EASY K5 K10 Suburban Blazer 8 Lug swap. Dana 44 or 10 bolt. 3/4 ton conversion

Super simple upgrade for your half ton square body. This upgrade will be a great companion to the 14 bolt full floating rear.

[@austinkeown7263]

Finally , someone that goes into detail for a Dana 44 build.

[@bradleycrenshaw6778]

Thank you so much for this video. This is exactly what I needed. I have a 78 dana 44 front going into an 87 square 4x4.I had to get rid of the "full time" hubs. i kept the original front axle complete and now I am glad I did. It even has Warn manual locking hubs on the 87 so i reckon i can use those as well.

[@spankranchgarage]

Glad it helped!

[@austinwagoncompany]

Couldn't ask for a better video. Thanks for posting!

[@spankranchgarage]

Thank you!

[@mrclean7736]

I didn't change my backing plates when I changed my front rotors to 3/4 ton. it's been that way for over 25 years. Stops just fine.

[@charliesfowllife2335]

You kept the 1/2ton backing plate and caliper?

[@potentialgarage8161]

Probably the best detailed video that I needed, to know if I could actually 8 lug swap this way!

[@spankranchgarage]

That's my goal! Glad you found it helpful

[@bluecollarhowto3489]

Thanks, dude just the info I needed. Just got a k5 that has 8 lugs front and back but the front is empty, but I have parts blazer with Dana 44. I now know I can just swap the hubs and go. got all parts but new bearings and seals.

[@spankranchgarage]

Glad I could help. Good luck!

[@DriveTrainKiller]

Thanks for taking measurements and sharing that info

[@doughboy1966]

Looking forward to the 14 bolt video. Maybe a short drive video would be awesome too.

[@spankranchgarage]

I made a video about "shaving" a 14 bolt that I later put in this K5. I have a few more videos coming up about that truck but not exacly installing the 14B. It was simple, just weld on some spring perches

[@doughboy1966]

I watched the shaving video and it was very interesting. I’m still looking for a K5 myself but here in North East Texas these people are sniffing idiot juice asking the prices they are. I appreciate the videos you have posted on the K5 thus far.

[@bowtiebuilding]

@@doughboy1966hey I’m from the Tyler area. Currently building a K10 and wanting to do a crossover setup in the front

[@0tink9]

I don't own anything nearly as cool as this, but still a good watch. The Ranch never disappoints

[@doughboy1966]

The more I watch your videos the more I want another square body Chevrolet.

[@spankranchgarage]

That’s what I like to hear!

[@tjhughes66]

Good look finding the 8 lug backing plate i did a c20 to k20 conversion i about never fond one

[@spankranchgarage]

There hard to find now thats for sure

[@Gemini_Beautify]

Super pumped to see some blazer work 🤠😍

[@anthonyjacosta3303]

One of the best conversion video from 6 to 8 lug great job where can I find the backing plate thanks again.

[@spankranchgarage]

Thanks for watching. A junkyard is the best place to get the caliper brackets/backing plates. Some people want an arm and a leg for them but I dont see why there worth more than 50 bucks. Heres a place selling some www.2040-parts.com/dana-44-8-lug-hub-front-caliper-brackets-10-bolt-8-5-axle-chevy-gmc-k20-i939607/

[@easyjerryl69]

Holy Shit ! You are saying that my 1991 gmc v1500 already has the big hubs ! I just need to buy the backing plates and new 8 lug rotors ?

[@spankranchgarage]

Yup!

[@GEARHEADdezign]

That looks a lot faster than the 8 lug straight axle conversion for my Chevrolet Blazer

[@spankranchgarage]

Much easier than that!

[@collinwalser4793]

What’s the point of using the bigger spindles? Can I reuse my old spindles and just get the rotor and hub assembly and the caliper backing plate?

[@spankranchgarage]

As far as I know the 8 lug hub only comes big spindle. So if your 6 lug stuff is big spindle already you won’t need to swap spindles

[@TempoDrift1480]

Yes I would agree, Raw Dog is the better option.

[@hendersonequipment]

Keep on hammerin

[@wesleyfarina]

Hey what locker are you running in your 10 boult??

[@drewharrington2922]

What inner wheel bearing did you use? I can’t find one that will fit.

[@potentialgarage8161]

So I’m actually doing this swap. And I’m gathering parts, and I can not find the 3/4 backing plate new anywhere? Where did you get yours

[@spankranchgarage]

I dont think they are made anymore. I got lucky and got a set from my local junkyard

[@charliesfowllife2335]

What year truck did you get the Hubs and backing plate off of??

[@spankranchgarage]

It was a mid to later 80s k20 from what I remember

[@joshuavaldez9932]

if I wanted to get rid of my 4 wheel drive....do I just pull the axles from the front end so they can free spin

[@spankranchgarage]

Yes... you can do that. Thats essentially what a locking hub does. When the hub is unlocked, the axle is not turning with the tire.

[@whitneybowling4465]

so when swapping a dana 44 from 6 to 8 lug, is the dana 60 and 44 stuff the same? or i need to be looking for 44 8 lug parts only?

[@spankranchgarage]

Great question! For your D44 you can use only 8 lug stuff from another Dana 44 OR a gm 10 bolt. Essentially any 73-91 squarebody 3/4 ton. D44/10bolt are the same spindles out. Dana 60 stuff won’t fit

[@OAKdust]

Thank you for the reply!

[@RogueKnight33]

Genny! You must be a fellow NYer

[@spankranchgarage]

PA! But Genny and rust belt trucks I see why you would think that lol

[@RogueKnight33]

@spankranchgarage I'm western NY area but from the home of genny haha cool to notice things like this in peoples videos

[@nickygray4691]

Is the spindle the same from the 6 lug

[@spankranchgarage]

If it is "big bearing" then yes

[@Sam_DaMan]

Why convert to 8 lug?

[@spankranchgarage]

In my case, to match the rear

[@Sam_DaMan]

@@spankranchgarage but why do ppl do it in general? Just for looks or does it improve anything?

[@drewharrington2922]

What inner wheel bearing did you use? I can’t find one that will fit.

[@drewharrington2922]

What inner wheel bearing did you use? I can’t find one that will fit.

[@spankranchgarage]

For an 86, the 6 lug and 8 lug spindles take the same bearing. Order bearings for a 1986 K5 blazer they should be what you need

[@drewharrington2922]

What inner wheel bearing did you use? I can’t find one that will fit.

[@Poorboyzgarage447]

They use the same bearings I’m pretty sure