79 K20

[1979C20]

Since my mom is getting her insurance settlement, I'm going to be picking up my uncles K20 for $2500. Its got a built 383 stoker, TH400, NP205, D44 front, D60/14 bolt rear, 4.10 gears in both(it used to have 4.56s all locked up, but he put the stock ones back in). The cab is rusty, it has winch bumper front and rear(I think rear). when I get it, I'll be installing Mini Spools front and rear, Lock it up tight! I believe it already has manual hubs, but if not, I will be installing them. I'm not sure on the lift/tires. But I plan on a Rears Up Front conversion, 4-6 inch lift, high steer, 36's or so. I will begin rust repair when I'm done doing my body work and paint on my 79 C20. Here are some Google maps pictures. Its the best I have for now.

[thirsty]

But I plan on a Rears Up Front conversion,

I've seen you mention this before. What is the reason for this? I've never heard of doing it before.

[VileZambonie]

I take it you don't plan on driving on the street.

[paniolo]

Spooled on the rear is a pain and lots of tire wear and drivetrain stress if you drive on the street.  Something like a Detroit is much more street-able.

And a spooled front is a handful off road.  It kills your turning ability.

From personal experience the best off-road set up is a spool in the rear and either a Detroit or even better a selectable air locker up front.

Air lockers are by far the best for street-ability, but expensive.  Barring that, Detroits front and back are pretty livable on the street and very capable off road.

[beastie_3]

so now youre not going to do a 4x4 conversion? I was looking forward to seeing that.

I would stay away from spools. If you really want spools, why not weld it instead? that is free. Get ARB lockers, best of both worlds.

[big bear]

i believe this is another truck he is getting beastie.

[beastie_3]

i know.

[bake74]

     I am with everyone else on this, spools are great for mud pit racing, but only problems on the street, I would really think about it before you spool up a street/off road machine.

[Irish_Alley]

money can buy parts but something you cant buy

[beastie_3]

Irish, what?

[1979C20]

Rears up front give more suspension flex. And make for a smoother ride compared to front lift springs. I have seen conversions for the rearend for hubs, on one or both wheels. Both wheels are the people who tow their vehicle with a tow bar, they unlock the hubs on all 4 wheels and dont need to worry about removing the driveline so, I figure if I put spools front and rear, I can convert one rear wheel to a hub and unlock that and the fronts around town. That will stop tire wear and stress on the axle shafts when turning. I am keeping both of my trucks, and I will probably drive my c20 more in town than my k20.

One reason I dont want to weld my gears is because the heat weakens everything. And, my dad needs to buy more argon and another spool or two of wire, which will equal out to the price of one spool. I am trying to save money by going the spool route instead of a locking diff, because theyre expensive. I dont think a spool will do too bad offroad. My dad has a detroit in the rrar of his jeep and on the street while turning you can hear it and feel it jump a cog on the locker and it will send you halfway into the other lane. It never jumps a cog offroad. Its just locked up tighted than a max pen. And I learned how to offroad the old person way. Slow and easy. So many people go out and hard wheel up the easiest hills and break something. My dads jeep is a t18 4 speed with granny low, amc 360, dana 18 tcase, and 4.27 gears front and rear. He puts his transfer case in low 4 and just idles up hills at 1 or 2 mph. Because its 6.32:1 granny, 2.48:1 tcase, and 4.27:1 rear with 33's which comes out to a final ratio of 65.58:1. So he just puts up hills. And thats how I learned. Im not going to get on a hil and floor it and start spinning tires and snap an axle shaft.

Beastie, sorry for the 4x2 to 4x4 disappointment. My dad said "if your getting your uncles truck you either have to sell your truck or sell that axle on the side of the house". So, im going to make my c20 into a street queen and my k20 into an offroad beast. I dont plan on driving the k20 much in town. Only when my c20 is down. And I plan on taking my k20 throigh the mud bogs, sand drags, and offroading at Sycamore Creek AZ, and Butcher Jones/Suguaro Lake AZ.

[beastie_3]

Never heard of putting hubs on the rear axle.

[jdl71]

If it's got a full floater rear, can't those be unlocked? It's not an everyday thing but I thought you could actually disengage the axle shaft by grabbing the the center of the hub with a pair of channel locks and turning.

[VileZambonie]

If it's got a full floater rear, can't those be unlocked? It's not an everyday thing but I thought you could actually disengage the axle shaft by grabbing the the center of the hub with a pair of channel locks and turning.

 

[jdl71]

Further advantages of a full-floater include being able to remove a broken axleshaft, yet still have the ability to keep a functional rolling tire on that corner of the vehicle. This can be done since the wheel actually bolts to the hub that rides on the spindle attached to the axlehousing. If the axle has manual locking hubs, it may be possible to unlock the rear hubs for towing a disabled vehicle on the trail or for flat towing over the road.

Read more: http://www.off-roadweb.com/tech/0112or_semi_floating_and_full_floating_axles/index.html#ixzz1WHiwKjk4