Rear axle swap questions?

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WillSquared

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I have had a whining noise ever since I bought my truck and most everybody has agreed at this point it's the rear end. I'm in the auto shop black hole here and haven't heard anything positive about shops to install new gears etc in my existing housing.

Anyway, I have access to a 77 10 bolt rear end out of another C10. Would this just swap over to my 86 with no issues? If not what years should I be looking for or can anybody point me to somewhere to find a good replacement?

As always, thanks for the help.


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bucket

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'77 would have had a 12 bolt rear. Either 10 or 12 bolt will swap in, but the 12 bolt will need a conversion type u-joint to use your current drive shaft.
 

WillSquared

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Oh, well alright then. It's my father in laws truck and I was just thinking it was a 10 bolt also. Will the springs and shocks and such bolt up in the same place? And where might I find the ujoint at? Pardon my lack of mechanical skills. Thanks for the info.


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bucket

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It will bolt up just fine, with the exception of the parking brake cables. That changed after '83 I think. So would just have to swap over your original cables, or buy new ones.

I *think* the 12 bolt uses a 1310 joint while the 10 bolt uses a 1330. I *think*. But I do believe some 12 bolts had a 1350 yoke. It may be best to take both u-joints to the parts store (preferably someplace like NAPA or even a driveline shop) and tell them you need a combo joint with those size of caps.
 

WillSquared

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Will do, thanks for the info.
 

jetman

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Just completed a rear axle swap on a '83 SWB. Caught hell finding a supplier for brake cables, finally found what was needed at:

http://www.inlinetube.com/
 

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