OK, I have a question. I've been wanting to switch to 4.10's for a while now much just can't justify the money especially with the new tranny on the way. Here's my deal....My dad has a 2002 2500HD with the 6.0 gasser in it. They come with 4.10's. He never tows anything, basically its just his "get around" vehicle. So he doesn't really NEED 4.10's. My truck on the other hand has 37's on it. I would like to get back some of that stock feeling, especially in tha accel dept. Could I possibly switch rear axles and front diffs with him? They would bolt right up right? If so this would be absolutely perfect!!! It would give me my gears I want AND help his fuel mileage a little. (He's turning about 2250RPM at around 58-60). Jump in with some comments.

Jeremy

I think that the 2500 HD's with the 6.0's have the 10.5" ring gear in the rear compared the the duramax has the 11.5" ring gear. You would lose some strength by swapping the diffs.

I personally wouldn't do this.

Ah, I forgot about that! Dang it!!! I don't want that at all. Especially with the new tranny coming and running the PPE higher.

Thanks guys!
Jeremy

if your feeling froggy, you could switch them out just to see how u like the acceleration factor.... but i agree you should STICK with the 11.5 ring gear

Man, not for nothing, but the 10.5 14 bolts are still pretty stout. I would think that unless your towing real heavy all the time or being ignorantly abusive to your truck, your dads smaller 14 bolt would probably do just fine inplace of yours. And theoretically the smaller rear would be less parasitic and might net you an extra pony or two at the tires. I would however probably find a low mileage junk yard rear instead of bastardizing two trucks. No offense. I have been contemplating going 3.73 with my big block truck, but your a little far away for a parts trade, and ide rather buy a master kit and swap ring and pinions in the rear than whole rear ends.

Haha! I hear ya man. I think i'll just get me some 4.10's or 4.56's in the future and put them in myself. I don't think it'll be that hard. I gotta get this tranny in first though!

Jeremy

i think you would be fine with the smaller 14 bolt they have more pinion barrens than the big ones and theres barely any difference in axle shaft size.
fourwheeler mag did a test comparing theese to a dana 80 and said they are just as good if not stouter. ive seen theese put with hellava good beetens with trucks with 40" plus tires on and off pavement.this kid i know had a 80's chevy built 396 4gear 5.13's 44"boggers with one the 10.5s in it get pissed at his girlfriend back out on the blacktop and side step the clutch at like 5,600 and do a burn out about 11/2"wide and 20"s wide nothing gave in the rearend but the whole houseing spun on the tubes up about 8"s higher than what it supossed to be all they did was pull it back down and welded where the tubes met the center and that rearend is still getting thrashed today!

well the way i see it is your better off waitin to find another 11.5 with the 4.10 out of a 8.1L. I see guys that run those 10.5s in gassers that have built up motors and what not but i have not seen a gasser that is a dd puttin out 1000 tq w/ 37s and up and living. There was a reason GM put the 11.5 under these trucks and personally i wouldnt risk putting a rear end in that "should be fine" instead of keeping the rear end that is already super strong for your truck. JMO

So, did all of the 8.1 Vortecs come with 4.10's? I've never thought of this because I assumed they came with 3.73's. I might start looking for a wrecked 8.1

Jeremy

i think you would be fine with the smaller 14 bolt they have more pinion barrens than the big ones and theres barely any difference in axle shaft size.
fourwheeler mag did a test comparing theese to a dana 80 and said they are just as good if not stouter. ive seen theese put with hellava good beetens with trucks with 40" plus tires on and off pavement.this kid i know had a 80's chevy built 396 4gear 5.13's 44"boggers with one the 10.5s in it get pissed at his girlfriend back out on the blacktop and side step the clutch at like 5,600 and do a burn out about 11/2"wide and 20"s wide nothing gave in the rearend but the whole houseing spun on the tubes up about 8"s higher than what it supossed to be all they did was pull it back down and welded where the tubes met the center and that rearend is still getting thrashed today!

well the way i see it is your better off waitin to find another 11.5 with the 4.10 out of a 8.1L. I see guys that run those 10.5s in gassers that have built up motors and what not but i have not seen a gasser that is a dd puttin out 1000 tq w/ 37s and up and living. There was a reason GM put the 11.5 under these trucks and personally i wouldnt risk putting a rear end in that "should be fine" instead of keeping the rear end that is already super strong for your truck. JMO

I think the general consensus is that 10.5 14 bolt is just as strong as a dana 80, i cant see any reason a 10.5 would have any problems stepping up to the plate to fill in for an 11.5 in most situations. Although, i am for the most part against molesting a truck that some other poor soul might have to try and get parts for some day. but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

So, did all of the 8.1 Vortecs come with 4.10's? I've never thought of this because I assumed they came with 3.73's. I might start looking for a wrecked 8.1

Jeremy

I think most 8.1L trucks are 4.10, but im pretty sure they were a fair share of 3.73 trucks out there

i've had one of the 11.5 's completely desinerate in dd zf in stock form when the pin came out of the carrier and smacked the rearend houseing so hard it split it luckley gm replaced it free, not saying one is better than the other for shore but the 11.5 come apart too. thought it would be easier to find a older 10.5 in a junkyard put a detriot in it and try it rather than pullin it and the front diff out of a running and going truck, also who knows why gm switched to the 11.5s, just cause its bigger doesnt always mean its better gm is always changing something look how good thier daulmass flywheels worked out for them.