[Drivetrain] Chevy 4X4 van

[jody78]

I have a 1988 full size Chevy van that I turned into a 4X4 using a TH 400 trany a NP203 transfer case and 3/4 ton front and rear end.

I am now looking for a spear rear end; the rear end I am using now is a 14 bolt. I am having trouble finding one the correct width.

All of the 1/2 ton rear ends I find are the correct width but all the 3/4 ton ones are about 4 inches to narrow. What I mean by the width is from backing plate to backing plate.

Can someone tell me what kind of rear end I need to look for, maybe a dully or a 1 ton. I never knew that the 1/2 ton and 3/4 trucks had different rear end widths.

[Matty]

The single rear wheel 14 bolt should have a 67 1/2" WMS. Duallys are 72", vans are 70" (i think) and the ones from cab and chassis trucks are somewhere around 63".

[jody78]

What do mean by WMS. Do you know the width of the 1/2 ton rear end.

[Matty]

WMS= Wheel mounting surface. the distance from the face of the hub where the wheel bolts on.

By half ton, I am guessing you mean 10 bolt, that also has the 67.5" WMS. I am not sure how that changed over the years, I'm basing that on the 73-88 body style truck.

[Matty]

Reading again, I see that you are measuring from the backing plate. A 14 bolt is going to be narrower between the backing plates than a 10 bolt because the 14 has much larger drums.

[jody78]

(01-17-2012 12:34 PM)Matty Wrote:  Reading again, I see that you are measuring from the backing plate. A 14 bolt is going to be narrower between the backing plates than a 10 bolt because the 14 has much larger drums.

[jody78]

On my van now there is a 14 bolt and it is the same width as a 10 bolt that i have (backing plate to backing plate.) I cant find another 14 bolt the same width.

What would this be of off?

All the 14 bolts that i have looked at wont fit up over the leaf springs on the van.

Any more help?

[Matty]

I honestly don't know without knowing the WMS

[jody78]

I am out of town for the next two weeks so I will check when I go home. Thanks for your help.