My K5 is a 1982 vintage truck, with little, save the axles, frame and body original. It started out as a diesel powered rig with 700R4 and rather tall ratio of 3.43. Previous owner swapped out the diesel, and installed a 350, which I overhauled, installed, and immediately sucked two new exhaust seats into the cylinders, and took out four brand new Keith Black hypereutectics! Had a 305 on hand, installed it, and about 10K later, the 700R4 went south. It now has a Turbo 350 in it, but the transfer case has decided to only 'go' in 4Lo.....
This wretched beast has me under it's spell, and I'm wondering what to do next with it.
I have on hand an '86 Suburban, half ton, with 350, 700R4, and 3.73 axles, that's been to Alaska and back a couple times, still gives 14 mpg, and has been into places it should never have been, and does it reliably. It's just too huge for me and the Mrs. now with all of our ten kids grown and gone.
There's also a body-bashed but dependable '86 GMC 2500 in the back that we use for hauling 'stuff' nowadays. It's running a '74 454 with the truck's original 4 speed and Xfer case.
So the dilemna I have, is whether to strip out the Suburban and install the running gear into the K5, or do the same with the GMC's 454 and use the 3/4 ton 3.73 axles under the Blazer.....
This is definitely NOT a "money's-no-object" project. Trying to do this on the cheap on a retirement income.
What would you do, and why?

 

IMO i would go with the 350 engine 350 trans and the 3.73 gears and fix the transfer case..I'm thinkin Old school..much easier lol

 

I'd say it depends on what you want out of your K5.

If you are going to use it as a daily driver, rape the Suburban. If you want a toy, rape the GMC.

 

Stock for stock, the TH350 is more refined and stronger than the 700R4 given like years. It was not until later on in the 700R4 life cycle that some of the issues were cured. However, in modified form, they are both equivalent in terms of strength. If you are considering rebuilding a 700R4, then updated components can be used to make the 700R4 handle pretty much whatever you would think a TH350 would with the added benefits of a lower 1st gear and OD as stated. If you were to use the 700R4 out of the 'burb, you may have the updated version over what was originally offered in 1982.

Now, what to do with the trucks you have at hand. As said already, it really depends on your expectations of your creations. You now have 3 vehicles. Do you want to end up with 3 vehicles in the end, 2 good all around vehicles, or 1 mongrel of a vehicle that will be a beast? You have to decide that part to give us some kind of slate to work off of.

 

now my 2 cents id rip the engine and trans and xfer case out of the 3/4 ton and the axles from the burban and make a damn beast but that is just me

 

I think I'd do the 350 'Burb to K5.

Easier at the gas pump and there's all the power you need. The 454 is cool too. They are both almost bolt ins.. the frame is the same.

The 454 belongs in a Chevy Vega... ah that brings back the High School days LOL

 

no matter how you are going to use the blazer it's would be a machine if you were to use the 3/4 ton parts, easy swap and your probably going to get a 32 spline sm465 4 speed(indestructible)and should be mated to a np205(great case)the axles should bolt right up with few mods nothing crazy.do the swap and never look back....that should have a 14 ff in the rear and that front 60 is a great axle....i could be mistakenkeep us posted