This is going to be my first build so any input is appreciated. I just wanted to post up where I think I'm going with it and see what you guys think or what you would do different.


I picked up a 88 k2500 for a few hundred bucks and only 86k on it. It has a 350 which I'm going to freshen up a bit, 700r4, np241, sf 14 bolt, and that gay ass ifs up front. I have a freshly rebuild ff 14 bolt sitting around that I could swap in, but would there really be that much of a difference over the sf? I think I would be better served selling the ff but what do you all think?

Alright so the plan as of now is strip the bed off and replace it with a tubed bed since the one on there now is completely shot. This with a bunch of trimming of the front fenders should give me plenty of room for tires. I'll throw some 36's on for starters. I have a buddy that will throw in a 1990 ford f350 d60 in place instead of the ifs later this summer and once the 700r4 blows up I would replace it with a sm465 I have sitting around.

Anyone see any problems with I'm going with this or have suggestions on what you'd do different? Flame away :flipoff2:

What are your intentions with the rig, rocks, mud, trails. Street legal or trailered. A lil more info would help

I would not sell the 14bolt ff. If you have it, no point in gettin rid of it. I would definently replace the sf rear. As for the ifs, you already know it blows, and I see a SAS is in your future. The rest sounds pretty solid though.

Good Luck.

keep the FF and sell the SF. IF you can find someone to buy it.

What are your intentions with the rig, rocks, mud, trails. Street legal or trailered. A lil more info would help

I would not sell the 14bolt ff. If you have it, no point in gettin rid of it. I would definently replace the sf rear. As for the ifs, you already know it blows, and I see a SAS is in your future. The rest sounds pretty solid though.

Good Luck.

Yeah I knew I forgot to include a bunch....it is going to stay street legal for now so I dont have to get a tow rig yet. As for what type of terrain it's going in, it's the northeast so it will see everything (shy of the freakish rocks out west). Mostly its a lot of tire spin followed by traction on rocks and a big bang so I am definetly doing the SAS as soon as I can.

Is there really that much of a difference between the ff and sf? I never read up on the sf because I knew the ff was supposedly better but I'm just curious as to why/how this is. Not trying to be a dick or anything, just trying to learn.

well as the name implys
You have a full floater vs. a semi floater which inhearitnly makes it stronger. Your not supporting the entire weight of the rig on the axle so the only thing it has to do is turn the tire.
The full float has a 10.5 ring gear vs. a 9.5 ring gear, this is just a bit larger than a 12 bolt.
break an axle on a SF and you will loose the tire, a full floater just looses power, you can keep going on the trail if need be, a SF has to be strapped back together and hopfully you can limp back to the trailer before the tire fall off again. And a FF axle is cake to change out, take you 5 minutes tops and that is if you spill your beer!
the SF would probably last you a good long time, you may never even break it, but the FF, you will never have to even think about it again, put it in and forget about it. It will take just about as much HP as you can throw at it with 44's and really never have a problem.

go with the FF, it's a lot stronger. I'm not sure about the SF, but I know the FF has the pinion support bearing, but I think they both have them. the FF looks better too, I like seeing the shafts and hubs...

you can probably sell the SF for more money to.

also if you plan to put lockers in, 455 for the FF and 663 for the SF. and i know the price for the FF is high!! i got mine for 360. detroits btw.

Alright I guess I'll replace the sf at the same time I SAS the front. I shouldn't be worried wheelin with 36s for awhile until I save up for the swaps should I?

Also, does anyone have any pics of flat beds/tube beds on a full sized chevy? I'm planning out the design of the back end right now and I'm stealing lots of ideas from the Toyotas but I want to see how it looks on a full sized.

Being from MA....how much trimming of the front fenders do you really need to do? Didn't mother nature...and the assistance of the winter road salt crews help out with "rust trimming" already??? hehehe

I agree with all the above. Keep the FF sell the SF, besides I believe you'll get much more for the SF....as the FF are cheap and plentiful. Many IFS 1/2T guys (keeping the IFS for whatever crazy reason) look for the 6 bolt SF (you did not say if it was 6 or 8 lug) for the strength over the 10 bolt.

You may want to shave the FF while it is out.....if your only running 36" tires. otherwise the build sounds good so far. Look for Redman's build thread here somewhere............out

Being from MA....how much trimming of the front fenders do you really need to do? Didn't mother nature...and the assistance of the winter road salt crews help out with "rust trimming" already??? hehehe

I agree with all the above. Keep the FF sell the SF, besides I believe you'll get much more for the SF....as the FF are cheap and plentiful. Many IFS 1/2T guys (keeping the IFS for whatever crazy reason) look for the 6 bolt SF (you did not say if it was 6 or 8 lug) for the strength over the 10 bolt.

You may want to shave the FF while it is out.....if your only running 36" tires. otherwise the build sounds good so far. Look for Redman's build thread here somewhere............out


Yea the roads up here really fawked the bed up pretty good and is one of the reasons its getting ditched....surprisingly though the front isn't that bad. I forgot to mention that the ff is already shaved because originally I was going to throw it in a cj7. The current axles are 6 lugs since its a light duty 3/4. I'm just going to run 36" on the current axles for a bit because my buddy has some ones he can lend me until I do the swap and get the 1 tons on. After that I'll get some 38" because from what I've heard you can only run 38" max legally in MA.

After that I'll get some 38" because from what I've heard you can only run 38" max legally in MA.


I've never heard that....what do they care how big a diameter tire you run as long as the frame and bumper heights meet thier criteria? I would imagine you'd be able to run as tall as physically possible, with enough hacked away and still covered,............ given the vehicles height stayed somewhat original you could get away with it. I have never heard of a tire height limit.