About differentials

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Salty Crusty

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2020
Posts
211
Reaction score
230
Location
Texas
First Name
Gary
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
c1500
Engine Size
565
^ maybe so, but......vortec heads are still a TERRIBLE choice for carb'd applications in the cold.

Besides, everybody knows that chrome valve covers and a few back window stickers trump the hell out of a pair of heads, even Vortex!
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
3,938
Reaction score
5,687
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Let's get real folks...all of this dude's problems could be solved IF he would simply add vortex heads.

Amirite?

:pedobear:
And an ls swap!!!
 
Last edited:

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
28,956
Reaction score
23,466
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Nope, you am wrong. Unless, of course, the entire fuel injection system is also added.
Vortec heads have NO heat crossover and it will be a turd to try to drive when cold, particularly in the great white north. I had a buddy that went through the same thing in Colorado. Pulled the Vortec heads off and added a pair with a heat crossover and his cold driving problems disappeared.
They're fine in their OEM configuration because the fuel injection system runs the engine rich until it gets warmed up a little bit.

It all just depends on how picky someone is about cold starts and what they consider to be acceptable. I've had a few daily drivers (winter too) that did not have a heat crossover and it wasn't nearly as bad as people make it sound these days. After the first mile of driving, they tend to run fine. Hell, a couple of those cars didn't even have a functional choke.
 

80BrownK10

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Posts
1,878
Reaction score
1,240
Location
Greenwood, SC
First Name
Nate
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
While I totally understand what you're saying, two things to consider- depending on what part of Alaska we're talking, not having a tall truck with 4x4 might not even be an option (most of the state is backwoods AF, dude might be off grid for all we know), and FWIW Subarus aren't cheap (even for old beaters for some reason they hold their value really well) and they get **** gas mileage as well. I have owned several and only ever got over 20mpg on super long highway trips on mostly flat ground, the same sort of trips that my OD square gets 16+mpg.

I get the point you're making, but most likely OP is better off just sticking with his truck and paying for gas. Even with a cheap beater Corolla or Civic, you still have to pay for the car up front, pay to register it, and pay insurance. Even with double the gas mileage, unless he gets rid of the square (which doesn't seem likely) it will take YEARS to pay for itself, as would the gears (at least you don't have to insure those lol.

You could look into getting a little S10 or Toyota Pickup or something, but even those IME are sub 20mpg vehicles, and then you have even less power and tow capacity than the 305...

In this situation, there may be no magical answer to save money. Living in AK isn't cheap or easy from what I hear. Hell, I dream of living there but I know it wouldn't be easy
Yea I know, I watch all the Alaska shows too. But we don't know all the facts. This guy could live in Anchorage for all we know it 2 miles outside Homer and a car might do just fine for almost everything, except towing, camping or fishing/hunting expiditions? Or he could live in Tok, Tanana, Mcarthy, 60 miles in the bush from Fairbanks, who knows.
 

Salty Crusty

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2020
Posts
211
Reaction score
230
Location
Texas
First Name
Gary
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
c1500
Engine Size
565
It all just depends on how picky someone is about cold starts and what they consider to be acceptable.

Acceptable is for her to be able to turn the key and start it without a list of crap to do before she starts it and have it warm up promptly. I can live with it, but most women can't and won't.

Fighting a cold natured engine is futile and frustrating. I did plenty of it back in the day and ain't going back. I'm too old for that ****.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
28,956
Reaction score
23,466
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Acceptable is for her to be able to turn the key and start it without a list of crap to do before she starts it and have it warm up promptly. I can live with it, but most women can't and won't.

Fighting a cold natured engine is futile and frustrating. I did plenty of it back in the day and ain't going back. I'm too old for that ****.

I can respect that. For me, it's just man and machine. Me telling it what I want it to do and it giving me feedback. When we both come to an agreement it is happy motoring that is a different feeling than what you get when everything just happens automatically. It may sound weird, but it gives me satisfaction.

But I also have no problem firing up a chokeless big block truck with bias plys and no overdrive, then drive it on down the road in the dead of winter. I realize that many people don't want any part of that.
 
Last edited:

Rusty Nail

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2015
Posts
9,734
Reaction score
9,530
Location
the other side of the internet
First Name
Rusty
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350sbc
About differentials... Is a 88-91 front differential a direct bolt in to a 1988 model? I know those differentials were superior to the 88s and I could buy one if I wanted it bad enough, but will it bolt in?

I bet not.
 
Last edited:

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
3,938
Reaction score
5,687
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
About differentials... Is a 88-91 front differential a direct bolt in to a 1988 model? I know those differentials were superior to the 88s and I could buy one if I wanted it bafd enough, but will itbolt in?

I bet not.
You must be registered for see images attach
 

68post

very, VERY, limited access member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Posts
279
Reaction score
96
Location
Indianapolis
First Name
Tim
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
84 K30 SRW Silverado, 85 C20 C6P
Engine Size
454, TBD
About differentials... Is a 88-91 front differential a direct bolt in to a 1988 model? I know those differentials were superior to the 88s and I could buy one if I wanted it bafd enough, but will itbolt in?

I bet not.

All half ton fronts suck and I don't know of any improvement yr to yr, the 3/4 & one ton fronts do not bolt into a half-ton unfortunately. Wish they did, I'm going to install a hot 407 into my '94 shortbed
 

Rusty Nail

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2015
Posts
9,734
Reaction score
9,530
Location
the other side of the internet
First Name
Rusty
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350sbc
In fact the differentials were improved for the '89 model year...but I think the spring perches changed .... I do not believe an '89 differential will bolt in place of an '88 differential.

Moving to that newer style would indeed be an upgrade. The bearingsgotbigger or something..:shrug:
I thought this thread aughta have something useful about differentials in it...
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
About differentials... Is a 88-91 front differential a direct bolt in to a 1988 model? I know those differentials were superior to the 88s and I could buy one if I wanted it bad enough, but will it bolt in?

I bet not.

?
The only front diffs in 88-91 were D60s on the crew cabs and probably 10 bolt on the Blazer/Jimmy/Suburban. The gen 5 that arrived in 88 was independent (car suspension). Right?
 

Salty Crusty

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2020
Posts
211
Reaction score
230
Location
Texas
First Name
Gary
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
c1500
Engine Size
565
It's possible to swap the candy-ass IFS on half tons to a full 1-ton setup.
All you have to do is separate the frame at the fishmouth welds under your feet. Frames are the same size (except the half-ton shorties) and it'll weld right up. This gives you the 9.5" ring gear and a whole lot stronger CV axles.
 

dsteelejr

Full Access Member
Joined
May 25, 2020
Posts
160
Reaction score
126
Location
Hudson, WY
First Name
David
Truck Year
1973, 1980
Truck Model
Cheyenne super C20 camper special, Sierra K25
Engine Size
350, 454
You can go down to 3:08 at least, but with a 305 and OD the truck might not have enough power to get out of its own way?

I had an '84 K5 with 2.73 gears and a 700R4. Gutless. A 6.2L diesel could out run it.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,851
Posts
903,493
Members
33,365
Latest member
rossivey
Top