What type of rear axle came with these trucks?

[C-10 simplex]

i'm not referring to gear ratio, i'm referring to size---i.e., 7.5, 8.2, 8.5 10 bolt etc.?

[spudz]

usually 7.5 some of the newer blazers had 8.5s

[Pop's C-10]

i think tha 8.5 came in with tha last body change

[C-10 simplex]

So, after 94 got the 8.5?


Could this bolt in to the 82-93 models?

[spudz]

no this is not how it works. some of the newer blazers got em but mostly still the weaker 7.5s. a good strong direct bolt in is a 8.8 out of an explorer. not sure what years. do a google search to figure it out. this is a good option because alot of them are disk brakes, 4:10 gears and posi. Just pull the axles and have them redrilled for gm bolt pattern.

[v8blaze]

7.5 / 7.625 or something like that. The later model rears got a SLIGHTLY larger ring gear. The 8.5s started in 96 on some trucks and came behind the v6 5 speed trucks/blazers Info is spotty on the exact time it was standard with the v6/5speed but you could not get them with an auto and not until after 96. The 98 and newer blazers all came with disc brakes in the rear on both axles. The 8.5s are a bolt in affair except they are about 1 inch longer to accomidate the larger ring gear so if you swap one into a 7.5 rear you will need to shorten your driveshaft. however They are extremly hard to find. I tried for about 3 months for a junk yard to locate one to no avail

[C-10 simplex]

Thanks but i......just can't put a ford rear axle in if i decide to go with an s-10; i can't explain why---probably because i don't like ford axles, engines, transm's etc. even if the explorer axle is a direct bolt-in. i'd sooner put a toyota or volvo axle in if they were up to the task.

i'm not totally opposed to going after market---moser has a brand new 12 bolt, bolt-in for s-10s, but that's 2 grand. i'm not nessesarily in love with the idea of junkyard scrounging, but i feel i can find a 8.5 bolt for much cheaper than $2000 as these came in 1/2 trucks upto 94 model year?

The 1/2 ton rear axle would be much wider, but i could play with the offset of the wheels to position them closer in-board; i don't mind if they stick out a little i can put a flare over it. Even if i have to narrow the rear, i still think it's much cheaper than going aftermarket or finding a used 12 bolt.

a) what rear did the astros have?

[raycow]

Look at a 68-up Nova or 1st gen Camaro 10 bolt. These are about 60" over the drums, which is about the same as a stock 4WD rear. They are not a bolt-in - you will have to weld the spring pads. 64-67 A-body rears are also the same width, if you don't mind the lugs for the upper control arms.

The Astros I have looked at had 7.5 rears and they are way too wide anyway.

Ray