HD carrier bearing conversion question

[chev-obsession]

I want to convert to the horseshoe style carrier bearing since the inline style is complete junk. Can this current setup ( came from factory with 350/350 in factory locations) be used to any degree with a HD carrier bearing?

I did a search and didn’t find a ton of info on which parts (driveline interchangeability) to use.

Any help is appreciated.

[kwmech]

You can if you can find the riveted bracket that attaches to the x-member to hold it up. Then you'll need the whole driveline restructured to accomodate

[CastIron]

There is at least two other types of bearing setups. My 69 C1500 with leaf springs uses the style in the first picture. I don't know if that will work with trailing arms. It appears the bracket for the bearing may interfere with the trailing arm brackets.
The second pic is from a C25 133" wheelbase longhorn with leaf springs. It is obviously a very different style and wouldn't work.

[HO455]

You can convert to the 3/4 ton coil or the leaf sprng style.

You will have to get different driveshafts. And as Castiron said there are different versions. These require you to use the driveshafts they came with.

The 1/2 ton trucks with your style of carrier bearing don't have any kind of slider in the driveshafts and the changes in length are made at the transmission yoke.

The other styles of carrier bearings hold the front half of the driveshaft solidly in place so all of the changes in length must be absorbed by a slider in the rear driveshaft.

Is your truck lowered?

How much torque/horsepower are you making or planning on making?

You can also use your existing bracket with the aftermarket billet carrier bearing and and a new driveshafts that have a slider in rear driveshaft.

Most of the frame crossmembers I have seen have holes for both 1/2 & 3/4 ton carrier bearing mounts.

[72c20customcamper]

Not on Chevy yet but I ditched the two piece on my 3500 Dodge. Went with an aluminum from Action machine South Bend Indiana Much nicer all around truck always had a launch shutter 5.9 Cummins ,dealer told me it was normal it’s gone now . I’m getting one for each of the chevys when they need repair . Going to get one for my Chevelle this spring

[chev-obsession]

Originally Posted by HO455

You can convert to the 3/4 ton coil or the leaf sprng style.

You will have to get different driveshafts. And as Castiron said there are different versions. These require you to use the driveshafts they came with.

The 1/2 ton trucks with your style of carrier bearing don't have any kind of slider in the driveshafts and the changes in length are made at the transmission yoke.

The other styles of carrier bearings hold the front half of the driveshaft solidly in place so all of the changes in length must be absorbed by a slider in the rear driveshaft.

Is your truck lowered?

How much torque/horsepower are you making or planning on making?

You can also use your existing bracket with the aftermarket billet carrier bearing and and a new driveshafts that have a slider in rear driveshaft.

Most of the frame crossmembers I have seen have holes for both 1/2 & 3/4 ton carrier bearing mounts.

Thank you, the truck will be making whatever it came stock with. No performance mods what so ever. So 150-200 hp?

Ideally I would like to do the least amount of piecing together and ideally buy all replacement parts from Napa.

Is there a truck to look for that would have the correct length front drive shaft for an automatic? Did the 350 auto truck ever come with a HD carrier? I do have a rear drive shaft that has a slip on it, I believe it’s is from a 1/2 ton long bed.

I know my 1969 c10 that came factory with a 4 speed has the HD carrier but the front shaft won’t be the same length as the 350/350 combo.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by chev-obsession

Thank you, the truck will be making whatever it came stock with. No performance mods what so ever. So 150-200 hp?

Ideally I would like to do the least amount of piecing together and ideally buy all replacement parts from Napa.

Is there a truck to look for that would have the correct length front drive shaft for an automatic? Did the 350 auto truck ever come with a HD carrier? I do have a rear drive shaft that has a slip on it, I believe it’s is from a 1/2 ton long bed.

I know my 1969 c10 that came factory with a 4 speed has the HD carrier but the front shaft won’t be the same length as the 350/350 combo.

Most 1/2 ton GMC trucks had leaf springs and would have the pieces you want.
3/4 ton coil spring trucks used the HD carrier bearings.
Both of them and be found with the 350/350 combo.

[68mg]

Here's a pic of the one on my '69 C20 which originally had a BB and still has the TH400. I have the bed off to replace the springs and add a rear gas tank and a trailer hitch. There's not too much extra room between the HD carrier and trailing arm mounts.

I was surprised that other Chevy C20s with rear coils I've seen with the 350/350 combo used the weaker inline style carrier bearing mount (one was a '70 and the other was a '71). It sounds like you'll have better luck looking at GMCs for the HD Carrier/Front-Shaft that are the correct length for the TH350.