OE Trans for 2wd or 4wd?

[69ROTROD]

Hey all...I have been plugging away on the '72 and finally found what is left of the factory option sheet that was in the glove box. It is pretty cool but raised a question.

My truck has 5 lug front axles and 6 lug rear. I figured somebody may have done a swap for a new brake setup at some point. The truck came with the M49 "turbo hydra matic" trans. Everything I have looked up said it was the 4wd trans option. Am I accurate in thinking that this truck started it's life as a 4wd and later became 2wd?

It was nice to see the LS9 and YE9 on the sheet!

Thanks for your help guys!

[leddzepp]

What does the VIN number start with? If it starts with C, it is a 2wd. If it starts with K it is a 4wd. The transmission is irrelevant.

[jocko]

If your truck is a C10 as listed in your signature - then someone has swapped the rear end somewhere along the way for some reason. 72 C10 was 5 lug all the way around. K10 was 6 lug. 3/4 was 8 lug.

So, leads to the next point - are you 100% certain you have a 72? You would not be the first person to buy a 70 with a 71/2 grille on it. How to tell: VIN starts with "CC" vice just "C" and the 2 is present for the digit. (this ties into your discussion because 70 and earlier C10s had 6 lug all the way around - and people often swapped 71/2 crossmember in to add disk brakes - whereas there is no reason to do this in a 72 because disks were standard).

concur with ledzepp - trans has nothing to do with lugs. C in VIN = 2wd (and 5 lug in 71/2) / K in VIN =4wd (and 6 lug). This true only for 1/2 ton trucks - 3/4 got 8 lugs regardless of C or K.

M49 is TH400 and not 4x4 specific, also normal to see it in a 2wd big block truck.

So,
Is your VIN a C or a K (2dw or 4wd) as ledzepp pointed out?
Is the year indicated a 2? (i.e. to ensure you didn't buy a 70 (which was 6 lug on half tone trucks) that has had a 71/2 grille stuck on it)
(It should begin with "CC" (72-only) if a 2wd truck)
SBC or BBC eng?

My guess, if you confirm it's a 72 C10 is that it's had a rear axle swap from a previous owner because he wanted a different axle ratio and the he thought the whole axle swap was quicker than a carrier/gear change-over). But, we armchair detectives need a bit more to go on. Hope this helps.

[too much stuff]

Get your vin and spid numbers first.
M49 was an auto trans option, either TH350 or T400
I assume this is a 2WD with 5 lug rotors up front and not axles.
My guess is it is a pre 71 truck with a disc conversion up front or a 71-72 with a rear axle swap.

[69ROTROD]

Ok. I knew you guys would be the best source of info. The VIN starts with CC and according to the VIN came from the factory with the LS9 350 small block. I guess somebody swapped the whole rear end at some point. I should have thought of that!
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