74 Blazer Front Driveshaft Question
Question:
My friend bought a 4WD ‘74 Blazer (350 / TH350) as a project and it seems to be complete except for a missing front driveshaft. He’s finished putting everything else together, but we need to find the driveshaft so we can get out in the desert and try things out. My question is: Were there different transfer cases or front differentials (or yokes for either) available, or should any front driveshaft from a mid-70’s Chevy/GMC truck work? I plan on going to a junkyard this week to get one, but I don’t want to bring one back only to find it won’t work. Thanks! Mike
Response:
measure the distance from the transfer case yolk to the yolk on the axle. find a truck with the same measurement and you should have it. Around here (St louis) we have a yard that has a parts crossover list. It s very convient Idealy you will find a truck with the same transfer case as yours, also you HOPEFULLy will find the same type of truck in the yard and snagg his axle Good luck
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My friend bought a 4WD ‘74 Blazer (350 / TH350) as a project and it > seems to be complete except for a missing front driveshaft. He’s > finished putting everything else together, but we need to find the > driveshaft so we can get out in the desert and try things out. My > question is: Were there different transfer cases or front differentials > (or yokes for either) available, or should any front driveshaft from a > mid-70’s Chevy/GMC truck work? I plan on going to a junkyard this week > to get one, but I don’t want to bring one back only to find it won’t > work. Thanks! > Mike
Response:
> My friend bought a 4WD ‘74 Blazer (350 / TH350) as a project and it > seems to be complete except for a missing front driveshaft. He’s > finished putting everything else together, but we need to find the > driveshaft so we can get out in the desert and try things out. My > question is: Were there different transfer cases or front differentials > (or yokes for either) available, or should any front driveshaft from a > mid-70’s Chevy/GMC truck work? I plan on going to a junkyard this week > to get one, but I don’t want to bring one back only to find it won’t > work. Thanks!
There were two transfer cases used in this era; the NP203 (mostly on automatic equipped trucks) and the NP205 (mostly on manual transmission trucks.) I don’t know, not having a 205, if its front shaft is different from the ‘203. The front axle will be a Dana 44, all going well, and that would have been on any 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton truck (Blazer/Jimmy, Suburban, pickup) in that era. Chuck’s pages (www.chuckschevytruckpages.com) will tell you the exact years on which you can find a D44 front. If I remember right, the junkyards just want to know the length of the shaft from ear to ear, which you should be able to measure, assuming that both the t-case and drive-shaft have their yoke or u-joint half or whatever in place. HTH. — A — daily his-n-hers Isuzu’s: hers 2000 Rodeo, his 2001 Rodeo Sport/Amigo others: 1993 Nissan 300ZX 1965 VW Type 3 Notchback 1992 Saturn SL2 trucks: 1974 Blazer "TankGrrl" 1990 Suburban V/2500 "SubGrrl" camping: 1977 Blazer Chalet #1060 "Camp Koala" 1977 Chalet #1383
Response:
Good info… Thanks! Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > There were two transfer cases used in this era; the NP203 (mostly on automatic > equipped trucks) and the NP205 (mostly on manual transmission trucks.) I don’t > know, not having a 205, if its front shaft is different from the ‘203. > The front axle will be a Dana 44, all going well, and that would have been on > any 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton truck (Blazer/Jimmy, Suburban, pickup) in that era. > Chuck’s pages (www.chuckschevytruckpages.com) will tell you the exact years > on which you can find a D44 front. > If I remember right, the junkyards just want to know the length of the shaft > from ear to ear, which you should be able to measure, assuming that both the > t-case and drive-shaft have their yoke or u-joint half or whatever in place. > HTH. > — A > — > daily his-n-hers Isuzu’s: hers 2000 Rodeo, his 2001 Rodeo Sport/Amigo > others: 1993 Nissan 300ZX 1965 VW Type 3 Notchback 1992 Saturn SL2 > trucks: 1974 Blazer "TankGrrl" 1990 Suburban V/2500 "SubGrrl" > camping: 1977 Blazer Chalet #1060 "Camp Koala" 1977 Chalet #1383
