Hey everyone this is my first project post. A little about myself first, I'm a 23 year old student that works full time at a machine shop. I own a 1983 Chevy K10 that has been in my family for ages almost since it was new. It was my grandpa's then my dad's then my older brother's and now mine. I intend to keep it for the rest of my life and eventually pass it down to my future children. I used this as a daily driver to get to and from school and work. I recently bought a reliable car so now this one sits, which gives me the time to do the upgrades and mods that I want to do.
Since I've had it my dad and I partially restored it when I was is high school, but many Michigan winters have taken their toll on Ol' Big Red. The body has got a bit of rust and needs new sheet metal, but that's another day. I've also went through many engines, four I believe. The current engine has a quite a bit more power, somewhere between 320-350hp. It's a 350 Small Block with racing pistons, .060" over bore, roller rockers, Edelbrock aluminum intake, mild cam, Holley carb.
For the task at hand I am upgrading the rear axle. Going from 2.73 axle with drum brakes to a 2003 axle with 3.73 gears, disc brakes, and a G80 locker. I'm going to learn a lot with this build and any advice is much obliged.
This is the candidate
The shock mounts and the spring perches will be moved.
I did some measuring and the new axle is going to be wider than the old. That's not bad is it? I figure it's going to give better stability right?
The axle is going in this
Disc Brakes FTW!
G80 Locker
The Parking Brake is going to go.
Anyone know how to take it off? Do I have to take out the axle to get to the bolts to take it off?
It's gonna need new dust shields
Parking Brake Cable, GONE!
Gotta find a yoke to fit this and my drive shaft U-joint. Anyone got any resources for that sort of thing?
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