10bolt to 14 bolt swap help

[ChevyDude84]

got the 14 bolt in, I had a shop put it in for me and redo the brakes and lines while they were there... The tech told me I may need to replace the universal joint in a few years... where exactly is that located and how hard of a job is that?

 

[Wagonbacker9]

in a few years? never go back to that shop.

There is one each at the back and front of the driveshaft. If they're starting to go, do them now. Easy enough job, just look up how to do it.

 

[stepside90]

I want to do this same swap into my truck actually.Well to be honest im considering getting a 3/4 or 1 ton set of diffs for my truck but easiest thing for now is to do the 14sf swap. I have a 90 Stepside reg cab 1500 heavy-half.Pretty sure all i will need is the conversion U-joint to mate it up to my driveshaft? That easy? lol please be

 

[am92]

If you have the "heavy-half" you may already have the 14 bolt sf...but if not, the conversion u-joint and u-bolt plates from a 14 bolt are all you need for the swap. Or you could use a u-bolt flip kit like this one instead of the plates http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/uboltreversal.htm

 

[stepside90]

Excellent! Thats awesome to know.And no i wish.No 14bolt in it.sigh lol hey while on the subject of diffs..what are the differences in the front diffs between half-ton and 3/4& 1? Can I not just steal the front and rear diffs out of a 3/4ton or 1 ton and bolt them in?

 

[outalne94z71]

Excellent! Thats awesome to know.And no i wish.No 14bolt in it.sigh lol hey while on the subject of diffs..what are the differences in the front diffs between half-ton and 3/4& 1? Can I not just steal the front and rear diffs out of a 3/4ton or 1 ton and bolt them in?

up front the 1/2 ton and 7200 gvw(6 lug) 3/4 ton both use the same diff(8.25) and suspension parts, the 8600gvw (8 lug)3/4 ton, 1/2 ton diesel suburban and 1 ton truck all have the same dif(9.25) and suspension parts which cannot be easily put into the 8.25 ifs front suspension, different bracket placement needing welding and precision mounting.

the rear for the most part can be swapped between all, the 1/2 ton is generally the 8.5 10 bolt with the optional 6 lug 9.5 14 bolt(diesel suburban had a 8 lug 9.5).

7200 gvw 3/4 is 6 lug 9.5 rear and 8600 gvw 3/4 is 8 lug 9.5 rear, with the option of the 10.5, i believe the diesel option in the 8600 automatically gave you the 10.5 rear.

1 ton got the 10.5 14 bolt or a dana 70

 

[ChevyDude84]

Lol right, what I was thinking... some how he knew when the part is going to go out...LOL shouldnt be too bad, looks like it will be a two man job. is there a pref. in the ujoints needed? as far as brand of part/s is concerned?

in a few years? never go back to that shop.

There is one each at the back and front of the driveshaft. If they're starting to go, do them now. Easy enough job, just look up how to do it.

 

[NvrDoneD50]

ok guys im in the middle of this swap. ive got the steel driveshaft in my truck and i have the precision 447 u joint. the problem im having is with the u joint the caps that go into the driveshaft wont fit into the driveshaft. i took the ends off of the u joint that fits my 10 bolt and put them on the precision u joint and one side goes all the way on. im able to get the clip on one side but the other side wont go all the way down onto the u joint. can anyone help? i need to get my truck back together asap.

 

[dcZ71]

edit..

 

[outalne94z71]

maybe a roller bearing fell in the cap and is in the way of the trunnion seating fully