Bought a 14-bolt today, what have I gotta do to run it?

[Kevin108]

It was under the truck still in the snow in a mud puddle...so I wasn't ready to whip out the measuring tape or anything.  It's coming off a 79 1-ton 2WD 2+2 and I want to put it under my 87 ½-ton 4x4.  The 1-ton springs are what, 4" longer?  What about the spring perches, do I have to move those?  Other than a new yoke will the driveshaft need to be longer/shorter?  Any other surprises I can expect to look forward to?

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
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Maker of 43 point turns!

[73K20]

The springs on a one ton are longer than half ton, but you dont need to change then if you dont want to.  The one ton 14 bolt will have narrower spring perches, I think 3" narrower but you will have to measure.  To get around this you can either move the perches or change to one ton spring hangers.  If you plan to use the one ton springs you will need to relocate the rear hanger at least, so you are already half way to changing the hangers.  Also you will need to get a different universal.  Most autoparts stores sell conversion u-joints that will mate a one ton axle to a half ton drive shaft.

**EDIT**

Here are some part numbers for conversion u-joints:

Napa:  348 or 447

and

Spicer: 5-460X

the spicer is a possibility but not certain.  

1973 K20 - 350/350/205

Edited by: 73K20 at: 1/21/03 10:40:44 am

[Kevin108]

Man I really appreciate the info!  Doesn't sound too bad of a job at all.  My current axle is still fine so I'm not in a hurry yet.  What started this was I blew up my spiders last week (fortunately I had a spare set) and I refuse to put money into a half-ton axle.  I made a post about it on another board and a buddy found me a $100 14-bolt...score!  I haven't opened it up yet but for that price no matter what I end up doing to it I'll be ahead.

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
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Maker of 43 point turns!

[79GMC4x4]

Kevin, here is your chance to weld on new pads, and change the angle to give you a better driveshaft angle.

'79 GMC shortbed 454 th400 14 bolt FF NP205 Dana 60

[Kevin108]

I've only got a 4" lift, the angles aren't bad at all really, but I've been thinking about it!

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
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Maker of 43 point turns!

[Kevin108]

Well I guess the next question is...how do I tell a gov-lok apart from an open diff?  Will the pinion gear come out of the front of the housing through the 6-bolt flange?

Everything looks pretty good from above not having pulled the carrier.  The ring gear had these numbers at different places:

141
20
3877842

They mean anything?

Pics at community.webshots.com/al...3062NIGNDR

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
My Mods | Truck Pics | Kevin108@PavementSucks.com
Maker of 43 point turns!

[Eric 85K10]

You've gotta give it to me cause you can't use it... lol j/k

What about 8 lug wheels?
Are you going to get a 3/4+ axle up front?

[Kevin108]

I'll probably wind up w/ different rims up front unless they make 8-lug axles for the 10-bolt.  A Dana 60 is gonna be hard to come by/expensive to put together...  It's an eventual plan but for right now I'm just gonna concentrate on getting that 14-bolt in and as soon as Powertrax warranties my Lock-Wrong and Randy's R&P credits me my $250 for it, I'm gonna put that toward a Detroit.

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
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Maker of 43 point turns!

[73K20]

10 bolt front axles came with eight lugs.  You can get one from a 79-87 3/4 ton pickup.  You can also stick a D44 up there too.  I would assume that you have 4.10's in the 14 bolt so you should have no problem picking up a 10 bolt or D44 with 4.10's pretty cheap.  Most 3/4 ton trucks came with 4.10's so there should be quite a few of them out there.

1973 K20 - 350/350/205

[Kevin108]

*EDIT*

I misunderstood your post the first time around.  Done a little more research and re-read the post, I'm with you now.  To switch to 8-lugs up front all I need to do is source 8-lug rotors, 3/4 spindles, 3/4 bearings and races.  The D44 really isn't any stronger than what I have now so rather than spend the money on another axle plus the time finding and swapping it, I'm gonna try to just convert the 10-bolt that's in there now.  4.11s for the 10-bolt from Randy's are $170 so that's not too bad...

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
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Maker of 43 point turns!

Edited by: Kevin108 at: 1/26/03 9:39:18 pm

[Eric 85K10]

that sounds cool kevin... sooo.... what are you gonna do with your 6lug 15x10 rims?  

[Kevin108]

They're 15x8s but I want to get rid of them!  I'm sure you've seen the pics, they're polished aluminum...  They're probably in great shape because all the dirt on them never lets anything scratch them or the road salt oxidize the surface.  I'd love to sell them and get a set of white wagon wheels to be honest.  You interested in them?  It costs about $60 to ship 4 rims.

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
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Maker of 43 point turns!

[73K20]

Ehhh, are you planning to install the gears yourself?  If so ok, but otherwise your going to be putting about 100-200 bucks into a gear swap for labor alone.  This now adds up to 270-370 bucks.  i would say that you should be able to pick up a new front axle for about 200.  Also as a note, all D44 and 10 bolt front axles are the same from the knuckle out.  So you should be able to swap out knuckles meaning that you dont have to deal with hubs bearings and such.  Just press in new ball joints and install.

1973 K20 - 350/350/205

[Kevin108]

Doesn't make sense to swap in a D44 for a 10-bolt though, the 10-bolt's stronger.  It's better to just swap over what you need.  And a D60 is way more than $200 and that's the only thing I'd ever bother swapping up front.  Until I score one of those, gears it is.

87 Silverado 4x4 Longbed Pickup
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Maker of 43 point turns!

[73K20]

I know that this isnt the point of this thread, but how is exactly that you figure a 10 bolt is stronger than a D44.  If anything they are equal or a bit of an edge to the D44.  I agree that a D60 is alot more than $200, but that's not what i was suggesting.  All i was saying was that if you found an eight lug D44 or 10 bolt that either would work.  I guess that i have just heard too many horror stories about 10 bolts to tell anyone that it is ok to put one dime into one.  Sorry, JMO .

1973 K20 - 350/350/205