New beauty, NEED HELP!

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.

NewSquare

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2011
Posts
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Springfield, Ma
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
454 FI
Hey guys, first post, need your expertise! Quick 2 sentence back story. Grew up with a "big ol' chevy in the driveway." finally bought the one I have been searching for with a blown rear end. I picked up a 87 k30 454FI single rear wheel, with a "blown rear end." question were all the gear ratios in these trucks the same? If not how do I figure out what the gear ratio was in the rear axle, considering the previous owner cleaned out the banjo in order to move the truck across the yard in 4 wheel??? Please help any question I can answer off hand I will thanks guys, I'll post pics of the "burgundy beauty" soon as she's done.
 

Irishman999

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Posts
6,989
Reaction score
202
Location
Safford Arizona
First Name
Jason
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K-1500 High Sierra
Engine Size
305
I could be wrong here but I seem to remember a spread sheet in my glove box that listed all the options like gear ratio's, engine and transmission codes. If it comes down to it just jack up the front axle and turn the tire and count the revolutions of the driveline.
 

RetroC10Sport

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Posts
17,094
Reaction score
2,220
Location
Green Bastard Parts Unknown
First Name
Jay
Truck Year
2001
Truck Model
pontiac aztek
Engine Size
3.4
Welcome. There were 3 ratios available in the 1987 K30.

RPO GT4: 3.73
RPO GT5: 4.10
RPO HC4: 4.56

If the SPID lable isn't in the glovebox, there are a couple of other ways you can check. One is take the cover off the front diff and see what the teeth are. Two is check for the axle code which I think is on the passenger side axle tube on the front.
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,017
Reaction score
9,028
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
4:10 was the most common? Are you 100% its the rear end? Do you know how hard it is to kill a 14bolt Full Floater rear end? What do you mean blown? Explain. I guess it's possible someone didn't replace axle seals or pinion leak and let it run dry or something, but honestly, I've heard of a 14b getting noisy, and I know of a monster truck that shredded one, but past that, you can hardly kill one.
 

NewSquare

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2011
Posts
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Springfield, Ma
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
454 FI
Thanks for those codes I'll definitely check those axle tubes. And hotrod to answer your question I work for a tow truck company been dropping off to this mechanics lot for about a year now, always drooled over the truck. Apparently the truck has been used for the past 11 years just to plow his lot, he said he pulled off the rear banjo and the gears were all pieces. Hence why with out jacking up the rear and spinning I was unsure how to check it.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,322
Posts
913,623
Members
33,819
Latest member
guillermoariast
Top