The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Is this a good parts truck 1988 K-5 Blazer?

I have an opportunity to purchase a 1988 K-5 Blazer 4x4 as a parts truck for $300. Is the rear end swapable(if that is a word) with my 55.1? I have yet to inspect the truck personally but am told it has a 700R4 Over drive Automatic transmission.

I am also assuming that this is a 6 lug truck.

Is this truck a good donor?

I would measure the width of the rear axle from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface. Seems to me that '88 was the year they changed the body styles(the pickups anyway) and they started using the wheels with a lot of offset(the center part of the wheel that is against the brake drums is almost all the way out to the outside edge of the wheel) This may mean that the axle assembly got wider. Easy to tell if it's too wide with the measuring tape. You will want to know the gear ratio of the axle also. It's probably pretty fast(which is what you want) but you will want to verify that before you spend your hard earned money.

In the hipo shop as well as in the engine and driveline shop there is a lot of discussion of various swaps and links to what fits what and what the measurments are.

Search and ye shall find.

good luck.

Chris,

I drove an 85 GMC 4X4 for a couple of years when I lived in the cheese state. Like one or two others said...check the gear ratio in the rear...the 85 could never stay in OD unless you were doing 80....geared for mileage...not enough HP to pull the gear...I hated that truck. Nice to look at but the OD and gearing made it no fun to drive.

But heck...$300...that's pretty cheap regardless

Ur existing truck has a hotchkiss rearend what are u tryin to do?

I would like to replace the rear end to get taller gears so I can venture out on the highway. So far I only take trips on the back roads.

I am hoping this truck will help. Based on the other topics regarding the rear end swap the Blazer 73-late 80's is the way to go.