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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 70 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 70 | I recently found a 61 GMC Suburban with factory 4wd. Can some of you 4wd guys get me up to speed on this rig. It has a 305 V6. What transfer case would this truck have? What front and rear axles and front hubs and what gear ratio is stock. This is a 1/2 ton. Are there any later model axle assemblies that would bolt in and give me a higher gear and 6 lug? My goal is to keep it mostly stock but I will make changes to make it more driver friendly. I appreciate all input. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 37 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 37 | Sounds like a sweet truck. If it's a 4 speed, it has the SM420 tranny. Divorced Rockwell T221 transfer case...check it for leaks. If you let it leak down it will grenade itself.
Front axle is a D44 with drum brakes. Not sure what the rearend would be, 12 bolt, D44, or the semifloater Eaton. Gears are probably 4.56.
You could get 6 lug axles with disc front brakes from a newer 1/2 ton 4x4 pickup, blazer, or burb, but you might have to move spring perches and shock mounts. 3.08 or 3.42 ratios would work well.
1969 GMC K/2500 (w.i.p.)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 2,893 Socket Breaker | | Socket Breaker Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 2,893 | Here is a site that is all about the 60-66 GMC's & the big block v6 engine. http://www.6066gmcguy.org You have lots of reading to do, as there is a bunch of great information on that site.  -W | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 946 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 946 | Is it a NAPCO conversion? Not sure if they did conversions in 61? Look on the front axle and see if there is a stamping that has the words NAPCO. If so, don't cut it up! Its worth more stock. I have a 58 Panel with a NAPCO conversion, and a divorced transfer case with a PTO winch. These are cool trucks.
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