Rear Axle Shopping Questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

coyote killer · 09-26-2006, 02:22 AM

I am going axle shopping today and I had a few questions. I want a 3.50 gear or a 3.73. Were there any 68-72 trucks that came with 3.50's?

I've heard that Chevy used both coil springs and leaf springs in the same year ,is this true? If so how prevalent are coil springs?

How common are posi-tracs in the afore mentioned ratios?

All tips and comments will be greatly appreciated.

jooooooe · 09-26-2006, 06:45 AM

don't know about all those figures, it would be like pulling a rabbit outta' ones hat, but here are a few very important things: the '67/'68 model rear ends are narrower, look out for axles that have been converted to 5 lug from 6 improperly ( I just pulled a set from a truck and the bolt pattern was actually off center) I ordered a new set for $175 from www.accuautoparts.com, spent too much time in the u-pull-it yards trying to find what I needed. there were a few Chevy's with leaf springs but all GMC's had leaf's.

Longhorn Man · 09-26-2006, 04:30 PM

actually, the 67 - early 70 were narrow, the late 70 - 72 were wider.
there were no 3.50 gears in these trucks.
The norm for 1/2 ton chevys is coil, with a hand full of leafs thrown in...it is oposite for the GMC trucks. Although, there were certian models of the GMC that came standard with coils in the 1/2 ton scene.
In the 3/4 ton, it is still the same, but considerably more were optioned with leafs...this is personal observation, not hard facts (the part saying more 3/4 tons were optioned... )

coyote killer · 09-27-2006, 03:48 PM

Will the narrow rearends bolt right in to a 71 with coil springs? Thanks!!!

**kwmech** · 09-27-2006, 08:56 PM

3/4 tons has 3.54s available with the big block. (dana 60)

crazy longhorn · 09-27-2006, 08:59 PM

3.73's should be a dime a dozen on these trucks.....pretty much any 1/2 ton , with 6 cyl /stick was equipped that way. If you want a mid 3's gear, look into the mid 70's, for a 3.40 rear diff(be prepaird to weld the brackets on, to fit the coil spring trucks). I run a '75 12 bolt in my longhorn with a 3.40 gear, & love the mid 3's gear. With a 29" tall tire, & 6 gears in the Richmond on the tap.....it works pretty slick

L

jooooooe · 09-27-2006, 09:00 PM

yep, they interchange

09-26-2006, 02:22 AM	#1
coyote killer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sacred Heart, Okla. Posts: 14	Rear Axle Shopping Questions I am going axle shopping today and I had a few questions. I want a 3.50 gear or a 3.73. Were there any 68-72 trucks that came with 3.50's? I've heard that Chevy used both coil springs and leaf springs in the same year ,is this true? If so how prevalent are coil springs? How common are posi-tracs in the afore mentioned ratios? All tips and comments will be greatly appreciated.

09-26-2006, 06:45 AM	#2
jooooooe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Foley, Alabama Posts: 85	Re: Rear Axle Shopping Questions don't know about all those figures, it would be like pulling a rabbit outta' ones hat, but here are a few very important things: the '67/'68 model rear ends are narrower, look out for axles that have been converted to 5 lug from 6 improperly ( I just pulled a set from a truck and the bolt pattern was actually off center) I ordered a new set for $175 from www.accuautoparts.com, spent too much time in the u-pull-it yards trying to find what I needed. there were a few Chevy's with leaf springs but all GMC's had leaf's.

09-26-2006, 04:30 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Rear Axle Shopping Questions actually, the 67 - early 70 were narrow, the late 70 - 72 were wider. there were no 3.50 gears in these trucks. The norm for 1/2 ton chevys is coil, with a hand full of leafs thrown in...it is oposite for the GMC trucks. Although, there were certian models of the GMC that came standard with coils in the 1/2 ton scene. In the 3/4 ton, it is still the same, but considerably more were optioned with leafs...this is personal observation, not hard facts (the part saying more 3/4 tons were optioned... ) Last edited by Longhorn Man; 09-26-2006 at 04:31 PM.

09-27-2006, 03:48 PM	#4
coyote killer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sacred Heart, Okla. Posts: 14	Re: Rear Axle Shopping Questions Will the narrow rearends bolt right in to a 71 with coil springs? Thanks!!!

09-27-2006, 08:56 PM	#5
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,487	Re: Rear Axle Shopping Questions 3/4 tons has 3.54s available with the big block. (dana 60)

09-27-2006, 08:59 PM	#6
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,403	Re: Rear Axle Shopping Questions 3.73's should be a dime a dozen on these trucks.....pretty much any 1/2 ton , with 6 cyl /stick was equipped that way. If you want a mid 3's gear, look into the mid 70's, for a 3.40 rear diff(be prepaird to weld the brackets on, to fit the coil spring trucks). I run a '75 12 bolt in my longhorn with a 3.40 gear, & love the mid 3's gear. With a 29" tall tire, & 6 gears in the Richmond on the tap.....it works pretty slick L __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears.... Last edited by crazy longhorn; 09-27-2006 at 09:01 PM. Reason: spelling

09-27-2006, 09:00 PM	#7
jooooooe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Foley, Alabama Posts: 85	Re: Rear Axle Shopping Questions yep, they interchange

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