[OL_Smokey]

Ok well i plan to do a ground up restoration on my truck this winter what i have is a 77 Chevy 1/2 ton long box with dana 44 front and 12 bolt posi rear diff, SM465 trany, and NP208 t-case rebuilt by me.
My plan is to rebuild and clean up everything, do a shackle flip that i made in the rear its the same as the ORD shackle flip i would use 2" lift leafs in the rear and 6" in the front but i am not totaly shure because i made a bumper and i have a old 12 000lb superwinch so it might make the front sit alittle to low, i have a 350 4 bolt main that i am going to rebuild with some ponies, streangthen up the frame by the stearing box, fix all body rot/rust, probibly about a 35" bogger and a locker in the rear diff i dont know what i am going to be doing with the front diff yet.
Now I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions about anything i plan on doing, does it sound like a good plan should i do something differently i am totaly open to suggestion and i am willing to spend some money on my truck. Is there a better way to lift my truck other than lift leafs? What can i do to beaf up my diffs?
This truck is and when its done will be my daily driver but it wont be any trailer queen i will use and abuse it so i need it to be tough and reliable.

 

[tenpack]

Can't go wrong with the classical D60/14B axle combo. Look into a np205, they are gear driven, which allows you to use lower gears. For reliabity, a rear locker like an arb and e-lockers are pretty expensive and arbs are rather finnicky, look into a detriot/spool to simplicity and no need to tinker with it.

For tough, a exo cage really cant be beat. Look into lots of skid-platage, and some thick diff. covers. for protection. An aluminum radioator with electric fans is always a good choice, free's up some HP and cools way better.


0.02

 

[charlo]

The 208 you have now(2.61) has a better crawl ratio than the 205(1.96). The 205 however is bombproof while I would relate the 208 closer to an eggshell.

I agree with tenpack go with something simple for the rear locker and save some cash. Whatever you get make sure it replaces your carrier.

Lifted trucks the get used hard or are heavy in the front tend to bottom out the front leaf pack on the frame rail, makes for a hard ride. Longer shackle solves the problem but makes shackle angle even worse that it already is. If you have time fab a new front mount and make a longer front shackle/ run lower lift springs like 2" instead of 4" or 6" you will get more flex and a much better ride. There are some articles about putting 53" and larger springs up front for the same purposes.

Good luck to you.

Charlo

 

[panty dropper]

You could 4 link it front and back, then it would ride nice and still be able to wheel, and I would throw the 1/2 ton stuff in the trash if you are taking it off the street, especially with boggers of all things. My dana 60 and corporate 14 are my friends, expensive friends, but worth it.

 

[OL_Smokey]

I was thinking of going with 4 link, i read a good article on 4Wheel & Off Road that tells exacly how to do the rear 4 link http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techarticles/suspension/131_0306_link/
Does anyone know of any articles about how to do a front 4 link?
I would like to go with a dana 60 up front but they are hard as hell to find a buddy of mine just did dana 60 swap and he had a hell of a time trying to find one, so is there a way to beef up the dana 44 i already have up front so they can handle some power and grab of the boggers?

 

[puppy]

With a small block and 35's, your NP208 will never give any trouble. Keep it for the low range.

 

[OL_Smokey]

well i was hoping that the NP208 would be fine because i just rebuilt it but if it will hold up i will use it.
No one else has any more input/good ideas to help me out?