axle swap

[hitcher]

thanks mr 250r .hmmmm, i have a guy looking into both options for me this weekend . he only works round the corner so will see tomorrow if hes come up with anything . didnt think it was going to be this complicated just to get my revs down

[Mr. 250r]

is anything really ever simple or cheap lol my dad can give you the run down of it all he's been in the tranny business since 79 pm me if you need his number about re gear pricing or tranny swap
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[Critter]

Maybe I'm wrong, but aren't the rear spring perches set at a different width between a 1 ton and 3/4ton? The 1 ton being narrower due to a narrower rear section in the frame. In other words the rear axles wouldn't swap out without cutting and rewelding the spring perches on the axle tubes.

[hitcher]

Originally Posted by Critter

Maybe I'm wrong, but aren't the rear spring perches set at a different width between a 1 ton and 3/4ton? The 1 ton being narrower due to a narrower rear section in the frame. In other words the rear axles wouldn't swap out without cutting and rewelding the spring perches on the axle tubes.

ill check that at work , didnt think about that . the tranny swap seems to be in the lead right now though but now im curious about that

[Critter]

Originally Posted by hitcher

ill check that at work , didnt think about that . the tranny swap seems to be in the lead right now though but now im curious about that

Oh yeah, I vote for an overdrive as opposed to you making the trade as well.

[MTCK]

Yes spring perches are a different width as well. You think the truck is a pig now, wait until you put 3.08's in it. Would not be pretty. A 700r4 would live behind a stock 6.2 indeffinetly if the TV cable is properly adjusted and you have a good cooler and temp gauge. Get on that site and do some reading. You'll also have to figure out if you want to try to keep your NP205 transfer case or throw a 208 behind it for simplicity.

[Mr. 250r]

im pretty sure critter is correct the 1 ton's are narrower and he's at 3k which isn't that alot for a diesel. I just don't think 3.73's are going to get it down enough and the tranny swap its not just put the tranny in and its gonna be driving tomorrow and mtck is correct the 700r4 was also put behind diesels and people still do it, but i was comparing it to a th400 which has much more strength compared to a 700r4

[Critter]

There is also the option of going with a Gear Vendors overdrive unit. Personally I've never had one but a lot of people rave about how nice they are. With a crew cab long bed there would be no issues with the drivetrain being too long. Might be out of the price range of what the original poster wants to spend, but I thought I would throw it into the discussion.

If it was my truck (and I wish it was!) I would be putting in a rebuilt 700r4 but use a newer style 4l60e case (4l60e = electronically controlled 700r4) and it should bolt right up to the round housing np205 that the truck should already have. Pretty much any transmission shop could do this.

[Mr. 250r]

im thinking 700r4 4wds tail shaft is longer which trans adapt sells the kit I think
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[SeventyOne]

Advanced adapters sells an output shaft for a 700r4 that will allow you to bolt up to your NP205 transfer case. I also know that if you acquire the shaft and send it off to Monster transmission they will build your 700r4 with the shaft so you don't have to tear down that brand new Bowtie made 700 (voiding the warranty in the process).

Back to the axle swapping topic - even if the perches lined up, you would need new driveshafts because the the yokes on the axles and u-joints are different.

Another way to lower the RPMs would be some larger tires - they essentially will act as lower (numerically) gears.

[Critter]

Originally Posted by Mr. 250r

im thinking 700r4 4wds tail shaft is longer which trans adapt sells the kit I think
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Yes but if we are talking about the same kit it only works with the square pattern th350/np205 setup when installing a 700r4 because they all share the square 4 bolt pattern leaving the transmission. If his transmission/transfer case is stock it should be a th400/np205 combo where the np205 is the newer female 32 spline input and round style case like the picture I attached below.

[fun in dirt]

Originally Posted by LANDC

DO NOT trade your axles! Put a tranny in, re gear it whatever. But do not trade away your axles. And know this, a 1 ton crew cab is not going to be a commuter vehicle..... ever.... Leave your truck as it is, take the piles of cash you would have burnt tryying to turn your truck into a commuter vehicle and buy a comuter vehicle.

I'll have to agree with this dude.
Sometimes you have to drive whatever you have that is running for a while, but a daily commuter would be a logical goal. I easily made payments on a 4wd ext cab Tacoma (used for $8500) with the money I saved every month in gas driving a '85 fullsize 4wd Jimmy. Granted I was driving 120 miles a day...but something to think about...since like Critter said the 3/4 ton want swap to a 1ton with out mods anyway

[SeventyOne]

Not to mention the load carrying capacity and strength lost going to 1/2 ton equipment. You won't have a 1-ton truck anymore...

[Critter]

Originally Posted by SeventyOne

Not to mention the load carrying capacity and strength lost going to 1/2 ton equipment. You won't have a 1-ton truck anymore...

He is talking about going to 3/4 ton axles, not 1/2 ton but your point is still valid.

[hitcher]

thanks for all the replys guys . ive knocked the axle swap idea on the head and will be going for a tranny swap once ive saved the money up which will be the other side of christmas . i knew id be going through this when i bought the truck so its no surprise really . found a decent tranny shop thats kinda local and will go see them when im ready. ill do some homework online also so that i get just what i need .
thanks again to everyone , ya'll saved me a lot of hassle by not going through with it .