do I have 1/2t or 3/4t?

[Nothinghead]

I was told by the PO that my 79 blazer was a 3/4 ton now, that someone had swapped it all out. I wasn't really concerned about it at the time, but now I am curious to know what I have in there.

What would I be looking for to tell between the two setups?
I have 6 lugs
3 leaves up front, 6 leaves in back
looks to be a Dana 44 in the front
I think a corporate 10 bolt in the rear.


What else would be an indicator?
Here is what I have up front:


and in back:

[Keith Seymore]

6 lug = 1/2 ton (all Blazers were 1/2 ton originally)
8 lug = 3/4 ton

unless he did some trickery with the axle shafts.

Judging from the photos I'd say 1/2 ton.

K

[Nothinghead]

Cool. That's what I was leaning towards believing.

Thanks.

[Car'n'Guitars]

It's a 1/2 ton unless you posted or took the wrong pictures.

[Nothinghead]

Nope. those are the right ones. Thanks.

[Lower]

Rear is a 12 bolt

[Car'n'Guitars]

You know it wouldn't hurt to see more pictures of the truck...

[Dalaigh]

You have a 1/2 ton, you've got a 10 bolt front and 12 bolt rear.

[Nothinghead]

Originally Posted by Car'n'Guitars

You know it wouldn't hurt to see more pictures of the truck...

Here you go!


More here too....
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=517186

[Car'n'Guitars]

Nice Blazer, my mom has always wanted a fullsize Blazer.

[joe231]

The CUCV m1009's were 3/4 ton capacity but still has 6 lug axles...
So I guess just swapping spring could get you a 3/4 ton capacity.
My K20 Burb has 3 front springs, I'd have to check the rear springs.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Dalaigh]

Originally Posted by joe231

The CUCV m1009's were 3/4 ton capacity but still has 6 lug axles...
So I guess just swapping spring could get you a 3/4 ton capacity.
My K20 Burb has 3 front springs, I'd have to check the rear springs.
Posted via Mobile Device

The M1009's were just 1/2tons, They were just base model K5's with a diesel, and heavy duty springs.

At best they were a 1/3ton truck. They don't have the brakes or frame for being considered 3/4 tons.

Most trucks had three springs, but I believe the thickness was different in each weight class.

[Nothinghead]

Was 6 springs standard in the rears too?

[joe231]

Originally Posted by Dalaigh

The M1009's were just 1/2tons, They were just base model K5's with a diesel, and heavy duty springs.

At best they were a 1/3ton truck. They don't have the brakes or frame for being considered 3/4 tons.

Most trucks had three springs, but I believe the thickness was different in each weight class.

The M1009's were classified by the military as 3/4 ton and the M1008 was classified as a
1 1/4 ton.

The M1009's were stripped down though, so that may have helped with the capacity

I agree that they weren't a typical 3/4 ton, but I'm also pretty sure the government had them hauling and pulling in excess of the 1/2 and possibly the 3/4 ton capacity.

And btw, 1/3 is less that 1/2

Posted via Mobile Device

[Dalaigh]

Yea, I meant 2/3 ton, big fingers small key board
M1009's were rated as 1200lbs payload and 3000lbs towing capacity, and 1/2 ton trucks are rated at 980 - 2680lbs payload and 4500-6200lbs towing capacity. They may have called them 3/4 tons but they real weren't.

[joe231]

That's the government for ya...
They do what they please
Posted via Mobile Device

[Dalaigh]

Originally Posted by Nothinghead

Was 6 springs standard in the rears too?

I think so, my buddy's has 7 but I think I remember him saying he put in an extra leaf for towing.

[Nothinghead]

Good to know.

I am still trying to figure out exactly what I have here. No sticker in my glovebox to help.

[Dalaigh]

Take your vin the your local GM dealer and ask the parts department for your trucks option print out. If they are in the least bit good people they will do it.

[Nothinghead]

Awesome! I will definitely do that.

[kevinr1970]

Originally Posted by Nothinghead

I was told by the PO that my 79 blazer was a 3/4 ton now, that someone had swapped it all out.

Originally Posted by Nothinghead

I am still trying to figure out exactly what I have here. No sticker in my glovebox to help.

If you are still trying to figure out the 1/2 vs. 3/4 ton, you have a 1/2 ton.
It may have 3/4 ton springs, but I doubt it; does it ride absolutely horrible, then they might just be 3/4 ton springs?

If you swap out the innards/spindles/etc on the 10 bolt front from 6 to 8-lug, you have a LD 3/4 front.
I am not aware that the same can be done on the rear, but since it is a 12-bolt, maybe it can with the proper (8-lug) axles?

Originally Posted by Dalaigh

They don't have the brakes or frame for being considered 3/4 tons.

I am under the impression that the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton frames on trucks are the same? It is the 1-tons where you get a difference.
Never owned either (only 1/2 ton trucks) so I could be wrong, but that is what I have been told.

With all that said, I have recently bought an '85 4x4 3/4 ton Suburban which I believe to be a trailering special, or some other HD version; it has a T400, 4.10's and was not eqipped with a catalytic converter from the factory.
The front axle looks nothing like the 10-bolt in my '89 Jimmy (K5)?
And the frame looks very tall?
So I would belive that their could be two versions of a truck frame; a LD version (like a 1/2 ton with higher capacity springs/rear-axle) and a HD version (more like a 1-ton with lower capacity springs/axles(plural)).
YMMV.
Which might be moot since a K5 is a 1/2 ton...

[Nothinghead]

I am pretty well convinced I have a 1/2T now. I was before as well, but I figured I should check to be sure.

[Dalaigh]

Originally Posted by kevinr1970

I am under the impression that the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton frames on trucks are the same? It is the 1-tons where you get a difference.
Never owned either (only 1/2 ton trucks) so I could be wrong, but that is what I have been told.

With all that said, I have recently bought an '85 4x4 3/4 ton Suburban which I believe to be a trailering special, or some other HD version; it has a T400, 4.10's and was not eqipped with a catalytic converter from the factory.
The front axle looks nothing like the 10-bolt in my '89 Jimmy (K5)?
And the frame looks very tall?
So I would belive that their could be two versions of a truck frame; a LD version (like a 1/2 ton with higher capacity springs/rear-axle) and a HD version (more like a 1-ton with lower capacity springs/axles(plural)).
YMMV.
Which might be moot since a K5 is a 1/2 ton...

Yes and no to the 1/2 and 3/4 ton frames. For the most part you are right, most are the same, but the camper special 3/4tons have a thicker frame.

If you look at your suburbans front axle, from the front of the truck. In the lower right of the diff, on one of the gussets, there will either be nothing written there, or a 60 or a 44. If it says nothing is a 10 bolt, if it says 44, then its a dana 44, and if it says 60, then its a dana 60. I'm betting its a 10 bolt or dana 60, since the 44 was replaced in 80 or 81.

There never was a 3/4 ton blazer frame made, the reason most call the cucv a 3/4 ton is because it can do more then the civilian k5. But in honesty, it's still no better then a 1/2 ton truck. The cucv was a base model k5 with heavier duty spring (probably 3/4tons springs), a 6.2 diesel, and th400 trans. The axles are the same from the civilian k5 (both were 10bolts), and I believe all were equipped with 3.08's and a g80 rear.

[special-K]

If CUCV Blazers are 3/4t then my '85 Jimmy is a 1t . Nah,mine is a diesel and has '91 Suburban 3/4t axles,but I consider it a 1/2t sonce it has lift springs that are the same for 1/2 and 3/4. Because it's a base model (Sierra) in solid Doeskin Tan w/Buckskin interior,dull paint,and black wheels I have guys ask if it's military. My standard answer is,"No,it's better"