Author Topic: 1986 C10 ring/pinion gear swap  (Read 3262 times)

Offline mcintyrederek

  • Registered Users
  • *
  • Posts: 198
  • Rookie
1986 C10 ring/pinion gear swap
« on: February 12, 2016, 09:51:28 PM »
1986 C10 LWB with mildly built 350, and a healthy TH400.

The glove box says the rear end is a 2.73..  and going by the article posted on this site and testing it for myself, it definitely is a 2.73.

I do a lot of towing, but nothing heavy.  The drivetrain is plenty strong but the 2.73 is killing my take-offs and overall performance.  I'm not racing or showing off..  I'm pulling a trailer and I need a little better ratio.  I don't particularly care about fuel economy because it's a business expense..

What's your opinion on an overall street gear and what will direct fit into my housing?  It's a 10 bolt open carrier.  I think I did a search earlier with the bolt patterns and determined it's an 8.5" ring.  Does this sound correct?

Would a 3.42 or 3.55 be a good overall ratio?  Which one of those is correct for the year 1986?  I don't think I want to go more than 3.55.  I don't want to go extremely ridiculous or I'll have to put an O/D transmission in.

I have had the rear end apart when changing wheel bearings.  I'm familiar with how to take apart and put back together but I've never had the pinion out.  I have replaced the oil seal on the pinion.  I've had the yoke off but that's about it.  How does the pinion come out of the bearing, and how does the bearing come out of the case?  Do I need a press or special tools to do this or will a large vice and a shop press do?  I need to know if I'm capable of doing this myself before I order a pinion and ring. 

Rear end is in the photo.

Opinions please.  Thanks.
Mack.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2016, 09:54:38 PM by mcintyrederek »
1986 C-10 Silverado 350 CI 260 HP, Edelbrock 1405, TH400, 2.73's - rescued from the junkyard - Farm Truck, daily driver!

Offline Irish_Alley

  • Tim
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13319
  • Family is not an important thing. It's everything.
Re: 1986 C10 ring/pinion gear swap
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2016, 09:56:41 PM »
My take if you don't plan on doing another or two just get one from a junk yard there's tools you need that you will never use again and the specs on everything is tedious. I've only don't them in my mud truck. So I really didn't care too much but did make sure it was close with a paint marker so I can't even tell you where to start
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline hatzie

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 771
Re: 1986 C10 ring/pinion gear swap
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2016, 07:06:05 PM »
My take if you don't plan on doing another or two just get one from a junk yard there's tools you need that you will never use again and the specs on everything is tedious. I've only don't them in my mud truck. So I really didn't care too much but did make sure it was close with a paint marker so I can't even tell you where to start

10 bolt and the Dana axles are a tedious and fussy job.  I have the tools and experience.  I don't want to do another one.
SVC & wiring mans --> Here http://tinyurl.com/7387BRD-SVCMAN or My Bucket @ http://tinyurl.com/SQ-SVCMAN
Parts & Illustr Books -->http://tinyurl.com/SqParts
GMSTG Textbooks-->http://tinyurl.com/STG-TEXTBK
Radio Manuals-->http://tinyurl.com/DELCORADSVC