Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

So I just got the Blazer this week. Needs some general maintenance: Fluids, column wiring, steering box and body mounts to start. Has a 4" lift with blocks in the rear and I will probably get the ORD shackle flip kit... I found a 1980 parts truck that has "heavy duty 1.5 ton axles" according to the owner and the local parts place that helped in replace the brakes.... I am guessing its a D60 and 14BFF... My question is - Do I need them? I dont plan on doing any hard core wheeling. Not even shore I will do much wheeling at all... I would like to run some 17" Hummer H2 wheels with the 315/70/17 tires but I can just upgrade the front and rear I have now.... Is it worth the extra effort, cost and weight?

My ultimate plan is an aluminum 6.0L/4L60e/NP205 combo to make a nice driver with a good MPG average that I can take off road if I want to. It has a factory POSI with 3.73 gears now....

I know its my descision in the end but I tend to go overboard.... some one keep me grounded....

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i9...g?t=1285729395

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i9...T/eadd24df.jpg

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

In a word, no.

Stronger axles are used mainly due to super large tires, like 39" or more with some hard wheeling, rock crawling or mudding mostly. Regular trail stuff would not need it.

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

:agree:

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

Always a safe recipe to start with the tire size your going to run and work backwards from there.

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

Be aware the shackle flip will move the rear axle forward in the wheelwell. A Zero-rate that allows you to offset the center pin can help correct that issue.

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

I agree with VT, tire size is a big factor. Wheeled hard with my stock axles and 35's for a while with no breakage-except for a u-joint here and there! Going 1 ton because I want to run 40's. Not planning on hard wheeling it, but I want to be ready. I remember one time VT saying -about something different-someday you may need it, and wish you had it! Am running 39.5" swampers now, but no wheeling, go for it unless you are pavement pounding!

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

more pavement pounding then wheeling... I was trying to stick with a readily available and cheap tire size... stock H2 Hummers wheels and 315/70/17 is 34.4" tall x 12.4 wide... truck has 3.73 gears so I hope this works well....

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

I'm going with a 14bolt in the rear and an 8 lug swap to the Dana44. I'll be running 37" MTRs on 17" wheels.

I won't be wheeling my rig much but wanted the strength and added braking - plus a disc swap in the rear is easier on a 14bolt.

This swap can be done pretty cheap since the D60 is the $$$ part of a 1 ton upgrade.

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

I chose to go with the Dana 60 and 14 bolt even though it's overkill for what I use it for because it was cheaper to swap them in and have the 4:10 gear ratio I wanted than it would have been to re-gear the weak 1/2 ton stuff. I did get a great deal though so that helped make the decision easier.

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

Most people should expect to put out $800-1K for a D60 AND then rebuild it - I bet you can regear cheaper than that. I considered a 60 but it is overkill and the added cost didn't make sense to me at the time.

You can always step up to a 60 when the time and $ dictate. Bolt in procedure.

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

[QUOTE=mcmlxix;4217544]

My ultimate plan is an aluminum 6.0L/4L60e/NP205 combo to make a nice driver with a good MPG average that I can take off road if I want to. It has a factory POSI with 3.73 gears now....



Couple thoughts about the 'ultimate plan' though. (good choice IMO)

*Given your not going to wheel it, no need to run a heavy 205.
There are easier t-cases to work with for that combo since all out strength isn't a priority.
*You'll want a set of 4:56 gears or similar with the over drive in that 4l60e, otherwise you'll never use it.
*Last one is you mention fuel mileage...keep in mind your pushing a truck with the frontal area of a brick down the road. ;)

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

I was patient and was able to pick up both the Dana 60 and 14 bolt out of a low mileage truck for $775. Deals are out there if you don't get in a rush.

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

Agreed, I have $800 in a pair. Of course now I need new wheels and tires, so is it really cheap? Hell no.

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

I only do mild wheeling in my Blazer, but went 1-ton anyways. It started off as swapping in the 14-bolt and the 8-lug D44 because this was the cheap way to re-gear to 4.10 from the stock 3.08 ratio. I ran this for years without problems (had to replace steering knuckle ball joints twice because of running oversized tires). I then happened upon a D60 with the right gear ratio for a good price, so I went for it.

Moral of the story - None of us have to drive these old Blazers. There are a lot cheaper vehicles to own and operate. We do it because we can. And that is the same reason why some of us go 1-ton!

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

Good deal on a 1 ton setup. You'll be glad you did the upgrade. I like overkill myself!
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Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

I'll probably go 1 ton eventually... I'll keep an eye out for a D60 front.... but I've got some general up keep to work on for now... I was thinking late model 14bolt so I could have factory rear disc brakes with built in drum in hat e-brake...

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

Well said! :metal:

It's all about the choices.

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

Right on! Going 1 ton because my K5 has just "evolved" to this stage!

Re: Worth the effort? 1 Ton upgrade
 

I went for the dana 44 8 lug front and the 14 bolt rear in mine since i am going to be using my bazer for a serivce truck and camping rig . i picked up both my axles for $300 for the pair wish i could have found a 60 might go that path when the 44 is blowed up .