1/2 ton to dual axel rear? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Back in Black 66 · 08-12-2010, 10:53 AM

i got a 74 chevy long bed half ton. my dad offered me to take the dual axel rear end out of his 75 gmc motorhome. its about a 20ft motorhome. it has the air bag suspension for weight adjustment. i always wanted a dual axel rear. and here is my chance. so my question is. what problems will i run into. i know the drice shaft will have to be changes out. but do i use the conplete leaf springs from the motorhome or keep mine. and will everything line up for bolting it in? and how do the fender extentions adapt to the bed, is it fiberglassed or bolted? i would like to use the same bed, it is in perfect shape, with no rust. thanks for your time in advance.

RandyP · 08-12-2010, 11:48 AM

You'll probably have to use the leaf springs from the dually axle, and they are probably longer than what you have. I'd guess you'll have to change out some hangers.
For the bed fenders, you'll have to cut your bedside panels in the wheel opening area and drill out the mounting holes for the bed fenders. The bed fenders are bolt on ordeals. If your bed is really that good of shape, you'd probably be money ahead to sell it and either buy a real dually bed with fenders and all, or find a rougher bed to mutilate for what you want to do.

See if this photo helps show you what you have to do for the dually fenders:

Back in Black 66 · 08-12-2010, 01:07 PM

Thanks Randy.

The bedside are only bolted to the bottom and rear panel Right? so i should be able to just bolt bed sides from a dually onto my remaining box? and are the fender extentions fiberglass or metal? and would like the early to later 80's truck extensions work? You said i would probably have to use the motorhome leafs, they wont just bolt to existing hangers? and how much of a lift would it give my 1/2 ton? i dont want a rake from hell! but i could deal with like 2 inches or so.

Back in Black 66 · 08-12-2010, 01:11 PM

i think the motorhome is a 2 piece driveshaft. would the front of my existing drive shaft connect or slide into the rear half of the dually driveshaft? also when 2 piece driveshafts are balanced do they balance as one or seperately? cause i just had my driveshaft balanced 4 days ago.

BigBlocksRule · 08-12-2010, 02:32 PM

There's more to dually fenders - they have a filler panel that goes between outer and inner bedsides. This is what gives it support, they'll flop around without it.
I'd bet that motorhome has a very wide axle, go to Pirate 4x4 and look up the "14-bolt Bible". It has pretty much all the info you'll need on dimensions, etc.

Back in Black 66 · 08-12-2010, 05:55 PM

tried looking for the 14 bolt bible, and no luck. if you could give me a little navigation that would be great.

BigBlocksRule · 08-13-2010, 01:01 PM

Axe and ye shall receive:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...ble/index.html

Happy reading!

08-12-2010, 10:53 AM	#1
Back in Black 66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 32	1/2 ton to dual axel rear? i got a 74 chevy long bed half ton. my dad offered me to take the dual axel rear end out of his 75 gmc motorhome. its about a 20ft motorhome. it has the air bag suspension for weight adjustment. i always wanted a dual axel rear. and here is my chance. so my question is. what problems will i run into. i know the drice shaft will have to be changes out. but do i use the conplete leaf springs from the motorhome or keep mine. and will everything line up for bolting it in? and how do the fender extentions adapt to the bed, is it fiberglassed or bolted? i would like to use the same bed, it is in perfect shape, with no rust. thanks for your time in advance.

08-12-2010, 11:48 AM	#2
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: 1/2 ton to dual axel rear? You'll probably have to use the leaf springs from the dually axle, and they are probably longer than what you have. I'd guess you'll have to change out some hangers. For the bed fenders, you'll have to cut your bedside panels in the wheel opening area and drill out the mounting holes for the bed fenders. The bed fenders are bolt on ordeals. If your bed is really that good of shape, you'd probably be money ahead to sell it and either buy a real dually bed with fenders and all, or find a rougher bed to mutilate for what you want to do. See if this photo helps show you what you have to do for the dually fenders: __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

08-12-2010, 01:07 PM	#3
Back in Black 66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 32	Re: 1/2 ton to dual axel rear? Thanks Randy. The bedside are only bolted to the bottom and rear panel Right? so i should be able to just bolt bed sides from a dually onto my remaining box? and are the fender extentions fiberglass or metal? and would like the early to later 80's truck extensions work? You said i would probably have to use the motorhome leafs, they wont just bolt to existing hangers? and how much of a lift would it give my 1/2 ton? i dont want a rake from hell! but i could deal with like 2 inches or so.

08-12-2010, 01:11 PM	#4
Back in Black 66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 32	Re: 1/2 ton to dual axel rear? i think the motorhome is a 2 piece driveshaft. would the front of my existing drive shaft connect or slide into the rear half of the dually driveshaft? also when 2 piece driveshafts are balanced do they balance as one or seperately? cause i just had my driveshaft balanced 4 days ago. Last edited by Back in Black 66; 08-12-2010 at 01:11 PM.

08-12-2010, 02:32 PM	#5
BigBlocksRule Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 2,047	Re: 1/2 ton to dual axel rear? There's more to dually fenders - they have a filler panel that goes between outer and inner bedsides. This is what gives it support, they'll flop around without it. I'd bet that motorhome has a very wide axle, go to Pirate 4x4 and look up the "14-bolt Bible". It has pretty much all the info you'll need on dimensions, etc.

08-12-2010, 05:55 PM	#6
Back in Black 66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 32	Re: 1/2 ton to dual axel rear? tried looking for the 14 bolt bible, and no luck. if you could give me a little navigation that would be great.

08-13-2010, 01:01 PM	#7
BigBlocksRule Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 2,047	Re: 1/2 ton to dual axel rear? Axe and ye shall receive: http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...ble/index.html Happy reading!



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