You guys do make a valid point and I am no hurry to get this swap done, so I am going to keep my eye out for a good deal on some driver side drop d44s. Thanks.

 

Yep, i always go with the best deal.

 

10 bolts or 44s will suit your needs just fine, this isnt pirate4x4 where everything needs 1 tons and lockers, ive been running the same set of 10 bolts for going on about 10 years now and they are still holding up,

only problem with 10 bolts is they are going to be passenger side drop though. if you can find some driverside 44s that would be my advice,

unless youre gonna be running at least 38s stay away from 1 tons, they are gonna be anchors for rocks and ruts, i have a 86 k30 street truck with 33s with one tons and those differentials are pretty close to the ground

 

I think I have made up my mind about this. I am going to go with the Off-Road Direct kit just because it is bolt-on and I honestly feel better about bolting stuff on rather than welding. What are my options for steering though? I have a pretty good idea about what I need for the axle but can I use the factory steering box?

 

Most people change to an 2wd astrovan steering box. points the pitman arm to front.

 

thats what i did, then you have to get a flat top knuckle, drilled and tapped for a steering arm on the passenger side and then a drag link to run from the gear box to the axle

heres some pics of my set up







and encase anyone asks my steering arm is not hitting the leaf spring in the second picture but it is very close

also its been like 5 years since i built this truck and dont remember where the heck i bought any of this stuff, i was lucky enough to find the pass side flat top in a local junkyard

 

X3 for the Astro steering gear. I used an early '80s Camaro pitman arm and filed out the index splines to orient it the way I wanted.