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#26 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 35
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Re: 1971 GMC C2500 rear end questions
Quote:
I agree, I have to make this decision based on how I want to use my truck. I just really like my truck, and started to think that changing the rear end gearing and adding positraction would be a nice update/improvement. It isn't a necessary change. It obviously is geared more for pulling and hauling, than going 75mph on the highway. How do you like your setup with the 350 Turbo, and the 3:73 gears? I believe I have the 350 Turbo with 4:11 gears. It could be 4:10. Any idea what rpms you engine is running at going 70mph with the 3:73 gears? I mostly make highway trips up to my cabin a hundred miles away, hauling what I need in the back, and I pull my boat a few hundred miles a year. I also enjoy just driving it around town in the non-winter months. Thanks, JP |
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#27 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 35
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Re: 1971 GMC C2500 rear end questions
An update on my efforts to update my truck gearing:
I went out to my cousin's pole barn last night to look at the old rear end he had in his shop. He has a 14 bolt rear end for a 3/4 ton GM, but said I don't want that if my existing rear end is a Dana 60. We confirmed that it was a Dana 60. He was surprised too. My cousin is one of the best mechanics that I know. He is in a 4-wheeler club, and is building up 4-wheel trucks in his barn all of the time, so I got his opinion while I was out there. His comments: - He would just leave it as is. Unless I have plans to drive it all over the country, he didn't think the cost of the updates justified making the changes. (This sounds too logical. He obviously doesn't like my truck as much as I like it.) - He believes the newer 400-R4 and 200-R4 overdrive transmissions are not as strong as the original T350 and T400 transmissions. He recommended keeping my existing T350 transmission, and keeping the Dana 60 rear end. - He thought I should find a used Dana 60 with the lower gears already in it, and change out the rear end, for the most cost effective way to get higher gears in the rear end. - Otherwise he would update the existing Dana 60. He also knows "a guy" who updates a lot of rear differential in his shop. He called his guy for ballpark pricing. He was booked until spring, and said he would do it for about $1000 without positraction, and add another $500 if I want positraction. Note: I'm now getting pricing from my friends "guy" who previously recommended a new rear end, because they both assumed that I had the Eaton 5200. Thanks again for your comments. JP |
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#28 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca
Posts: 1,210
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Re: 1971 GMC C2500 rear end questions
Quote:
__________________
Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC |
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#29 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Saskatoon,SK,Canada
Posts: 2,476
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Re: 1971 GMC C2500 rear end questions
A 14 bolt full floater or even a 9.5 semi float are very good, plentiful and cheap. Parts are everywhere. If you are on a budget do a swap. Hang onto the Dana.
__________________
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada |
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