Need Help Identifying 4x4 Puzzle truck!

[jugadro]

OK, now that I'm settled here in Maine, I'm finally finishing up my ball joints, tie-rod ends, and my last bad u-joint.
I really need to get it done so that I can hurry up and pay $2.90 a gallon in my 8 mpg truck.

Here are some more pics of my axle stuff:









So I'm ordering tie-rod ends for a '77-'79 axle - lets hope they work!

Thanks again y'all for all yer knowledge!!

[JAKES 68GMC]

Nice truck. I'd say you have a true 70 frame. Good to see another Mainer.

[jugadro]

Originally Posted by JAKES 68GMC

Nice truck. I'd say you have a true 70 frame. Good to see another Mainer.

Yuppers! I bought a U-joint today for a '78 GM truck with a Dana 44, turns out it really is a '70. I had to buy a different U-joint. Looks like somebody did a disc conversion back in the day. So perhaps the truck really is a '70 through and through.

[special-K]

I believe you could have an original,real late`70.Like,one of the last.Because those rear brakes are`71-only.I went through the rear brake lowdown on a`71 I had and got 2 of the last 9 drums in around`85,at least on the east coast.Only a place called Parts Jobbers could even find them.Those brakes are 2" but,I want to say,an inch bigger diameter.It`s all just too close and coincidental that you have this combination of part.Oh yeah,you said it`s a 2wd #.I`d say it`s a`70 body on a`71 frame.
BTW,the only way to be safe from salt is don`t drive in it.Salt will eat through anything you use to get to it`s favorite delicacy,metal.

[jugadro]

Man - It's been too long... gotta get this thing back on the road! Thanks for all the helping information!

[Stocker]

Too long? Nearly nine years, quite a long time for a thread to sit dormant and then get revived by the OP. Good to see you're still at it!

If you are interested, those front springs look exactly like my 2 1/2" Skyjacker Softrides. Can't tell if yours are same height or maybe 4" though.

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by jugadro

Well here is a pic taken last year. Unfortunately the winter salt is beginning it's destructive cancerous toll on the truck. I'm seeing little bubbles multiplying like wet gremlins.

Too bad they don't make a POR15 truck dip...
Or maybe I'll spray the entire truck with Rhino Linings - heheh.

Beautifultruck!!!!

[18436572GMC]

I agree with everyone else on what you have. A 67-72 frame due to the fact that the body mounts line up, np-205 t case, dana 44 front, eaton ho-52 or ho-72 (ho-72 has load bolt on side of housing) I did see a sign not mentioned that your axle has been changed. look at how far the u bolts stick up past the nuts, they are longer than factory u bolts.
As for a rear disc brake conversion I use ruff stuff specialties 14 bolt brackets. You will need to use 72 front calipers pads and rotors, and drill out the wheel stud holes to fit 9/16th studs. I used wheel studs for a 1995 f250. 72 front brake lines will work to connect to hard lines. I run this with no proportioning valve and it does great.
didn't mean to make that so long.

[18436572GMC]

also since im an ill add that the last year for eaton rear ends was 72 as the 14 bolt came out in 73
It might just be your pic but it looks like your front drivers side u bolts are missing a nut. Don't want you to walk an axle off its perch.

[swamp rat]

My understandig is that both HO-52 and HO-72 could have the load bolt, the main difference was the use of 11" shoes or 13" shoes, the Eaton is kinda a mistery diff, i think the assembly crew had a few too many martinies during lunch breaks. There is a data chart on the forum somwhere that you can compair the number on the eaton case too.

Yes any 14 Bolt conversion adapter plate will work along with the eaton hubs, my 72 has front disk from factory, both the roters and calipers will work for the rear but you won't have an Ebrake unless you use the eldorado calipers.

Use the search feature and type in Eaton disk conversion or other key words and see what you come up with..

[1malo68]

Offroad design sells a well engineered and easy to install rear disc brake conversion kit. It's really heavy duty too.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

My understandig is that both HO-52 and HO-72 could have the load bolt, the main difference was the use of 11" shoes or 13" shoes

Yup, HO72 had larger brakes, most likely because it was on 1-ton trucks, and the 3/4 tons got the HO52.

As to the load bolt, some HO52s had it and some did not.... but all HO72s had it.

[DWilbur]

I have to agree with everybody that your truck is a 1970. nice looking truck.

[swamp rat]

Here's a thread i started when i was working on my Eaton, it has some good info in it including some pic's from service manuals and an ID chart.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=590959

Don't know if this covers your model but it should be very similar.

http://www2.dana.com/pdf/5310-3.pdf