton Portals... |
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#23 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Vermont
Posts: 8,538
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Re: Axle Upgrade
Quote:
![]() It's going to be a Detroit in the rear for sure pending funds... ![]() Not sure about the front just yet. Would really like to go "selectable" but might just end up installing a limited. |
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#24 |
Having issues
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eldorado Ca, an hour east of sacramento
Posts: 696
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Re: Axle Upgrade
I thought i posted this already, maybe I didnt. A lunchbox locker (one that fits inside the stock open carrer, similar to a 14Bolt can be had for less than $400, and does not require you to mess with your ring and pinion, or paying $400 for somebody to reset it for you. If you dont like it, you can uninstall it and go back to open. THEY ARE VERY TOUGH. A friend of mine has a serious rock crawling rig, his has survived with 38's for over 8 years now. It has survived 3 busted shafts too. When this ford was new, it was in showroom condition, all original, all purdy. Now there isnt a straight piece of metal on it anywhere.
![]() (this is the $440 one) Get locker-equiped traction with limited slip smoothness! The Powertrax No-Slip Traction Systems are the latest design in traction-adding differential technology. They combine the smooth operation of a limited-slip differential with the traction performance of a locking differential. A precise synchronization mechanism eliminates the ratcheting sounds typical of other locking differentials. Special gear and spring designs reduce the backlash, and, therefore, the driveline windup. Only ultra-strength material that is 67 percent stronger than titanium is used. Installation is simple because no ring and pinion setup is required. In addition, no special tools or oils are needed. Step-by-step, model-specific instructions are provided with every kit. ![]() ONe that will work just fine @$380http://store.summitracing.com/partde...=KeywordSearch Does the same thing, cept is quieter, and more $$$ @440 http://store.summitracing.com/partde...=KeywordSearch Here is for the rear http://store.summitracing.com/partde...=KeywordSearch SHOP AROUND!! You can find this stuff cheaper new if you look, and get smokin deals on it used if you are carefull. I found the 14B detroit for $250, barely used, no wear on it at all.
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Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati. The Man's Prayer: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." |
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#25 |
Having issues
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eldorado Ca, an hour east of sacramento
Posts: 696
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Re: Axle Upgrade
I killed this thread...
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Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati. The Man's Prayer: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." |
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