New guy with some rear end swap questions

[1ndatrunk]

What's up guys, I'm new to the forum and was wondering if I could get some advice? I just bought an 88 Suburban 2wd for a decent price. On the way back home, my rear drivers tire caught fire, and the mechanic told be the bearing was bad and the grease caught fire. The repair price quoted was $800 for new axle, bearing, grease, and labor.

A friend of mine has an 83 c10 that he's parting out, and offered me the rear for $80, if I pull it out. Its also a 2wd, 5lug like my suburban. Will it swap straight in, without any headaches? I'm ok with a wrench, but I'm not much of a modifier. They look similar, so I'm hoping this would work. I hear that the brake cable/lines may be an issue. Any truth to this?
Thanks for any help you guys can give me

[68Timber]

Should be the same 10-bolt axle. You may get a different gear ratio in the bargain.

[1ndatrunk]

Thanks for the reply.
I swapped it today, and now my speedo is reading way off. Is this common? Can I fix this with basic tools, or would I need to take it somewhere to have them calibrate it? Seems to pull a bit stronger, but this is my new daily for awhile, so I need the speedo to work correctly.

[special-K]

The gear ratio must be different. Does your buddy's truck have the same transmission? Probably they are all the same,but you need to get the little gear off the end of the speedometer cable at the transmission end. Those are mated to the gear ratio

[1ndatrunk]

I'm screwed then. The tranny is already sold. I think he had a 350, but I have a 700.

[68Timber]

If you can check the glove box from the donor truck you can get the gear ratio from the rpo code if the sticker is still there:

Axle ratio by RPO code

GU2 = 2.73
GU4 = 3.08
GU5 = 3.23
GU6 = 3.42
GT4 = 3.73
GT5 = 4.10

G80 = Eaton Gov-Loc limited slip unit

Then check this website to see which speedometer gear you need: http://www.transmissioncenter.net/sp...odhzQABw#700r4

[1ndatrunk]

Thanks so much, sir. I'll get right on that. Any idea as to how to put the gear in? Are there vids or write ups on it?

[crashz]

For 4wd (on the t-Case) it is: Pull the speedo cable and the gear is sitting right on there. Swap it out for the correct one for the new gear ratio and your are good to go. I believe they are plastic gears and you only swap the speedo end (different colors = different ratios), but you may have to swap the drive gear as well in extreme cases. Not sure on that one.

2wd should be the same, but on the tailshaft section of the transmission.

[1ndatrunk]

Cool, thanks. It is a 2wd, so I'm hoping it'll be as easy as you guys make it sound