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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/Rebuilding differential in 2000 Chevy K2500 4x4

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Expert: - 10/10/2007


Question
I have a 2000 CHEVY K2500 4x4.  It's an 8600lb. truck with a 14 bolt differential.  Where can I find instructions or free manuals, explaining the steps in this extensive process.  also Where would be the best place to find the most durable parts?  GM wants $1108 just for the 2 Gear kits.  The part # on these gear kits are: 12479279 468, and the other is: 12479321 the desc. Gear SE on 1st and Gear KI on 2nd.  Please help me find a cheaper place to find these parts, and a place with printable manuals to follow. Thanks for your time, Josh Dorner.


Answer
Josh,

As far as free instructions or manuals, I don't know of any.  If they are free, I'm not sure that I would trust them.

A Chiltons, or Haynes manual only cost $20 - $25 and are invaluable if you plan on doing any work yourself.  As far as gears go, I would purchase a few 4x4 magazines and check out the ads for gears.  A good place to start is Randy's Ring and Pinion.

http://www.ringpinion.com/

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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