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14 Bolt Front

dhcomp

dhcomp

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http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/pts/2246961846.html

I remember someone on here building a custom 14bolt Front...wonder if this is it.

Or...what the story behind this is:

14 Bolt Front Axle Housing - $1275 (san carlos)

Date: 2011-03-04, 10:30AM PST
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]

GM 14 Bolt front axle housing, drivers side drop; New (not cut and spliced) 3.5x .50 wall tubes machined for stock Dana60 inner seals, Solid Axle king pin inner C’s. 15 deg pinion angle at 5 deg caster.
$1275 plus core charge
Have one but I can fab more with choice of inner C’s (Solid Axle, or Reid) for the same price.
A shave kit can also be added. ($275 plus parts for the housing work, $125 to turn down ring gear) 650-814-7430

 
I saw that guys build thread the other day on pirate. i cant remember his user name now but i thought that was pretty slick. he also had/has a Dana 70 he did the same thing to
 
Idano, seems kinda silly to me. The CK5 guy that did it really just did it to be different.

Yes, it would be strong....but the 14ff housing is a boat anchor. And no real benefit over a D60.
 
unless the idea was you could get a 14b for $100 and do it. but i wouldnt go out of my wayto buy one just cuz.
 
Smokinthehippies said:
unless the idea was you could get a 14b for $100 and do it. but i wouldnt go out of my wayto buy one just cuz.
Click to expand...


You could start with a housing for 100....but i REALLY doubt you could make the rest of the custom modifications for less than a D60.
 
Back when I worked for a machine shop (not won't be named) we did these. It really was a novelty item more than anything. Sure, R/P are big, 3 bearing pinion support, etc etc etc, came complete as a huge obstacle in the front. I considered doing one in my Blazer, but opted for a cut and turned 60 instead (wish I had it)

It's good to be different, but you have to ask yourself what you are REALLY gaining when you do it? We did a few, one lived under a CJ8 for years (prb still under there) on 44's. At the end of the day, most everybody was running Rocks or D60/14 bolt instead.

KP
 
i was thinking about these today and the most usefull thing i could see them for is goin in something with rear steer. but still it would prolly be cheaper to just buy 2 dana 60's.

i know the 14bolt axle shalfs are pretty big would they be smaller when you make it a steering axle.
 
Pointless now considering they make those kits to fit dana 70 gears in a 60 case.

I could see it with a serious balistics shave kit on it though.
 
If you need a custom front housing I certainly see a need for these.

With the 70 gears in the 60 you still are stuck with pinion angles etc. Unless you have already done that to your 60.

Its certainly a small group but I have seen broken R&P alot on guys running full size rigs with 46" and bigger tires. Some don't want to go to rocks or a custom 70 front end.

The 14 bolt is great in and of the fact of that pinion support.

Shaving adds ground clearance without affecting strength
 
What Blazinzuk said. Plus you guys are all talking GM Dana 60's for a price comparison. Go buy a 78-79 ford HP Dana 60. A decent one sells stock for around $1k plus shipping, and goes up from there for bling. I believe one of these could be built for less than I have into my Ford 60 to start with. Axle was $1200 to my door plus new gears, install kit and a Detroit. The gears and locker are cheaper for the 14 bolt, plus you get more strength. Let alone the ease of set up and a pinion guard option. I would have done it 3 years ago if I had the choice between the two.
 
78Buford has sold many '78-'79 Ford HP60's including 3 just a year or so ago. They were used, but complete and in good shape, and one even had a Detroit locker in it. I don't remember exactly but he got less than $1k even for the one with the Detroit and that was putting them on eBay, Craigs list, and several off-road bulletin boards.

I suppose a 14-bolt front could have a purpose if somebody was regularly breaking the gears. It's just that you don't hear of many people breaking front D60 ring and pinions, especially the Ford high pinion versions.

For price comparison of a customer 14-bolt front vs. D60, I guess it really depends on how much you can yourself. Somebody who spends almost $1,300 for a bare housing obviously isn't going to be saving any money, but if you can buy a rear for $100 and do all of the machine work yourself it might be a wash...but i doubt it would be cheaper by the time you buy the inner C's and all the outer stuff, custom inner shafts, etc...
 
I would only buy/build one of these if I was putting together a diesel pulling truck... lots of parts easily available and more than strong enough to go in a straight line with all kinds of hp/torque

Now the practicality of one of these for an off road rig is another story. I mean think about the lack of ground clearance you'd have even after you shave the diff (front and rear)!
 
Ian did one on extreme 4x4 last year...It was an impediment to off roading. He kept geeting hung up on rocks with that 'dozer blade size diff. I can imagine how much fun it would be in the mud....


IMO, with anything less than 44's, it would be more trouble than it's worth. Not to mention the $$$ involved...1200$ for a HOUSING?!?!?!?:haha::haha:
 
owenst7 said:
Everything above, plus how easy it is to put a 70 R&P in a 60 housing...I don't see the 70 stuff being an issue until you're well in to Rockwell territory.
Click to expand...

The 70 gears aren't *that* much better than D60 gears, they use the same size pinion shaft (and share a 29 spline yoke). Yes, bigger ring gear and better gear contact, but not a gear set that is WAY stronger.

The 14 bolt has the edge there for sure, but as mentioned, you need to get some really strong shafts and joints to start breaking ring and pinions on a front D60 (if they are setup right).
 
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