May be a dumb question

[treegump]

and maybe in the wrong thread...but...How is a K3500 different from a K2500. Is it possible to make my sig. into a K3500 (or rather - a 1 ton truck)?

 

[625fireman]

Fleetsides I think it is just the springs. But dually's have different rear axle. There are a couple guys here that put 3500 springs on their 2500. On that note just about any thing can be done.......I put 3/4 ton truck springs under a K5 blazer I had. Did all four corners I had to change the shackles too though.

 

[treegump]

Fleetsides I think it is just the springs. But dually's have different rear axle. There are a couple guys here that put 3500 springs on their 2500. On that note just about any thing can be done.......I put 3/4 ton truck springs under a K5 blazer I had. Did all four corners I had to change the shackles too though.

thanks!! what about the IFS front ends? Anything need to be done up front to get safe 1 ton capabilities?

 

[625fireman]

That IDK. I think all the socket ends are the same size just the rod diameter is different but I am not 100%. You could add Timbrens (SP) or something of the same to the front to help though.

 

[Matt Bachand]

3500's also have a Barg Warner T-Case.

Not sure if the brakes are heavier duty also.

Or the Frames?

 

[JiFaire]

A lot of that depends on your 2500... Is it an 8-lug axle or a 6-lug?
Do you have a full-floating rear end?
What size are your rear brakes?

On the heavy-duty ones (like mine), you need to pull the rear axles out before you can pull off a brake drum, and it is a big, heavy SOB.

 

[treegump]

A lot of that depends on your 2500... Is it an 8-lug axle or a 6-lug?
Do you have a full-floating rear end?
What size are your rear brakes?

On the heavy-duty ones (like mine), you need to pull the rear axles out before you can pull off a brake drum, and it is a big, heavy SOB.

8 lug, 10 1/2" full floating rearend. I have 13" brakes (which I hope I didn't damage because I left my ebrake on during my 32 mile drive to work today-but they still work, and it was raining, so hopefully they are alright).

And yea- I agree with you there on the brake drum! The men in my family saw me changing my brake cylinder at a recent family gathering at my folks home and couldn't believe 1) the size of the brake drum 2) that I had to pull my axle out before I could get the brake drum off and 3) that my g/f of ~1-1/2 months was sitting inside meeting my family while I was working on my truck .

 

[trouttrooper]

isn't the frame bigger on the 1 tons of that era?? 3/4 tons (8600 GVWR) had their own size frame IIRC.

Realistically the 2500HD's of nowadays are 1 tons with the wrong badge put on.