Quote:
Originally Posted by BigBlocksRule
Sorry, DirtyLarry, but that's wrong. The ONLY vehicle that got 14-bolt semi-floating 5-lug axles was the 454SS. Half tons got 10 bolters, the heavy half and 3/4 tons got 14-bolt differentials but they were all either 6 or 8 lugs. That's what makes 'em worth his asking price. I've seen good ones with everything intact and in good shape go for a grand.
Head to the 454SS site with TBI questions, those guys have pretty much got it figured out and they're a helpful bunch.
70Blazer, are you sure about the clutch posi's in Roadmasters and Caprices? I need a posi for my '97 Tahoe that now has a one tire fryer, I don't really want a locker and won't waste my time installing a gov-bomb in this 10-bolt rearend.
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Hmm, maybe my memory is fading me on this one. Maybe it is ½ 4x4 long bed extended cabs that I am thinking of that came with the 9.5” axle. Of course that would mean 6 lug not 5. I’ve been wrong before. None the less, I am not worried about the rear axle. I know the GM Corp 8.5” is a turd but my experience with the Corp 9.5” isn’t much better.
I haven’t messed with many 2wd’s as toys but I spun wrenches on Federal Express (that was before they changed their brand name to FedEx) Chevrolet G30 vans to get through college back in the mid-90's. Our small FX station we had about 14 ‘90 model year G-vans vans powered by 4.3L engines backed by 700R4 transmissions and 8 lug 9.5” rear axle and they were famous for axle seal leaks, pinion seal leaks, pinion bearing failures, axle noise and the center pin falling out chucking the pin against the axle housing and locking up the axle when the little center pin lock screw broke. Then there were all of the brake pulsations with that axle due to excessive runout at the axle flange causing the brake drum to wobble around the shoes. I’ve never been a fan of that axle anyway. I am tired of hearing about 9.5” axles in THIS TREAD! I’d rather take my chances with an 8.5” than throw money at a “RARE” POS 5 lug 9.5” axle. I hate anything Ford but the FedEx E250’s vans with 4.9L I6 engines and C6 transmissions of the same generation with the semi float Dana 60’s never had any rear axle issues other than lug nut studs spinning in the axle flange.
That all said, if the GM 8.5” has a major catastrophic failure in this here 454SS clone project I’d rather toss custom 5-lug Moser axles in a Ford semi float Dana 60 than mess with a GM corporate 9.5” axle unless I stumble across a 5 lug 9.5” at the bone yard for almost free. Dodge used the semi-float Dana 60 in trucks and vans as well. There are options other than the GM 9.5”. The 454SS crowd can keep their 9.5" all they want and demand whatever they want for that axle. I'm not buying into it. A little TBI 7.4L isn't that huge of a power house engine monster anyway.
Everybody said the front Dana 44 in my K10 with the 8.1L wouldn’t live either. I’ve wheeled the hell out of it for a few years around AZ, CO and UT with a conservative 425 HP/600ish lb ft torque estimate 8.1L without issue (a heck of a lot more power than a TBI 7.4L can generate). Guess it is how ginger you are with the loud pedal.