What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

14 bolt bling, where is it?

sled_dog

sled_dog

1 ton status
Joined
Sep 3, 2002
Posts
16,867
Reaction score
3
Location
Austin, TX
I've spent.... a lot on my Dana 60 so far and have more to get yet, just made me think, in comparison my 14 bolt is plain jane nothing going on. Not saying I really just want to spend money, but it seems boring in comparison.

So who makes bling for the 14 bolts?

I mean I know there is the ARB, which is pretty sweet in itself.

And we all know about the plethora of badass diff covers.

Weld on Truss options.

But what else? Does anyone make chromo axleshafts for them anymore? Or how about new wheel hubs? I know there was a company making them out of aluminum with the option of 5 or 6 lug patterns, but forget who that was. Just curious how I could in the future make the 14 bolt as sweet as the 60....

Or I could look at building a rear high pinion 60 with 40 spline ARB.... ahh the possibilities. I love this **** way too much.
 
sled_dog said:
Or I could look at building a rear high pinion 60 with 40 spline ARB.... ahh the possibilities. I love this **** way too much.
Click to expand...

You could do that if you like blowing up ring and pinion all the time :whistle:
 
I have difficulty using "bling" and "14bff" in the same sentence. They're just a big, ugly, center-dragging gut-buster of an axle. Until the ARB came out last year, the only traction option was the Detroit ... simple, big, stupid. (All good attributes IMHO, btw!)

I hate to say it, but yeah, if you want sexy, a rear D60 would be a better route.

Now if I could get manual hubs for a *rear* D60 for flat-towing my K5...

-- A
 
I'd go 9 inch before I put a D60 in the rear of a vehicle. Well, a full floating 9 inch. At least 35 spline axles, truss, shaved etc.
 
no chromo's

Read a thread on Pirate about chromo shafts for the 14FF. No one makes chromoly axle shafts for the 14 bolt. Duchman makes some replacements that are made of a higher strength. Guys can go 8 years hammering on there junk before they snap an axle shaft. 14 bolt is good to go as is IMO. Put some disc brakes on, shave the bottom and put a good cover on it and maybe a pinion guard. Rear 60 would be more sexy but not nearly as strong in a full size.
 
ryan22re said:
I'd go 9 inch before I put a D60 in the rear of a vehicle. Well, a full floating 9 inch. At least 35 spline axles, truss, shaved etc.
Click to expand...

If clearance is what you need, sure. 9 in has a pinion support bearing just like the 14 bolt which gives you better control on pinion head deflection but in heavy rigs with 40 inch plus tires you run the chance of breaking the ring gear in a 9 in.
 
79chevyk10 said:
If clearance is what you need, sure. 9 in has a pinion support bearing just like the 14 bolt which gives you better control on pinion head deflection but in heavy rigs with 40 inch plus tires you run the chance of breaking the ring gear in a 9 in.
Click to expand...

The ring and pinion on a 9" is significantly stronger than that on a 60. Check out here if you don't believe me:

http://www.truehi9.com/gears2.html
 
38377k5 said:
The ring and pinion on a 9" is significantly stronger than that on a 60. Check out here if you don't believe me:

http://www.truehi9.com/gears2.html
Click to expand...

didn't mean to imply that a 60 was stronger. I believe that a well build 9 is stronger. I'm talking about a 9 not being stronger than a 14 bolt. From my readings a hi-9 in a rear application can be prone to breakage in a heavy rig on 40 plus tires. I know many comp buggies (i.e. light wieght) are having great success with the hi-9's. I feel that a shaved 14 bolt is the only way to go in a 5500# plus rig.
 
Nope. Actually the 9 inch has more tooth contact than a dana 60.

Check link:

http://www.truehi9.com/gears2.html

I know it's for the high pinion stuff, but first pic really tells the difference. 9 inch pinion (4.88) looks as big as a 4.10 dana 80.
 
79chevyk10 said:
didn't mean to imply that a 60 was stronger. I believe that a well build 9 is stronger. I'm talking about a 9 not being stronger than a 14 bolt. From my readings a hi-9 in a rear application can be prone to breakage in a heavy rig on 40 plus tires. I know many comp buggies (i.e. light wieght) are having great success with the hi-9's. I feel that a shaved 14 bolt is the only way to go in a 5500# plus rig.
Click to expand...

Well, again, that's because using a HP diff in the rear is a bad idea. LP 9" gears in the rear end are very strong, just not as strong as a 14 bolt.
 
yeah I kind of put the idea of a FF9" out of my mind. Could be a good way to go someday.

For now I am going to be as "big and dumb" as it gets and run a Lincoln-Locked 14 bolt. Haha
 
At one point, Sandy Cone had 47 spline shafts and spools available for the 14ff, but I can't find any info on it now. That setup would probably break the bank though.

And I did like the truss that was on the 14ff that one of the 4x rags put into that suburban desert truck.
 
big and dumb gets you home, bling doesn't. I have been hammering on my 14 bolt for years and it shows no sign of wear. the splines on the axle are straight, there is no metal in the gear oil and the tubes are not bending.

some things just work and need no improvement. get your truck on the trail already and stop worrying about what you might need. I'm gonna chase you through every thread until I see this truck off road. :D
 
sled_dog said:
I'
Or how about new wheel hubs? I know there was a company making them out of aluminum with the option of 5 or 6 lug patterns, but forget who that was. Just curious how I could in the future make the 14 bolt as sweet as the 60....
Click to expand...

Ok who made or makes 6 lug wheel hubs for a 14 bolt....Like I need to buy more parts
George
 
79chevyk10 said:
Read a thread on Pirate about chromo shafts for the 14FF. No one makes chromoly axle shafts for the 14 bolt. Duchman makes some replacements that are made of a higher strength. Guys can go 8 years hammering on there junk before they snap an axle shaft. 14 bolt is good to go as is IMO. Put some disc brakes on, shave the bottom and put a good cover on it and maybe a pinion guard. Rear 60 would be more sexy but not nearly as strong in a full size.
Click to expand...

good common sense post! I like it!

14 bolt is cheap, strong, and with a few mods,a wicked rear diff

the dana 70U is the ultimate diff, with its egg shape bottom
 
So you want bling for your 14FF?

Easy.

Chrome diff cover.
 
chevyguybc said:
good common sense post! I like it!

14 bolt is cheap, strong, and with a few mods,a wicked rear diff

the dana 70U is the ultimate diff, with its egg shape bottom
Click to expand...

I wouldn't go as far as to say the 70U is the ultimate diff and I wouldn't say its clearance is any better than my (or most other) shaved 14 bolt. The deal is tha that, in stock form, the 70U has better clearance than a stock 14 bolt. Its not like its hard to cut/grind the lip off of a 14 bolt, that sure as hell shouldn't make or break your decision between a 14 bolt or a 70.

IMO, the only reason to go with a 70 is if you need deeper gears than 5.38. Otherwise, the 14 bolt is a better choice in basically every aspect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom