Differential swap / bought it, work and install now

[SirRobyn0]

Awesome work. Man do i want to put a dump bed on mine someday. Did you install yours or did it come that way?

Thank you. Also It came with it. I tell ya it is so handy. And more than just for dumping material, its Even loading stuff you can tilt the bed some to make getting heavy things in easier. The previous owner was a friend of mine and he installed the dump kit in the 90's so it's certainly held up well. And this one doesn't change the bed height when it's closed, but it is a tiny bit further back. Barely noticeable though. I really like it.

 

[Turbo4whl]

So the springs and everything were actually in really good shape probably because they were preserved in 80W90.

It is a shame your spring kit was incomplete. The orange/red spring on the forward shoe is bent, maybe the blue spring as well. That one is hard to see.

This happens when the springs are removed incorrectly. Sometime in this truck part's life the spring was removed the wrong way, by by turning the removal tool starting from the open end of the spring. If the tool is started from the closed end of the spring hook, it will not bend.

Thought I would throw this service info out to anyone reading the thread, also because you posted the picture with the bent spring. Rob, nice score on the full floater!

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Grit dog]

Super cool Rob! Probably feels like you added some horsepower.
Late to the party, I have some stuff that coulda helped you get it in the bed, albeit a road trip to Auburn….
I see your old axle has those aftermarket coil spring overloads. I put a set on my 1990 half ton back in the day, they were great.
If you aren’t reusing those or going air shocks like you mentioned, I have a basically new set of airbags under the BIG10 that came with it.
May require some mods on the axle mount as the 14bolt is larger diameter tubes. But if interested, let me know. I’ve used them exactly once now, yesterday, getting a load of beauty bark. Lol
But they will not be on the truck in the future when I lower it and with 4 other 1/2 & 3/4ton trucks in the driveway, no need for them. They won’t fit when lowered.

 

[SirRobyn0]

It is a shame your spring kit was incomplete. The orange/red spring on the forward shoe is bent, maybe the blue spring as well. That one is hard to see.

This happens when the springs are removed incorrectly. Sometime in this truck part's life the spring was removed the wrong way, by by turning the removal tool starting from the open end of the spring. If the tool is started from the closed end of the spring hook, it will not bend.

Thought I would throw this service info out to anyone reading the thread, also because you posted the picture with the bent spring. Rob, nice score on the full floater!

You must be registered for see images attach

Thanks! And good eye. I didn't do anything with that spring, I thought about trying to tweak it a little but I figured I'd just weaken the spring and if would probably fine as is.

Thanks again!

 

[SirRobyn0]

Super cool Rob! Probably feels like you added some horsepower.
Late to the party, I have some stuff that coulda helped you get it in the bed, albeit a road trip to Auburn….
I see your old axle has those aftermarket coil spring overloads. I put a set on my 1990 half ton back in the day, they were great.
If you aren’t reusing those or going air shocks like you mentioned, I have a basically new set of airbags under the BIG10 that came with it.
May require some mods on the axle mount as the 14bolt is larger diameter tubes. But if interested, let me know. I’ve used them exactly once now, yesterday, getting a load of beauty bark. Lol
But they will not be on the truck in the future when I lower it and with 4 other 1/2 & 3/4ton trucks in the driveway, no need for them. They won’t fit when lowered.

Thanks! It's not like huge gain, but when I push on the skinny pedal I can tell the difference.

I've used those overload springs on a couple rigs in the past and they are really great to help give clapped out springs a lift. I don't know if I'm going to add anything to this axle. 9 leafs in good shape is quite a bit of support. I should take a picture of how she sits now but the rear height is more where I image it should be. And honestly the ride is better with the 9 leafs, than it was with 6 and overload coils. But don't toss those bags. Let me run around like this for a bit and I'll be in touch on those. I may decide to put the springs back in or I may take you up on your offer, but I do not think I'll go the air shock route at this time.

 

[Grit dog]

Thanks! It's not like huge gain, but when I push on the skinny pedal I can tell the difference.

I've used those overload springs on a couple rigs in the past and they are really great to help give clapped out springs a lift. I don't know if I'm going to add anything to this axle. 9 leafs in good shape is quite a bit of support. I should take a picture of how she sits now but the rear height is more where I image it should be. And honestly the ride is better with the 9 leafs, than it was with 6 and overload coils. But don't toss those bags. Let me run around like this for a bit and I'll be in touch on those. I may decide to put the springs back in or I may take you up on your offer, but I do not think I'll go the air shock route at this time.

They’re not going anywhere. Sitting nicely under the truck.
But to your point, if you got a 9 leaf pack in good shape, it’s stout.
The K20 C6P is 9 I think. It too was a truck camper hauler back in the day with bags, so the springs are in great shape and the springs are pretty hefty.
Funny when I hear or read about folks sooo concerned with payload on new trucks. Back in the day, a 5 lugger 10 bolt and an 8lug sf hauled big truck campers around just fine.
It’s laughable if you used to do the same stuff with 70s and 80s trucks.

 

[SirRobyn0]

They’re not going anywhere. Sitting nicely under the truck.
But to your point, if you got a 9 leaf pack in good shape, it’s stout.
The K20 C6P is 9 I think. It too was a truck camper hauler back in the day with bags, so the springs are in great shape and the springs are pretty hefty.

The truck this came out of was a camper special. Judging by the condition of the springs it certainly didn't have a camper plopped on it full time. That was one of the reasons I thought it might have 4.10's it doesn't and I'm ok with that at least for the time being. And honestly the price, and springs included were part of the appeal to getting this differential in the first place and I feel like this is a huge up grade for my truck.

Funny when I hear or read about folks sooo concerned with payload on new trucks. Back in the day, a 5 lugger 10 bolt and an 8lug sf hauled big truck campers around just fine.
It’s laughable if you used to do the same stuff with 70s and 80s trucks.

Ya, it took me a minute to understand what you are saying. Honestly I'd trust these old trucks with a camper over most of the newer ones but that's me. Like I have said in the past when someone talks about towing a heavy trailer or hauling a camper with a square, the right combinations on the trucks and they were built for that kind of work. You just have to be reasonable with your expectations and I think my truck and work I've done with it is a good example. She'll tow 7K over the pass or ridges in eastern wa, but I cannot expected it to go 70mph while doing so. Just be happy she's doing the work just fine and don't be upset when your getting passed!