New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Picked this up as a new 1:1 wheeling project for my boys and I.
Got it in trade for a Mustang I was'nt useing

1989 Chevy Blazer ( Running gear from a '79 K30 )

350 c.i.
SM465 Manual Trans
Full Float Corp. 14 Rear (Posi / 4.11's)
Dana 60 Front (4.11's)
6" BDS lift (front/rear springs)
Whooped 33's (for now)

Body has some typical Ohio rust on the rockers / lower doors
Frame is SOLID / Mech A1

Plan is to go CHEAP!
find some used 35" to 37" tires
Harbor Freight / Badlands 12,000lb winch ($329 with coupon...I know guys who swear by these Chinese winches!)
beat the snot out of it!:twisted:

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/a...0630-00157.jpg

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Posi? Only lockers were available for it (posi is limited slip), G80's in the civilian trucks and Detroits in the CUCV's.

Looks like a solid toy. Did you get a positive ID on that front axle?

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

x2, check for king pins vs ball joints. It looks like the big 60 hubs though. Also you may look at the smittybuilt winches for the same money or cheaper. I have one and a couple buddies use them with good results.

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

The top of the pumpkin looks a bit too flat to be a 60 to me, and the 60's I've usually seen have longer hubs and stick out further. Looks like a big hub "HD" Dana 44 to me, only the lockouts are a bit odd if it were.

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Its definitly a Kingpin 60 front

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/a...0630-00156.jpg

As far as the Posi? This is the first Corp 14 I've owned, always had Fords... It is Locked and axles not from a CUCV so I assume its the G80 you mentioned."thumbsup"

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Id get some better offset wheels to widen its stance so and make it look itt better to narrow track looking

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Nice K5!!! Man I miss the daily driver part of mine before I hacked it all to play on rocks.

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

I thought All GM 60's were King pin.:roll: And yes, there is a limited slip available for the 14. My friend put one in his crew cab. I think it's made by Eaton.
35's would be great for that drive train/gear combo. Grind and shave the front and rear and you'll be good. I turned my 14, into a 13 bolt with a little patience, a sawz-all and grinder.;-)

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

All GM D60s are king pin. GM never offered a limited slip/positraction differential stock. There was only ever the G80 locker, which is a piece of junk, though better in the 14 bolts than the smaller axles due to a larger carrier (where all the stress is placed when the locking mechanism is activated), as well as the Detroits in the CUCV's (may have been available in civ trucks, but not sure). There are LSD's available aftermarket, but a completely pointless upgrade when a Detroit or Yukon Grizzly can be had for less.

I would buy some 37" Goodyear MT's rather than spend more money on 35's. You'll get better clearance at the axles without having to shave them, and they work pretty well and last long. They can be had for 4-600 for a full set 90% tread life. How much would you say that Mustang was worth, because those D60's alone go for 800+ around here in non-running condition. Should be plenty of fun, though. Nice score.

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Krakker beat me to my response. There was a factory installed clutch type LS for the 14 bolt full floaters, it was the Eaton unit. They were also sold through the aftermarket as the Moroso 'Brute strength' posi. You can tune the amount of lock up by changing the pre-load springs inside of the clutch pack. They are tough units!
The G80 was an epic fail- it used clutches as well as a centrifugal ratchet paw to give full 'lock up', all they are go for is blowing up and wiping out the entire differential. They were used from 1999 to present.

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

The G80 is not a limited slip by any means. Yes, it uses clutches, but those clutches are not activated (the diff is open) until a special pawl causes a cam mechanism to push out and apply pressure to the discs- so much that it effectively locks the axles together, which is unlike what a limited slip would do... Making it a mechanical locking differential. GM never offered a "limited slip" differential that used friction material to limit (not eliminate) difference in wheel speed- the G80 and the Detroit were the only traction aids offered.

Also, G80 is the RPO code for the Gov-Lock, which was renamed using that code by Eaton in the late 90s. The Gov-Lock from the 70's, 80's, and 90's, are the same exact thing as the G80.

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Nice truck... How many channels do you get with that satellite on the roof?? :ror:

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Whats funny about that is it only picks up porn!:flipoff:


37" MTR's is actually my first choice for a tire...we shall see

As far as the rear end, once it cools down around here, i'll pull the cover and check. Want to change all the fluids anyway...

Mustang was a roadrace / autocross project. Had it for sale for $3200, guy wanted $3000 for the Blazer so we traded strait-up

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/a...0531-00117.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/a...0531-00120.jpg

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

without trying to start a pointless argument, I didn't say that the G80 was a LS unit. I'm very familiar with them, I had a 2000 GMC K1500 that went through 2 rear ends in the 20K miles that I owned the truck because of that POS locking unit. I'm saying that GM did use a clutch type LS in the full floaters, they were the Eaton clutch type units. I know the difference between the Eaton and the Gov-Locks. "thumbsup"

Back to the original post, that's a nice K5! Did the PO keep the TB injection system in tact? IMO it was the best of all of the offerings, a TB 5.7, OD transmission and a straight axle up front (although I realize that someone has upgraded to the 1ton axles in your truck)

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to get into an argument, just trying to shed some light on the situation. Apparently you already understand what I was saying (though I found your post a bit misleading), at which point I will now ask if you have any sources for that claim? As I said, every time I've seen this topic or searched, the consensus has always been a definitive "no" to GM offering an LS in any truck axle, FF or not (of the 73-87/91 generation anyway). If that's not the case, I'd like to know what you've seen or know that I don't.

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

No resources per-say that I could post, it's from personal experience. LS units seemed to be more prevalent in the 10 and 12 bolt axles but I've rebuilt a few of those Eaton units inside of a FF axle, I'd say they were early 80's build dates. I worked part time at a 4x4 shop when I was in High School/Vo-Tech school. Later when I was buying and flipping cars to make $$ I ran across quite a few K20 GMC trucks that used the Eaton LS in them. They were in need of a rebuild when I would get the trucks. Randy's ring and pinion was just a hour away so I'd go there and get my rebuild kits.

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

The only info I'm finding for any limited slip from the factory would be RPO G86, which is supposed to only be in the Quadrasteer trucks (steering Dana 60 in the rear), as well as some of the AWD equipped SUVs in the 2003+ trucks (read a few instances of it being equipped in other trucks as early as 98, all of them being 10 bolts), and as I'm finding over and over, the G80 and the Detroit are the only traction aids ever offered in the 14 bolt FF's, at the very least from 73-87/91, with mention elsewhere that its throughout the entire life of the 14FF, including all the way up to it's AAM iteration.

Is it a possibility that the LSD's you encountered were installed aftermarket?

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

The Eaton LS was a "dealer" installed option, also done at some conversion places, (like camper specials) they were an option to the Detroit that some ranchers and "camper" people didn't care for.
Similar to the "Hurst" mods that were done only for trucks.

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Interesting... That would make sense then why I can't find anything on it. Forgot that the dealerships have the ability to have their own offerings. lol

Re: New Project: 1:1 '89 1-Ton Blazer
 

Yeah, most of fact guru's can sometimes miss the "special" offerings.
I had a 78 Pontiac formula that had the Hurst T-tops on it with the shifter of course. Seen a convertible 79 Trans at a car show earlier this summer that was pretty rare also.

Back to the Blazer, I miss mine (all 3, 72, 90, & 94) They make a really solid platform to wheel on the cheap with. Not sure what they did with the braking system, but I'd recommend the the E-350 van master cyl.
I also like pretty much every product that DIY4X4 offers. Pinion gaurd and diff protection are important with such big axles and sub 40" tires.
I've got their rear diff ring and pinion gaurd, with the axle shaved, I'm looking to make a 3/8" thick narrow skid from the lower part of the ring that ties into the pinion gaurd.
PS, mine will be for sale as soon as I get it completed."thumbsup" (sorry for the personal pimp'n)