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 FF ID and parts

CharlieC

CharlieC

1/2 ton status
 Premium
Joined
May 28, 2007
Posts
143
Reaction score
71
Location
Flower Mound, TX
My suspension and axle swap is wearing me out... If there’s a pair of something, one of them will be a pain in the azz for some reason, the front D44 was pretty painless, one and done in a day. Pulled the drums today on the 14B, one side no problem. Pull the other side and it is the dirtiest/greasiest nasty mess you’ve ever seen. I’ve been all over town trying to collect parts and am down to needing two items;
- Rear axle seal. Mine measure OD of 3.86, O’Reilly was only the place to have any but it measures 3.93 or something like that, no way that’s going on.
- Wheel cylinders. Every time I try to buy something for the rear brakes, it comes with the smaller brake line size used on 1/2 ton.

1. Is there a website that knows what a 1 ton 14 bolt is and have a better chance of getting the right parts?
2. Is there some stamping/casting somewhere on the axle that specifies what it is specifically? I’ve been using ‘80 C30/K30 as my reference.

Thanks
Charlie
 
You may need a sleeve and seal kit for the side that had a blown seal. There is a Chcago/Rawhide number of 28446 for the seal kit. Try using a later year like 1987 for parts look-up. The possibility of your 14-Bolt being as old as a 1980 is not likely. Pirate 4X4.com has a tech article called the "14-Bolt Bible" that has every detail about 14-Bolts specs you could ask for. Hopefully you do not have the 1985 to 86 model IIRC 14-Bolt. Those where a bit of an odd-ball diff.
 
I’ve been reading the BillaVista info since I posted…

I don’t have the additional fins that the newer models have, have the hub attached drum (not the slide on) and I do not have the pinion carrier/ bearing support I see on many (This part worries me). It also has 4 support ribs. I think it’s a 1 ton as to where the perches were, but not sure.

This site shows the 3 different style of axles, the 4 ribs is definitely an older axle.

Drivetrain link

The seal kit you referenced, found the specs here…KSC Direct. It lists it as 3.94 OD also, too big.

Charlie
 
Last edited:
If you don’t have the removable pinion support then you do not have a 1 ton 14 bolt.

Post GOOD pics of the rear cover, the 4 ribs you mentioned and of the pinion snout. Number of bolts on the cover?

No removable pinion support sounds like a Dana axle.
 
Well, this is pretty damn embarrassing…. I bought these so long ago, I forgot what I bought. Given the 8 lug big as drums and seeing FF hubs, I just assumed it was a 14 bolt. When you count the diff bolts it’s 10. There are 2 ribs on the pax side. I assumed 2 on the other…not, there’s 3.

What the hell do I have?
153EAA38-CA70-414E-A4E3-CDA562712BA5.jpeg
5C6FF603-6A2B-45C8-8418-EDF50C0AA046.jpeg
B3A58A43-B964-497C-B728-9BF0C40203EA.jpeg9
 
I guess it makes sense now… I have a pair of D44’s. I guess I didn’t know there was such a thing as a rear D44.

Might make the parts search easier.

Charlie
 
You have a rear Dana 60. You can see “60” cast in the lower right side webbing. This axle is not from a square body.

There should be a “Bill Of Material” number stamped in to the rear face of the passenger side axle tube. This number can be decoded to find it’s original application.
 
I’ve seen several blazers with a 60 in the rear. Some even looked factory, but never got to see a cheat sheet to prove it
 
you could get a lot lower ratio than a 12 bolt. and I truly don't know if a 60 would be better than a 12 bolt? I am assuming that you could beef up the 60
 
Thanks for the comments. I bought these as essentially a cheaper way to get a gear swap done front/rear vs gear swapping the stockers and thought I'd upgrade the housings as well. I didn't have a particular combo in mind, so long as the gearing matched (4:11). It won't live a tough life, so it should serve it's intended purpose just fine, assuming they work. The guy I bought 'em from owned a custom 4x4 fab shop and swore they were good. ;) Had too many things going in life to get to this project after buying them...

Doing some reading on the Dana 60... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_60 shows applications on:

Chevrolet (Rear)
  • 1964–1977 Chevrolet and GMC 3/4-ton pickups
  • 1975–1987 Chevrolet and GMC 1-ton pickups and Suburbans
I seem to remember the guy I bought them from, commenting on the axles came out of something early 70's. We'll see...

Had to come to a work thing in Vegas for a few days, I'll post up what I find on the axle when I get back.

Thanks
Charlie
 
Last edited:
looking at that axle builder graphic, that shows a front axle, given the tube reference. Even assuming it’s the same on the rear, I don’t see any stamping on the axle tubes, though I do see the “60” cast in the case as was pointed out.

I found this reference —> https://lugnut4x4.com/how-to/which-dana-60-do-i-have/ and going off of this, I have 7 bolt backing plates, so likely GM.

This site —> https://www.qualitygear.com/lightdutyparts/dana60.php shows Dana 60’s in
  • Chevrolet
  • 1964-1977 Chevrolet and GMC 3/4-ton pickups
  • 1975-1987 Chevrolet and GMC 1-ton pickups and Suburbans
  • 1979-1991 Chevrolet and GMC 1-ton vans
  • 2001-2010 Chevrolet and GMC 1-ton vans (Uncommon)
Given my D44 has the externally geared hubs and with above, if I assume they came off the same vehicle, isn’t early 70’s Chevy/GMC most likely?

Charlie
 
Only dana rear used in square body trucks was dana 70HD for DRW pickup trucks with the fender flairs . So your rear axle is from another vintage or brand .
 
That rear 60 MIGHT have come from a van but it did NOT come in a square body truck of any body type.

You simply cannot apply front 60 info to that rear axle. Check again for the BOM, passenger side tube rear face. It’s small (maybe 3/8” characters) and stamped in, not raised.
 
Pulled the rear diff cover today and found the ratio tag behind the bracket that hold the brake line “T”. 4:10 and saw somewhere else “1971“ stamped.

what do these numbers indicate?

42A71A0D-1489-4697-B739-582EE2CAD30C.jpegB18A508A-2E04-4955-A90B-039B18CB156F.jpeg

Charlie
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom