[BabyJsKustomAuto]

again, thanks for all the info you guys are great! I actually ended up just getting a rebuilt manual box through ym parts house and swapped it already. I can live with the manual steering, ive had a few manual steering cars in the past, this ones just a little tough cause of the e rated truck tires out front. a new box did make a difference though, i think part of my problem is my original was so worn it was binding a bit making the wheel even harder to turn that it shouldve been.

ive been keeping an eye out for those 12" gmc dog dishes, my truck came with 1 on it, so i know theyre out there. unfortunately they appear to be a dime a dozen in the 10" variety for half ton, cant find the 12" for less than like 300 a set!

mine is indeed a c3500 v-six as designated by the fender badge. im familiar with the dana 60, thats not the rear in this truck. maybe it was switched at some point, which may explain why nobody bothered to mount shock absorbers. This diff has like a round cover and housing (not squarish notchy like a d60) and removable front memeber like a ford 9." Its got full floating axles and judging by the housing size at least a 13 or 14" ring gear. did all gmcs come with dana rears in the 60s? if thats the case, this one is definitely not original...