Solid Axle Conversion Tech

[Brad Hall]

I have another new problem. Recently bought a off road unlimited straight axle swap for a 88-98 chevy using the 73-87 springs. I bought a set of superlift springs off ebay for 73-87 chevy and tried the 73-87 spring bushings and they were two wide to fit in the oru brackets. They told me to use 88-91 suburban bushings. So then I called superlift and they told me they use the exact same bushings for the 88-91 suburban the only difference is the sleeves. I would use different bushings like factory but superlift springs take their own bushings the holes are completely different sizes. By the way it is off around 1/2 inch. So do any of you know if there is a difference in the width of 73-87 and 88-91 suburban spring mounts besides the sleeves for sure? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[heavychevy]

i have a 89 blazer out in the bone yard and the only dif in the springs are the rear bolt , its bigger than older trucks but they are the same width , if you have a grinder you can trum the bushing up a little

[Brad Hall]

Just found out I'm pretty sure there is a difference in the width to I know it sounds crazy but I checked my local parts store and compared the energy suspension 32130g with the energy suspension 73-87 bushings and there is about a 1/4 inch to 1/2 difference.

[chevysmithz71]

Yes your right there are a difference in years for chevy. Call a four wheel parts store and they can tell you what years are different to get the correct set.

[playboy]

i found a chevy dana 60 and 14 bolt (matching set) from a 1990 1 Ton with 4.10's. Now would this be a passenger side drop or a drivers side? Should it be the same as my 1990 1/2 ton? Will this be any easier to put up, compared to a pre 88 dana 60?

[Brad Hall]

Have any of you found a sleeve/shim that will allow you to use a 1/2 bolt to go into your 9/16 bolt hole on the rear axle. I'm building a custom top shock mount for the rear with 1/2 bolt sizes and the rear axle has 9/16 holes.

[playboy]

ive got a TH350 and looking to put a chevy np205 on there. What year has the corrent spline? Do i need an adaptor?

[bggrnchvy]

One, why a tH350. You already have a 4L60e, they are basically the same unit and the 4l60e has overdrive. The 205 will bolt up if you find a 27 spline shaft for it. TH350 and 4L60e are both 27 spline.

[playboy]

ive got a TH350 in my truck right now. It does not have overdrive. I was just talking to the guy who is selling the axles and he is actually going to sell the whole truck. It is a 1990 GMC 1Ton Crew Cab. It has a dana 60 and 14bolt. It has a 205 and a 4 speed tranny. Does anyone know if the front brackets would be a direct bolt onto my frame? Is it still the same body style? What would be the spline shaft on the 205?

[bggrnchvy]

So your 700r4/4L60e died and you swapped in a TH350? The brackets are welded to the frame of the 1 ton, it is not the same body style and won't work anyways. The 60/14 combo out of that truck will require a diferent T-case, the one in that truck will not work, it is a 32 spline unit. Get an NP208 or p-drop NP241, those are the eisiest to swap in.

[playboy]

what do u think, would it be worth an extra $500 for the whole truck? Isnt there an adaptor from my TH350 to a 205 with a 32 spline shaft?

[bggrnchvy]

I don't see how the rest of the truck would be worth it to you, not like anything off of it matches up, unless you take the TH400 and put it behind your motor. You could do that and use the 205 behind that. Im not sure about the adapter for TH350 to 32 spline 205...

[playboy]

yeah i think im gonna go with the whole truck, its a 4 speed manual tranny with the 205 t-case. This way both of the driveshafts will match everything, and ill just have to extend the front, and shorten the back (its a crew cab). Ill let you guys know how it works out. Its has 4.10 gears in right now, what do u guys think about running some 44" boggers on those?

[bggrnchvy]

Um...regear and rebuild them, 4.10s are definitely not enough to puch 44's, hell I don't think 5.13's are enough to push 44's decently. Maybe 5.38's...maybe.

[heavychevy]

with a 4 speed and a 205 you can handle 44s with ease with 410s depending on what moter you put in it , i had 410s with a small block with flat tops gm 041 heads 300-515 cam and it would pull the 44s in high range granny 7500 rpm , that comes out to around 30 mph wheel speed , thats pretty good slinging 44s around , now i have a slitly modified 454 and it will pull high range 1st and comes out to a wheel speed around 50 mph , my cuosin runs 44s with a bone stock 454 with 410s and a 4 speed 205 and he runs high range granny and it will go very good , even when mine was street legal i could drive down the hwy fine and still run 90 if i wanted to but never did truck didnt feel safe going that fast but had no trouble at all running 70 , personally the lowest i would go would be 456 that way if you do break a gear you can find used 456 sets on e bay for cheap but if you had 513 you would have to buy new ones couse i dont ever see used 513 sets on e bay much and the ones i did see didnt go cheap like 410s or 456 sets do , i used to have a set of the good year 45 inch tractor tires i would even run on mine and still use high range so it dont take much to pull 44s with a 4 speed

[playboy]

good news, i just got the 90 GMC 1Ton and it looks like im going to be able to bolt the brackets with some minor modifications right up to the frame. If anyone else can find a 88-91 1ton i would recommend going that route right now, but ill keep you guys posted on my progress.

[lukc22]

This is the set up I am looking at... stock rear, maybe upgrade axle shafts; d44 with bigger shafts; change the outers on the d44 to match my stock ones; about 10" total lift including my bl; 37-38" tires; and bigger gears (dont know how big they need to be but I know bigger than my stock 373's)... I will do some playing in the mud, no hardcore stuff, deffinately no rock crawling... I am under the assumption that this set up shouldnt break since I dont have enough power from my engine to break those parts ....

t-case is kicking my butt ... I want to keep push button but dont know if I can get ahold of a np243 like I want... the 241 is easier to find and cheaper but with a center console, I dont really have a place for the shifter ....

I am looking for feedback on my set up good or bad ... I would really like to hear from some one running this and what they have experienced

[lukc22]

?

[playboy]

just about to starto install all the solid axle stff. Taking out the ifs went pretty smoothly. Now im just gonna swap a tranny and t-case and away I go. What is everyone doing about there rear leafs? Im gonna do a shackle flip with a new hanger but I dont know what kind of leaf im gonna get. Is everyone getting costom ones made, or sticking to the 88-98 rear leafs? If you are relocating your hangers what would be a good length for the leafs on the rear?

[82CadillacK5]

Hey,I'm new to this board and what i have seen so far is awesome stuff. I recently have plans to pick up a 1988 or 89 regular cab half ton pick up and its gonna be 4 wheel drive. I defently want to do solid axle swap on it, just because my blazer has a dana 60 solid front and 14ff rear and i love the fact that i can wheel the wee outta it and not really worry about any thing breaking, and its simple. When i build this truck, i'm not really gonna beat the hell out of it like i do my blazer, but i'm gonna wheel it. So i've come to the conclusion of doing solid front axle. Now this truck is going to be on some what of a budget, and i really like to build my own stuff. I was wondering if any one here who has built there own brackets for the SAS has any of the measurements. Also I'm wondering on how to do the shackle hangers for the front springs rear hangers. If any one has any drawings or plans of how they built there own stuff i would really appreciate it if you could share them with me. And if any one could help explain to me how i could go about the shackle hanger for the rear of the spring that would be great too. Pictures would also be awesome if some one could supply those too. I appreciate the help. Thanks.
Cory