Quote:
Originally Posted by BLAZERMAN
If i remember correctly one of my Spicer manuals lists the red GM knob for 1970 Suburban, dont know why it would have a different color than others.
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Hi Guys, havent been on here in years, but noticed this post while googling for 4x4 goodies.
Because I collect these massive 3/4 ton Spicer Hubs, I will clarify a few things I've learned over the past 16 years.
Pre 1970 GM 3/4 ton 4x4's.....( 1969, 68, 67) didnt use the large spicer hubs.........even though they came with the HD Dana 44 front axle. Before 1970 GM was using an all METAL external locking hub, as well as optional drive flanges for those who didnt want lockouts. Pick up a period 68-69-70 chevy 4x4 truck brochure, and you'll see. Also a period GM repair manual from this time will also clarify this.
Pre 1970 1/2 tons did use a RED knob marked SPICER, and I have seen these on 1968 and 1969 model year GM 4x4's, but they were used only for a short time, until 1970. I've seen an all metal factory hub used on 67-68 1/2 tons as well, that are similar to external 3/4 ton I mention above, but this version is internal.
Remember that in 1968 the chevy emblem was red, and as metioned, I have seen these on 1969 model year GM 4x4's.....by which time they switched to using the BLUE emblem. I think the red 1/2 ton knobs were a carry over till it was finalized with all blue knobs in 1970.
1970 model year to 1972 is when GM used the BLUE Spicer knobs on both half tons and 3/4 tons...........IT WAS COLOR COORDINATED to match the BOWTIE emblem.......ever notice that???? This included GMC as well.
1973 model year to early 1977 model year 3/4 ton. GM switched to YELLOW to match their bowtie emblem.
1973-80 1/2 ton used the yellow spicer knobs as well, on trucks that came with conventional 4x4 systems ( NP205) With the 76 model year to 1979 model year only manual trans trucks came with NP205.....and those came with spicer hubs.
1977-1982 K30, K3500, the dana 60 spicer lockout was used until 82 model year after which GM switched to using WARN lockouts instead, or optional Automatic locking hubs for all 1/2 3/4 or 1 ton 4x4s.
GM never offered red external Spicer knobs on its trucks during the 1970's, that was a FORD thing. BUT SPICER was making these knobs for both auto manufacturers.
NOTE: Your RED knob you show with plain black center is a GM REPLACEMENT KNOB.......that is very rare. I have an NOS set both in GM boxes, with GM parts numbers on the inside of the knobs. I never understood why GM did this, assuming these were made in the 1980's because GM was still producing both BLUE and YELLOW knobs at that time. Its possible the GM red knob was a factory mix up and thus a low production run of these were made. I was buying NOS Yellow 3/4 ton knobs for 12.50 each in 2000, and with in 2 years from that time they were discontinued. In 2000 I was told that everything had been discontinued since 1986, except for the plastic knobs.
Either way these red GM ones are super rare compared to the blue and yellow ones.
I belong to an off road group here in Michigan called WEGOTMUD
www.wegotmud.com you can browse the site as a guest, go to the ( garage section ) and pasted near the the top you'll see chevynuts drivetrain guide, click on the SPICER HUB one and you'll see pics of the NOS red ones I have.