Dana 44 front on a 1981?

[Bextreme04]

Did you by chance have C6P too?
and 4.10s? The carrier break at 3.73 seems like it may have decided a lot as that and up would be d44 and below 10 bolt, but that was a vague pdf thing not a spicer themselves thing

No C6P, yes 4.10's.

 

[Curt]

I thought the Corp 10 bolt was issued in about 79? My all original 1981 GMC K2500 has the Dana 44 front and the Corp 14 Bolt rear. The entire truck is original. Only 86,000 miles but the engine needs a rebuild. It has the 292 with the SM465. What say the hive? Thanks guys in adance.

GMC used the Dana 44’s up to 1982,in some trucks.Rumors say some 44’s in 83’.Left over stock.However ,Chevy used the 10 bolt as early as 78’.

Peterson’s 4Wheel & Offroad
Jim Allen’s Chevy Bible

Anyway,you have a nice combo.Your gmc,does it have a 10 1/2” ring gear or it’s little brother?Because the 9 1/2” was supposed to be 1981’ and up on 3/4 tons.I’m assuming you have the previous.

 

[bucket]

The 10 bolt started seeing use in '77. How long the D44 was sporadically used after that, will probably be up for debate for the rest of eternity.

 

[BearKing]

GMC used the Dana 44’s up to 1982,in some trucks.Rumors say some 44’s in 83’.Left over stock.However ,Chevy used the 10 bolt as early as 78’.

Peterson’s 4Wheel & Offroad
Jim Allen’s Chevy Bible

Anyway,you have a nice combo.Your gmc,does it have a 10 1/2” ring gear or it’s little brother?Because the 9 1/2” was supposed to be 1981’ and up on 3/4 tons.I’m assuming you have the previous.

It’s the 10.5”. ……@Curt

 

[bucket]

It’s the 10.5”. ……@Curt

That's not at all common either, for an '81-up K20.

 

[BearKing]

That's not at all common either, for an '81-up K20.

They are the original axles. The whole truck is original, right down to the factory CB radio. It has the 292 I6 and not a V8. I was told to keep the I6 292 because it is rare engine for those trucks. Not sure but I have never seen a 292 in an 1981. I have seen the 250 but not the 292. Any idea if that is true? I was going to pull it because it needs to be rebuilt and put my 454 in there instead. It’s the SM465 with the 208 I think. It’s not the 205 and I haven’t checked but it’s definitely the smaller aluminum case. I want to make it into the Fall Guy truck from the 80’s. Always was one of my favorite shows and I love the truck. Anyway, thanks for your replies and info. @Curt

 

[bucket]

They are the original axles. The whole truck is original, right down to the factory CB radio. It has the 292 I6 and not a V8. I was told to keep the I6 292 because it is rare engine for those trucks. Not sure but I have never seen a 292 in an 1981. I have seen the 250 but not the 292. Any idea if that is true? I was going to pull it because it needs to be rebuilt and put my 454 in there instead. It’s the SM465 with the 208 I think. It’s not the 205 and I haven’t checked but it’s definitely the smaller aluminum case. I want to make it into the Fall Guy truck from the 80’s. Always was one of my favorite shows and I love the truck. Anyway, thanks for your replies and info. @Curt

Yep, everything about the truck screams "uncommon". There's probably not another one like it out there.

The 292 was available for a good long while, but probably only in certain models. I think the latest one I've seen was actually an '88, in a crew cab. But I'm not 100% on the year, I saw it 20+ years ago.

 

[AuroraGirl]

They are the original axles. The whole truck is original, right down to the factory CB radio. It has the 292 I6 and not a V8. I was told to keep the I6 292 because it is rare engine for those trucks. Not sure but I have never seen a 292 in an 1981. I have seen the 250 but not the 292. Any idea if that is true? I was going to pull it because it needs to be rebuilt and put my 454 in there instead. It’s the SM465 with the 208 I think. It’s not the 205 and I haven’t checked but it’s definitely the smaller aluminum case. I want to make it into the Fall Guy truck from the 80’s. Always was one of my favorite shows and I love the truck. Anyway, thanks for your replies and info. @Curt

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looks like canada built all the 305's in 1981. There may be a joke to be had there. Lol. But the mexicans had exclusive making of 292 which im surprised the 250 wasnt as well. Maybe 292 was being primarily planted in trucks south of the US then , with where needed up here.
Frankly looking at the 292 specs its got lower compression ratio and barely more power and probably either needed leaded gas or just would be better with it.

 

[Bextreme04]

The 292 and the 10.5" 14BFF would have been the standard baseline equipment for a Heavy-duty GVWR truck. The 9.5" was standard on the 8500-lb and lower 3/4 tons after 81.

Its funny that people are considering it "rare", since it is basically the absolute baseline equipage for the Heavy-Duty emissions trucks. I think it is only not seen often because it was a cheap option to get the bigger engine and if you are wanting the extra GVWR, you usually wanted the extra power to go along with it.

 

[AuroraGirl]

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Some cool stuff here. See the spring/front axle thing? that small capacity difference makes me wonder if a 10 bolt or Dana 44 may be the difference there, as those ratios seen I think were available in the higher ratios(2.73 or etc) in 10 bolts and the ones up to 4.10 in dana 44. but im basing that on a catalog of dana axle parts and the information wasnt necessarily for 81 but more like 78.

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@bucket it seems plastic reservoir masters were meant for low drag brakes which were also not the same as other kinds. I think keith has mentioned he worked on those systems or maybe it was just making braking smooth I cant remember, but i believe bendix designs were normal and delco were the low drag? BUT that notwithstanding, I tagged you because of that funny wording oopsie. The brake calipers contact the brake rotor only when braking

Id hope someone remembered the pads otherwise I can see a drag reduction but a very limited stopping power and having to replace calipers often lol

 

[AuroraGirl]

The 292 and the 10.5" 14BFF would have been the standard baseline equipment for a Heavy-duty GVWR truck. The 9.5" was standard on the 8500-lb and lower 3/4 tons after 81.

Its funny that people are considering it "rare", since it is basically the absolute baseline equipage for the Heavy-Duty emissions trucks. I think it is only not seen often because it was a cheap option to get the bigger engine and if you are wanting the extra GVWR, you usually wanted the extra power to go along with it.

Yeah its kinda funny because for many of the years c-anythings were manual steering as base options lol. diesel engines got steering MOST of the time because of the hydroboost but there have been manual steering hydroboost which meant a ps pump which only feeds brakes. which makes me question how the pump was setup because thats a lot of time the pump is spinning with nothing to do other than recirc because of the accumulators (I think they are called) I wonder if the pump had a large pulley or pressure valve was different flow/psi such that by time the brakes are used the pump will easily keep up but the pump is not doing nowhere near what the truck needed for PS+hydroboost lol.

Also it seems a 8500+ truck didnt get a fan clutch in 1981
Says its standard on 1981 8500 and below

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same with those brakes I wrote about, standard on 8500 and below. 8600 got the high drag and metal master cylidners
The air deflector in 8500 and below, not 8600 and up.

Also fun tid bit, nose snubber on front axle in quad shock trucks

 

[Turbo4whl]

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GM's low drag brake system for the early 1980's was to adjust the front wheel bearing loose, so the front rotor would wiggle and move the pads back off the rotor. Coupled with that master cylinder for quick take-up needed to start applying the front pads, completed the system.

Of course none of us mechanics back then knew this, so the unit would be in for service and, 'hey loose wheel bearings.' And you would take the 1/4 turn on the bearing nut to make them the way we always adjusted wheel bearings.

 

[AuroraGirl]

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GM's low drag brake system for the early 1980's was to adjust the front wheel bearing loose, so the front rotor would wiggle and move the pads back off the rotor. Coupled with that master cylinder for quick take-up needed to start applying the front pads, completed the system.

Of course none of us mechanics back then knew this, so the unit would be in for service and, 'hey loose wheel bearings.' And you would take the 1/4 turn on the bearing nut to make them the way we always adjusted wheel bearings.

That seems moronic, but I think they changed that for the mid 80s I was checking the 85 or 86 FSM for something and low drag calipers/and service procedure are different

The pads are designed different too I think. I believe both are fixed type calipers, I dont think floating was quite much a thing yet. I think.

 

[BearKing]

The 292 and the 10.5" 14BFF would have been the standard baseline equipment for a Heavy-duty GVWR truck. The 9.5" was standard on the 8500-lb and lower 3/4 tons after 81.

Its funny that people are considering it "rare", since it is basically the absolute baseline equipage for the Heavy-Duty emissions trucks. I think it is only not seen often because it was a cheap option to get the bigger engine and if you are wanting the extra GVWR, you usually wanted the extra power to go along with it.

I don’t think it’s rare, just odd and yes it the base line- bottom line rig. No options except tilt. But it is the HD K2500 not the 8500lb and lower. There is a blue sticker on the door that gives the GVWR. I think it said 8900lb. I put the truck in my storage locker with one of collector Camaros. I need to work on my 76 Sport step side 4X4 before I get to that truck. Actually it’s about 5th in line. I am putting my Corvette back together right now. Then my 76 Sport.

 

[bucket]

The 292 and the 10.5" 14BFF would have been the standard baseline equipment for a Heavy-duty GVWR truck. The 9.5" was standard on the 8500-lb and lower 3/4 tons after 81.

Its funny that people are considering it "rare", since it is basically the absolute baseline equipage for the Heavy-Duty emissions trucks. I think it is only not seen often because it was a cheap option to get the bigger engine and if you are wanting the extra GVWR, you usually wanted the extra power to go along with it.

Not valuable/desirable 'rare', just the uncommon type of 'rare'. I can't remember the last time I saw a 6-cylinder Suburban at all, nor can I remember the last time I saw an '81-up 3/4 ton 4x4 with the 10.5". Lots of C20's with big blocks, sure, but not a K series.