Running gear question / opinion

[mjensen]

So, I have a stock '69 GMC (well kinda...it's running a 327 instead of the stock 307) 3/4 ton. This was Grandpa's old rig and I LOVE IT! It's an old 4 speed that originally came with 4.37's (so I'm told). With it only being a few years old, by Dad backed it into a rock which split the rear diff cover and resulted in a blown rear end. After 2 months of looking, all him and his buddies could find was a 4.11, so they slammed it in and left the front as the 4.37. As you could probably imagine, it sucks driving in the snow but it's never met a mud puddle it didn't like

Now for the question/opinion. I've been toying with the idea of swapping axles, transmission (for a newer 5 speed), transfer case for a newer (maybe mid 80's). Is this a relatively simple swap? Or would this be a bad idea all together?

TIA
Mike

[mjensen]

ttt

[Longhorn Man]

Mike, I'm going to move this one to the 4X4 section where more ppl who are "in the know" will see it.

[Blue_71]

with it being a 69, i think it will have the rockwell transfer case. a swap to a 70-79 NP205 is a pretty common thing. 5 speeds are nice, but in 4x4s they get to be an exspensive thing, depending on what you want to do with the transfer case. i would change out the front axle to a 71 or newer 3/4 ton 4:11 front. ive actually never heard of 4:37s, but 4:56s were also common

[msgross]

popular swap but not cheap!

rustbucket is doing a NV4500 with NP205 setup in his 3/4 ton. Advanced adapters make kits as well..

Cheaper route would be to find a 4 speed with an NP205 and a newer 4:11 front dana44 or corp 10 bolt. If you wheel hard then you should save the money and go for a Dana60 front axle in the future. Most of them have 4.56's though (military K-30 CUCV's.)

I would start with the axle and go from there. If you go disc brakes then you also need some upgrades to your master cylinder and proportioning valve.