1st Mud truck

[95Blazer]

While after looking high and low, I have finally come up with a truck. This is going to be my first mudder, so any suggestions at all would be appreciated. The truck is a 1982 GMC pickup Reg cab, with the 8' box. The engine and body do need a little TLC as it has been sitting for many years. The plan is going to be to leave the 350 in, and rebuild the tranny. Then either put lockers in, or just swap out the axles completely and put solid axles in there place, and put some 35" tires on it. Picking the truck up tomorrow. Pictures to follow some time after that.

[cheepthrills2]

Sounds like a good start keep posting as you do your build

[Thumper]

it should have solid axles already, it is a great platform to start with parts are easy to find and cheap for the most part.

[95Blazer]

it should have solid axles already, it is a great platform to start with parts are easy to find and cheap for the most part.

The easy to find and cheap parts is a definite plus. Thanks for the heads up on the axles I have to check and make sure they are still solid axles. The truck has undergone some major changes. It originally had a 6.2L diesel in it, and somewhere along the line that was swapped out with a 350, so I will have to check the axles and make sure those haven't been swapped out, but if there are still a solid axle that would be extremely nice.

[michaelg]

The easy to find and cheap parts is a definite plus. Thanks for the heads up on the axles I have to check and make sure they are still solid axles. The truck has undergone some major changes. It originally had a 6.2L diesel in it, and somewhere along the line that was swapped out with a 350, so I will have to check the axles and make sure those haven't been swapped out, but if there are still a solid axle that would be extremely nice.

Unless it is a two wheel drive, it will have solid axles under it already. The truck in my screen pic started life as a 85 1\2 ton solid axle 4x4. Gm didn't start this IFS sillyness until 88-89 or there abouts.
That is a great starting blocks for any build. Congratulations, now we need pics as soon as possible.
T

[muddyscout]

gm didnt go ifs till the new bodystyle
sounds like a fun project

[95Blazer]

Unless it is a two wheel drive, it will have solid axles under it already. The truck in my screen pic started life as a 85 12 ton solid axle 4x4. Gm didn't start this IFS sillyness until 88-89 or there abouts.
That is a great starting blocks for any build. Congratulations, now we need pics as soon as possible.
T

It is a 4x4. My uncle and I are picking the truck up tomorrow, so I will plan on getting the pics up asap.

[WRECK$HIT]

Sounds like a fun start!!

[liftedlimo]

sounds like a good start good luck with it hope it work ok for u

[TORMENTED]

where are you going to mud

[mudtrux]

Rock And ROLL. :headbang:
I wouldn't worry too much about the body other than making the floors solid so the cab stays on.

Excellent starting point and 35's will get you around.
Welcome to the rest of your life :D :drive:

[95Blazer]

where are you going to mud

Not 100% sure. I've been out at crown with my uncle a couple of times, so if there are any events there I would try to make those. I am hopefully going to get everything working by Memorial day, and take it out to one of the events that weekend. I have heard Mudfest is a lot of fun.

[Diesel]

Your not going to tow it with that blazer are you....J/k
I just started this year and had a alot of fun with my 35's started with 33's.
good luck!

[Team Goochie]

Sounds like a good start. The one thing I would reccomend is not to lock the front end, bad things usually happen.

[mudevil]

Nice first project! You will start with 35s and be up to 44s in no time. 4 wheeling is so darn addicting!

[1tonwilly's]

i personally lock the front. do u want to make it through or get pulled through? it a choice you will have to make. and yes you will brake moire parts typically just shafts and u joints no biggy. theirs shafts everywhere infact i got two and i dont even run d44's or 10 bolts. either way breaking stuff is what got all the big boys on here where they are, perfect excuse for bigger and better. keep us posted man and pics rule so lets see them.

[95Blazer]

Here are some pictures of the truck. Just finished getting it running. Put some new fuel line in, and she runs great.:drive:

[jaysjunk]

sweet start !!

[CaliforniaMudder]

A nice good building foundation

[stevew]

Great start keep the pics coming!!

[95Blazer]

Heres an update of how the project is going. The truck is running took, all it needed was about 3 ft worth of fuel line. The interior ha pretty much been taken out (carpet is gone, working on cleaning up the seat, there was a bunch of broken glass in it. The dash is still in though). I am planning right now to just leave the stock axle in for now, it is just the normal GM 10 bolt no posi or locker. Eventually I plan to go to either a 12 bolt of 14 bolt, any suggestions I know the 14 bolt is a real meaty axle, but I it might be overkill for a 35" tire. Does anyone know what might be a good front axle for a truck like this?

[tiny]

truck looks like a good start to a mudder my truck started out just like that. a 12 bolt for the rear and a 35 would be good enough as far as a front axle goes I have ran 38's on 10 bolt fronts in 2 different trucks but I have alot of spare axles and such for it so far knock on wood I havent broke any. My blazer when it gets going will has 12 bolt in rear and dana 44 in front with 38's. The 44's are not to spendy to find and good for 35's but if I were you I'd drive it till you break somethingand have the replacements ready to go. What gear ratio is in it, if its 3.08 I have a 12 bolt for it I would sell for $50 that would be an upgrade for the rear when you blow the 10 bolts spider gears out. Thats just my 2 penny's and I am sure you will get many great ideas.

[LPJ80]

hey there M P small world awesome project you got there . I currently have a 14 bolt full floater rear axle with an open carrier and 4.10 gears .come get it and tuck it away till you're ready for it !!!!

[compoundfractureracing]

If you can get that 14 bolt ff put that under there...as for the front we run 10 bolt corp front end with 39.5's...like tiny we also have spare axles never know when something can happen. Only way to bullet proof a front axle is by gettin harden axles or going to rocks. Personally leave the front open way to many things can break..and if you do break your pretty much done..at least if you blow out the front you can weld it to keep playin the rest of the day (that's if you want to do it and have another axle with gears) Looks like a good 1st truck

[LPJ80]

I also have a dana 60 front with 4.10 gears 1 has a limited slip & one is open out of chevy

[trucknorris]

Does anyone know what might be a good front axle for a truck like this?


2 1/2 ton rockwells. trust me you'll want them sooner or later

[silverado79]

i've already broke a front rockwell shaft w/ just 44 boggers already so nothin is bullit proof but my last truck was a 44 front w\ clutch type limited slip and 39.5 tsls and i hammered that truck way more than my new one so far and never had a problem the rear was just the 12 bolt w/ a auburn track lock and only broke 1 shaft in that but there was some good air involved there heck that truck was my driver no trailer queen there

[UFOSPY]

2 1/2 ton rockwells. trust me you'll want them sooner or later

True so very True

[95Blazer]

Heres another update of how the project is going. We (LPJ80 and I) tightened down the steering wheel on the truck (that was flopping around) .Just picked up some tires for the truck last night (35x12.50s They are a Super Sport HT Radial The have some pretty good lugs. Should do decient in the mud). Going to try to fit them on the truck when I get home, and see what exactly is needed for lift on the truck.

[95Blazer]

Got the tries on the truck. Here is a updated picture of the truck. Next thing to do is going to be locate a 4" suspension lift, then install it, and replace the u-joints.

[tiny]

Watch craigslist there has been alot of stuff going for cheap lately

[BAD HABITS]

Check in often with sid at sidco also he frequintly get used lifts in and he's usually pretty fair on the pricing too. Lookin good there on the build. And welcome to the addiction of mud with your first truck

[Dave66]

My room mate has a late 80's 1/2 ton chev with a 4" rancho lift, rancho shocks anyway. All springs, no blocks in the rear. He just bought it for the body for his 3/4 ton, I already got the 15x10 wheels off it. It has a 700r4 trans, no motor. He'll probably sell the whole chasis complete for a pretty decent price. If your interested, let me know I'll see what kinda money he wants.

[mud_runner05]

if i were you, id go to my local junkyard and find a 70's chevy 3/4 ton 4x4. has the 14 bolt rear, which is pretty much indestructible and the heavier dana 44(better spindles, beefier lockouts etc) and it will take any dana 44 axles. if your getting u joints, id suggest going with spicer joints, theyre getting hard to find but you can find them on ebay for about 25 apiece, they are the strongest ive had and i have been through a lot, good luck with it, i also have an 84 scottsdale with body in pretty close to the same shape for sale

[95Blazer]

Thats what I plan to do, swap in a 14 bolt as soon as I break my 10 bolt. I have a 14 bolt with 4.10s all ready lined up. All I have to do is throw in a locker and its good to go.


if i were you, id go to my local junkyard and find a 70's chevy 3/4 ton 4x4. has the 14 bolt rear, which is pretty much indestructible and the heavier dana 44(better spindles, beefier lockouts etc) and it will take any dana 44 axles. if your getting u joints, id suggest going with spicer joints, theyre getting hard to find but you can find them on ebay for about 25 apiece, they are the strongest ive had and i have been through a lot, good luck with it, i also have an 84 scottsdale with body in pretty close to the same shape for sale

[95Blazer]

(Another update) not much has changed since the last update, but tested a few things, four wheel drive works =). Both gas tanks are functional. The 35" tires came off so that I can replace the valve stems as soon as I get them. Planning on picking up some new u-joints this week, and putting those in sometime soon.

[95Blazer]

Just bought a lift kit, and waiting for it to arrive. Should come sometime after Christmas. This week the seat is going back in, the rear drive shaft is getting pulled so the U-joints can be replaced, and I hope to get to replacing the valve stem on one of the 35" tires (leaks). I will get some updated pictures this week of the truck.

[iwc48]

lookin good

[stevew]

Keep it up. Great start

[95Blazer]

Ok it's been awhile, but the lift kit is in. The 35s are on, and the truck doesn't want to run very good I need to keep about 2500 rpms to keep it running. Maybe someone might have a suggestion as to why this might be the case. Here is what I did. I had fired it up saw a fair amount of smoke coming out of the drivers side exhaust, so I pulled the plugs on that side to make sure I hadn't fouled the plugs ( burning oil) I also did a oil change. Put in a 20w/50 ( to stop the burning, it ran crummy before the oil change) I have new wires so that isn't the problem. I am putting new plugs in, but I'm not sure if that is the issue. The auto store only had 7 plugs. If this does not fix it. I'm going to rebuild the carb. Any suggestions would be great, and does any one have a idea of what the gap should be for a stock 350, with stock inginiton system. The ones that came out were anywhere from .035" to .040", but I think gap should be closer to .045".