Chevy & GMC Vans

New member first post! I just bought my first van,and used this site as reference while i was searching for the right van. I lucked out and found one with the 4wd tc and 2" lift already done! Its like I hit the easy button. Well almost, now I'm thinking of the s10 unlocking front axle. I have done a search and cant seem to find one thread that fully explains this, just bits and pieces. What I want to know is what year s10 or blazer should I be looking for to get the parts from? My van is a 1999.Thanks and heres the required pics. Graphics gotta go

Welcome!

Great looking van!

Thanks. I'm super happy with it. Had a Volvo station wagon before this and figured it was a natural step up.

I would guess something around the same vintage would work but not being a 4x4 guy, I really don't know. Someone with more knowledge than I will chime in soon.
Welcome to the site, how's Kelowna this morning.


Peter

Kelowna beautiful today. Sun is out and snow is almost gone.

willisworms wrote:Kelowna beautiful today. Sun is out and snow is almost gone.

Hey Hey, K-Town! Nice spot good memories. Welcome aboard.
I have an s10 front diff in my 87 van. Fits right in no problem, and you can get a "posi-Lock" pull cable to operate it.
Your van is a 98? I would look for the sameish year, and look up some google pix of the half shafts that will fit your van.
Carefull eh. There are 2 styles of the half shafts attaching to the diff/axle. Early vs late style.
Early style has a circular flat flange with 6 bolts holes that simply bolts to another flate plate with holes.
The later style has an actual splined stubshaft that has to slip into the diff/axle.
Yours is probably a later style, so you will need the same style in an s10 axle.
No matter the style you have, it will switch with an s10 axle of the same style.
Get a posi-lock for it.

My van is a 99. I have a "pick and puke" really close by so finding the parts will be no problem, I just wanted to know if there was certain years I should look for. So closest to my year is where I will start. Now I would guess that after I get the s10 axle housing I would use my axle in it? I know the s10 has a different bolt pattern so that axle would be useless.

This is the only picture I can find on this site, and the picture that all my confusion stems from. There is a whole lot of "shuddabutta" ( my grandmothers word ) On the end of the s10 axle that is not on the awd axle. Does that gear just slip onto my axle? And then it must mesh with something? I must be over thinking this ( I tend to do that ). I guess its time to put the computer down and get my hands dirty.

Hey,
Thats a fabulous picture of it. Take notice that it seems to have the flat flanged ends for the half shafts to attach too.
I may be wrong, but I think you might need the aluminum diff housing as well as the steel tube parts, cuz there is more of the extra bits in the diff housing as well?
here is an exploded view drawing of the whole axle assembly.

Easiest thing to do is just get a complete S10 axle in the correct ratio.

Your half shafts connect to the axle, and go out to the wheels, so doesn't effect bolt pattern, not even attached really.

Well now I must admit that i feel quite stupid. I was looking at that picture completely wrong. Thanks for the exploded view.

Just remember while picking parts that your 99 will not have the flange on the axle shafts or the CV half shafts. Yours will slip and lock into the housing.

So the unlocking S10 diff, all it does is stop it ring, pinion and front prop shaft from turning? Does that effect MPG enough to warrant the swap?

It only stops the front parts from turning full speed. The driver side front axle shaft is still turning the spider gears and possibly the ring/pinion and prop shaft. If you have an AWD, the front stuff turns anyways due to t-case clutch pack pre-loads.

Any idea how much preload there is? For instance, can it be overcome using just your hands?

yes it will turn by hand.not much pressure either.On rear wheel drive posi it spins pretty freely it just stops once you quit pushing it.Drive shaft pushing it is what locks the clutches.