3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton dilemma - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Buick455 · 08-15-2010, 06:30 PM

Well I bought a 1986 parts truck for $900 which is a 1/2 ton silverado. The truck has rust thru at the cab corners and in the bed but it is repairable and much better than my 87.
My dilemma is that I purchased brake parts (rotors, master cylinder, booster, priority valve, calipers, lines) and rebuilt my 3/4 ton front differential and axles, steering box, and cleaned and painted the front of the 3/4 ton frame before buying this 1/2 ton truck. Some of the parts can be used on the 1/2 ton but not all of them. I am not sure yet if the front axle gear ratio of the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton is the same but the rear ratio of the 1/2 ton if 3.08, should I assume the front is the same?. The 3/4 ton is 4.10 if I measured is correctly.
The 1/2 ton has a rebuilt posi rear differential and rebuilt 700R4 trans and the rest of the running gear looks good but the engine is shot and there is so much oil under the front end I am not sure what is leaking.
I decided to pull the engine (new GM EFI engine) and trans (rebuilt 350) from the 3/4 ton as I needed to put new seals in the trans anyway. I am thinking about using the 1/2 ton frame and body with some cleaning and repair but I am not sure if I would like to use the 3/4 ton axles or stay with the 1/2 ton. The 1/2 ton also has new tires. Which I do not have with the 3/4 ton. I am also not sure if I want to stay with EFI from the 87 or go with a carb from the 86. I like the EFI but I have to strip the wiring from the 87 and put on the 86.

mokelife77 · 08-15-2010, 07:41 PM

doesnt the 96 have independent suspension u front? itd be kind of a B!@#$ to put the 3/4 axles on,right?

Buick455 · 08-15-2010, 07:51 PM

The parts truck is a 1986. The truck behind the 86 is my son's 92.

Buick455 · 08-15-2010, 08:02 PM

This is the 87 and some of the parts I rebuilt for it. The cab is shot but the engine was a GM crate motor and turbo350 trans was rebuilt, both about 40k miles ago. I was just going to put the 86 cab on this frame but I am thinking maybe it would be easier to just clean up the 86 and put the parts in it but am not sure about swaping in the 3/4 ton drive train or just staying with the 1/2 ton drivetrain. I guess this kicker is the new tires and rims from the 1/2 ton and that the rear differential in the 1/2 ton is a rebuilt posi. I am still debating.

mokelife77 · 08-15-2010, 08:25 PM

oh crap. hahah.i musta read it wrong..lol

spudz · 08-15-2010, 08:33 PM

y dont you just roll the 3/4 ton axles under the new 1/2 ton? that way all you lost is some time cleaned and painting the frame. keep the 700r4 and just stick a new motor in it.

Buick455 · 08-16-2010, 08:17 AM

That is what I am thinking. I just have to find some decent 3/4 ton 8 lug wheels and tires or just put new tires on the old 3/4 ton rims.
The other issue is do I use the 700R4 in this truck or use it in the 1992 as I need a 700R4 in that and just stay with the Turbo350 in the now 3/4 ton. In addition the 1/2 ton is set up with duel fuel tanks and a carbed engine. If I stay with EFI which was in the 87 (which I like) I will have to remove the duel tanks and add wiring for the EFI and the EFI tank from the 87 which is not a small feat.

Buick455 · 08-17-2010, 08:53 AM

It looks like the 86 was undercoated so there is little if any rust on the frame. I am planning to pull what is left of the 86 engine (The guy partaily tore it down) and pressure wash the frame and trans and see what I have.
Would the transfer case of the 86 1/2 ton and 87 3/4 ton be the same?

08-15-2010, 06:30 PM	#1
Buick455 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Amherst VA Posts: 150	3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton dilemma Well I bought a 1986 parts truck for $900 which is a 1/2 ton silverado. The truck has rust thru at the cab corners and in the bed but it is repairable and much better than my 87. My dilemma is that I purchased brake parts (rotors, master cylinder, booster, priority valve, calipers, lines) and rebuilt my 3/4 ton front differential and axles, steering box, and cleaned and painted the front of the 3/4 ton frame before buying this 1/2 ton truck. Some of the parts can be used on the 1/2 ton but not all of them. I am not sure yet if the front axle gear ratio of the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton is the same but the rear ratio of the 1/2 ton if 3.08, should I assume the front is the same?. The 3/4 ton is 4.10 if I measured is correctly. The 1/2 ton has a rebuilt posi rear differential and rebuilt 700R4 trans and the rest of the running gear looks good but the engine is shot and there is so much oil under the front end I am not sure what is leaking. I decided to pull the engine (new GM EFI engine) and trans (rebuilt 350) from the 3/4 ton as I needed to put new seals in the trans anyway. I am thinking about using the 1/2 ton frame and body with some cleaning and repair but I am not sure if I would like to use the 3/4 ton axles or stay with the 1/2 ton. The 1/2 ton also has new tires. Which I do not have with the 3/4 ton. I am also not sure if I want to stay with EFI from the 87 or go with a carb from the 86. I like the EFI but I have to strip the wiring from the 87 and put on the 86. Attached Images Last edited by Buick455; 08-15-2010 at 07:50 PM.

08-15-2010, 07:41 PM	#2
mokelife77 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: kohala,hawaii Posts: 24	Re: 3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton dilemma doesnt the 96 have independent suspension u front? itd be kind of a B!@#$ to put the 3/4 axles on,right? __________________ way2fonky

08-15-2010, 07:51 PM	#3
Buick455 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Amherst VA Posts: 150	Re: 3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton dilemma The parts truck is a 1986. The truck behind the 86 is my son's 92.

08-15-2010, 08:02 PM	#4
Buick455 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Amherst VA Posts: 150	Re: 3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton dilemma This is the 87 and some of the parts I rebuilt for it. The cab is shot but the engine was a GM crate motor and turbo350 trans was rebuilt, both about 40k miles ago. I was just going to put the 86 cab on this frame but I am thinking maybe it would be easier to just clean up the 86 and put the parts in it but am not sure about swaping in the 3/4 ton drive train or just staying with the 1/2 ton drivetrain. I guess this kicker is the new tires and rims from the 1/2 ton and that the rear differential in the 1/2 ton is a rebuilt posi. I am still debating. Attached Images

08-15-2010, 08:25 PM	#5
mokelife77 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: kohala,hawaii Posts: 24	Re: 3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton dilemma oh crap. hahah.i musta read it wrong..lol __________________ way2fonky

08-15-2010, 08:33 PM	#6
spudz Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Branchville SC Posts: 1,647	Re: 3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton dilemma y dont you just roll the 3/4 ton axles under the new 1/2 ton? that way all you lost is some time cleaned and painting the frame. keep the 700r4 and just stick a new motor in it. __________________ 2004 z71, 96 z71 on 38s, 88 Chevy k5 blazer, 4in lift. 84 swb project, 82 SWB project , 84 chevy 4x4 lwb project, 88 Jimmy beater/highschool ride. 79 c30. 99 tahoe 4x4 project. and a bunch of parts trucks..

08-16-2010, 08:17 AM	#7
Buick455 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Amherst VA Posts: 150	Re: 3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton dilemma That is what I am thinking. I just have to find some decent 3/4 ton 8 lug wheels and tires or just put new tires on the old 3/4 ton rims. The other issue is do I use the 700R4 in this truck or use it in the 1992 as I need a 700R4 in that and just stay with the Turbo350 in the now 3/4 ton. In addition the 1/2 ton is set up with duel fuel tanks and a carbed engine. If I stay with EFI which was in the 87 (which I like) I will have to remove the duel tanks and add wiring for the EFI and the EFI tank from the 87 which is not a small feat.

08-17-2010, 08:53 AM	#8
Buick455 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Amherst VA Posts: 150	Re: 3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton dilemma It looks like the 86 was undercoated so there is little if any rust on the frame. I am planning to pull what is left of the 86 engine (The guy partaily tore it down) and pressure wash the frame and trans and see what I have. Would the transfer case of the 86 1/2 ton and 87 3/4 ton be the same?



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.