Heading to the junkyard

[74 shortbed 406]

I am getting ready to head for the junkyard to try to pick up some parts. Here is what I got. I have an 87 tbi 4x4 1/2t with 10 bolts front and rear, 3.08 gears, 465 tranny backed by np208 tranfer. Now I am looking for a stronger drivetrain. My goal is 4-6 inches lift with 33-35 inch tires with a healthy motor(sbc-bbc haven't decided). My question is what trucks should I be looking for for good donor parts and what should I stray away from? I would like to have 14 bolt ff rear, and really haven't decided on front yet. Any guidance would be very thankful for. What all will I need to get for the swap into my truck??

[msgross]

well, the tranny is good if you like manuals but an NP205 gear driven TC would be nice. Look for any manual chevy 4WD into the early 80's I think.. You will need the adapter and TC...

3/4 ton axles as well if you want to make it tougher, then you need brakes, rims, shocks etc...

If you get lucky enough to find a K-30 with a Dana 60 in the front then you should buy some lottery tickets!

Might be easier to find someone selling an old military Chevy M1008 and swap all the drivetrain.

[1-tonmudder]

well, the tranny is good if you like manuals but an NP205 gear driven TC would be nice. Look for any manual chevy 4WD into the early 80's I think.. You will need the adapter and TC...

His 87 465 will be 32 spline,and unless he can find a 32 spline 205 with the correct adapter(hard to find) it wont work.The 465's up till 81 were 10 spline and the 205's from behind the 80 back 465's will not work with a 81-up 465's.

3/4 ton axles as well if you want to make it tougher, then you need brakes, rims, shocks etc...

The 3/4 ton 10 bolts/Dana 44's are the same as the 1/2 tons,just have eight lugs instead of 6.The 44's are marginally stronger than the 10 bolt's.28 spline versus 30 spline.

The late 80's (89-90)Blazer/Subs had 30 spline 10 bolt's in em and IMO will be as good as a 44.Might be able to get one a little cheaper than a 44.

I would like to have 14 bolt ff rear,

Absolutely the best axle for your truck.But you'll need to be sure and get the u-bolt plates because 10 bolt plates will not be wide enuf.As long as you stay with a 10 bolt/44 front you can reuse the plates you have.

Your front axle choice should depend on how your goin to use it and what kind of tires your goin to run.

[74 shortbed 406]

Thanx for the answers. I went to the local jy and the owner told me I could have my choice of axles for 200 a piece, How can you tell if you are looking at a dana 60 still under truck???

[justcuz]

Dana 60's are easy. Has a 60 cast in lower web of housing, No ball joints
in knuckles, the have 4 bolt king pins, lastly right side has one u bolt and two regular bolts holding the axle to the spring.

[msgross]

[QUOTE=1-tonmudder;2959178]As long as you stay with a 10 bolt/44 front you can reuse the plates you have.

[QUOTE]

you should still pull the top plates off a donor axle. I found that my dana44 had a 2.75" axle tube and the 10 bolt donor was 3" tube. I needed the top plates and new U-bolts because of that...

One other note is that some newer models had front sway bars which connect to the top plates. I'm installing one of those on my 68 now...