Picked this up last night- 1970 4x4 need to make decision

[Burbnasty]

I have a ridiculous amount of questions moving forward, but for now I need to make a decision.

I picked up a 1970 3/4 ton suburban, it has 34,000 original miles, it was a well optioned fire chief truck.

It currently has no motor, trans or transfer case and I purchased as a roller.

I had a 1970 4x4 2500 truck that I sold last year. The axles were very very difficult to find parts for, I believe they were a one year only axle.

The suburban has the original axles currently in it, I know the brake drums are no longer made along with other parts. The current axles are 4.10 or 4.11 gear. The truck is still at the old owners property, and I will soon pick it up, he has offered to swap the rear axle out with another dana 44 with 3.73 gears and throw in a set of 4.10 gears to match the front.

He also has a 14 bolt with a matching front axle out of an 80s 1 ton that I could purchase for an additional price.

I don't know my future plans, (tire size, lift if any, etc.) so i'm up in the air on gears but I would say I would a least run a 32 tire, and I plan to have an OD trans.

I need to make decision on axles before I take is soon.

I realize this is a lot to process, but I'm just looking for some direction, should I ....

Keep the original axles?

Swap the rear out with a 14 bolt dana 44 that currently has 3.73, and swap 4.11?

Purchase the axle out of the 1986 one ton with the matching 4.10 gears?

If this should be posted in the 4x4 section let me know...

[dozerbill72]

Keep the original axles. You said the current owner wanted to put a D44 in the rear, that is a 1/2 ton axle more than likely.The rear that is in it is bullet proof plus it has a factory installed locker in it. The front is very easy to convert to disk brakes it can be done with factory parts. That is a very nice Burb you got there. Disk brake the front and enjoy it.

[Bigdav160]

That Suburban appears to be in excellent condition and well optioned.

With the low miles I wouldn't expect anything to be wrong with the axles. Seals and bearings are available. I would keep them. Especially with the locker already in the rear.

On my Suburban, the previous owner replaced the Eaton rear axle with a '75 14 bolt after pinion bearing leak/failure. When I got it 4x4 was inoperative due to the mismatched 3.73 rear and 4.10 front ratios. Eventually I went with 3.73's, 33 inch tires front and rear lockers and a 700R4 transmission. I'm sure I would have been just as happy with 4.10s. There's not a big difference between the two RPM wise.

[too much stuff]

I would keep the original axles and look into a disc brake swap in the future, or since it is on a trailer, just swing by MN and drop it off here...
That is a nice looking rig.

[Burbnasty]

Thanks for the responses.
If I were to keep the factory axles I would need to do a 4 wheel disc brake conversion due to brake parts not being available correct?
Does someone make a conversion specifically for that axle?

[Livrat]

Originally Posted by Burbnasty

Thanks for the responses.
If I were to keep the factory axles I would need to do a 4 wheel disc brake conversion due to brake parts not being available correct?
Does someone make a conversion specifically for that axle?

The front is the easiest to do as 1970 was the first year of the open knuckle front axle, just with drum brakes, all that is needed for the front conversion is any 1971 through about 1980 3/4 ton spindles, rotors, hubs, caliper mounts and calipers, its all a direct bolt on. You will also have to use a disc brake master cylinder and proportioning valve

The the rear HO52 axle here is a thread on using all the 14 bolt drum brakes on it
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=536119

[68panelman]

That's a really nice burb. I'm with the gang, leave the axles but upgrade if you need to. My trucks are still all drum and work great, you just drive em differently than your newer vehicles. More pictures when you can please.

[shearjs]

Nice looking Burb! Completely off topic, but did you have any trouble getting that beast to fit on that trailer? I'm planning on making a trip to look at a Burb this week and was considering using a Uhaul myself. Sorry to dirty up your thread. Thanks!

[Burbnasty]

shearjs: your not dirtying up the thread at all, I'm glad I can actually help with something!

That picture is actually from the old owner, I've not yet picked the burb up yet as it is still being stored at the previous owners. I just didn't have any other pics of it and was eager to show it off. So I've never personally hauled it on that trailer...........However a friend of mine sold a 1974 caprice to Indiana, from Northern Michigan, I was going down for the holidays anyway, so I hauled it down for him. Instead of towing my trailer down and hauling for the rest of the time spent at the in-laws I rented a "one way trailer" from U-haul. Big mistake. I rented a trailer like the one in the picture, it was miserable. It is not meant for a car or truck that large. It death wobbled over 55 mph, we were all car sick, it was not safe, and my wife was not happy. I highly recommend against the uhaul trailer if you have any other options. If you must use a trailer like that do not tell them what you are hauling on it.
Good luck with your trip, if you use that trailer, don't bring your wife along... trust me!

[70cst]

I would agree that being a nicely optioned an low mileage Burb ... keep it has original as possible.

[Orangetwk]

You could just sell it to me

[Dieselwrencher]

I can see keeping the original axles, but can you get the 1 ton stuff at a decent price? The front end should be a Dana 60 and those are the strongest axles you can get for the front. They also fetch around a grand a lone. So if he's willing to sell you them at a good price, I'd probably snag them. The D60 already has disc brakes and will go right under your burb. Only a collector would dock the truck for having a D60 IMO. It currently has no original engine and trans, and you plan to put in an overdrive trans in it, so I see no need to keep the D44 due to originality. If he wants a lot for the other axles then sure. Keep what you have and upgrade the brakes.