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76 half ton axles-questions

bluecollarjock

bluecollarjock

1/2 ton status
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Location
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Hi,
Someone is selling their axles from a 1976 half ton shortbed. They claim they are both Dana 44s? Or is it probably a Dana 44 front and a 12 bolt rear? They also claim to have the reciepts to show that they were regeared to 4.56 a year ago, with a Detroit in the rear, and ARB in the front. They are asking an arm and a leg. I didnt even see pictures yet and wont go to see them unless the pictures look good, and it seems like he will bargain.

By chance, if they were just rebuilt and regeared, with a Detroit in the back and ARB up front, with compressor and all needed parts for install, what would be a steal of a price to try to get them for?

Im running stock 10 bolts right now on an 87 GMC, with what the glovebox says is 3.08s, but Im actually surprised it feels pretty damn peppy for 3.08s and 33s, with an engine that has 170k miles on it....trouble is my rig has passed so many hands, have no idea if the engine or tranny have ever been rebuilt, but yea feels like a damn solid running truck for 170k miles hah. Been trying to find a SF 14 Bolt 6 lug to swap in since the rims/tires are bling and new, and I really dont have a budget for a D60/14FF, install costs, tires and rims. So just came across these axles and thought might be worth a shot if they were let go cheap, better gearing and lockers both ends (although I might be hesitant to lock up the ARB up front after reading too many posts on here and Pirate saying a locked 44 or 10 bolt is a no no up front?).

Would the spring perches and shock mounts on a 76 be a direct bolt in for the 87?

Thanks for all suggestions and input.
 
I'd ask the seller to pop the cover when you get there, or send you pics of the gear numbers and proof of lockers.
 
The stock rear axle was likely a 12-bolt. Never seen a D44 rear axle in a Chevy pickup at least from the '70's on up.

I'm sure the guy did spend a fortune rebuilding those axles if they do have those compenents, especially if he paid somebody to do the work. However that doesn't mean they are worth anywhere near that price either. While those axles have high quality parts in them, it all comes down to whether you want 1/2 ton axles or not.
 
Thanks guys...well the pictures that were sent to me, make me suspicious...doesnt look as if they were rebuilt a year ago, and only have 150 miles on them...but I did respond asking if they were old pictures of the axles before the rebuild.

I just thought if I got them for a steal, it would be an upgrade in gearing and having lockers. Right now if the glovebox is right and no previous owner changed the gears, Im looking at 3.08s, with the gov bomb in the rear and open in the front. Would be nice to have better gearing and some reliable posi or locker. 1 tons isnt in the budget, so will have to bide my time until i have that kind of money to do a swap and get new tires and wheels, or find some cheap bolt in 6 lugs with better gearing and/or traction devices.

axle2.JPG
 
You can completely rebuild the internals of an axle but you can't see anything from the outside unless they also bothered to clean and paint them.
 
Copy that. I guess I just assumed if someone was going to dump a couple grand into regearing and locking axles, they wouldve cleaned them up a bit and painted them (at least cleaned them!).
 
ARB air lockers in Dana44 fronts are no-no's. Waste of money unless the vehicle is really lightweight jeep or something. But, yea, most guys clean up the housing and paint it when they spend a huge amount of money on an axle rebuild/modification. An ARB with compressor is $1000 alone. The 12-bolt Detroit locker is well over $500. Add in the gears, master install kits and labor and you're looking at at least another $1500. So, roughly a $3000 buildup on two weak half ton axles that 'might' be able to handle 35" tires on a fullsize Chevy. In my opinion a 'steal' would be getting those axles for $2500 or less assuming all parts and labor are absolutely verified which includes reciepts,popping the covers off and inspecting the insides yourself with ID information sourced from Detroit,ARB and the manufacturer of the gears on how to identify their products..........and talking to the person who did the work. If it were me, I'd pass altogether because you have much cheaper options to get you by until you can afford a 1-ton swap. Plus, the mere fact that the guy told you they were both "Dana44's" shows that he has no idea what he has or that he is lying. Who spends over $3000 on a pair of axles and doesn't know what they're paying to have rebuilt? The pictures show average-condition-looking axles, under an average looking truck with small all-terrain tires. Red Flags all over the place!

- 6-lug 14BSF rear swap
The 6-lug 14BSF rear typically came with 3.73 gears stock. If you think
your truck is peppy now then it will definetly get a little better with 3.73
gears. you would have to hunt down a front D44 or 10-bolt with 3.73
gears. A drop-in posi like a Trac-Lok is easy to install and will give you
better traction at a reasonable price. Much cheaper and more realistic
than the ARB/Detroit equipped D44/12-bolt. You will have to move the
spring perches on the 6-lug 14BSF to fit your pickup,but other than that
the swap is easy as pie. You can do all of this for well under $1000.

- D44HD/14BFF swap
From 1973-1976/77 Chevy 3/4 ton trucks came with an 8-lug Dana44
front with a matched 14-Bolt Full Floater rear axle, many of which
came with 4.10 gears stock. The spring perch width is a direct match
to your pickup's. Aside from a couple minor differences in brake line
fittings and brake backing plate E-brake differences this is a simple
swap. You would have to use 8-lug wheels and get new tires, which
you said you don't want to do,but, you can sell the wheels and tires
you have now. 8-lug steel wheels can be had very cheap and it is
inexpensive to have a set of wheels sandblasted and powdercoated
(gloss black,for example). You can find these axles for around $400 a
pair in good condition and a set of used steel wheels could be had for
anywhere from free to $100 and sandblasting/powdercoating them
would run about another $100, if that.

I like this option best because the 14BFF rear axle may be under a "3/4 ton" truck, but it is a super-strong 1-ton axle. You will not have to find a rear axle to replace it later. When you're ready, you will only need to find the 1-ton Dana60 front to match it , then re-gear/lock both of them to suit your desires.

- 10-boltHD/14BSF swap
From approximately 1981-87 Chevy 3/4 ton pickups and '81-91 3/4 ton
Suburbans had 8-lug 10-bolt front axles an a 14-bolt semi-float rear
axle. The spring perch width is a direct bolt-in under your pickup and
the brake line fitting are all compatible as well. These axles also came
with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears stock. You'll still need to sell your
current wheels and tires and buy different ones,but the cost
comparison isn't bad
 
In the immediate future, I think Id roughly like to spend no more than $1500...but that includes I still need to get all the fluids changed (diffs, tranny, t-case), and the steering slop fixed (draglink and tie rod ends??). So whatever is left after that I could play with shopping for an axle or pair of axles. If not it will just let me tinker with any other small issues that come up. The A/C isnt blowing cold, but I dont want to sink money into that because Im fine with the windows open all the time, maybe in the future financially things pick up I can deal with that but not now. No matter what I do if I keep the front axle it probably needs a set of manual locking hubs, still has the stock autos and Ive had them fail on my first K5 at the worst time...would hate to just be learning to wheel in CA and get stuck with 2wd ugh...
 
I would never pay more than $500 for a set of half ton axles. I just bought a 3/4 ton pickup for $200. A 12 bolt, Dana 44 isn't much of an improvement over two ten bolts. Even a 14 bolt semi floater is kind of a joke.

Martin
 
Well Im passing on these axles. I will keep looking for a SF 14 though if the price is right. Im doing things on the cheap, so although most people would say 1 ton is the only way to go, if I dont have the money I just dont have the money....and I do not anticipate wheeling hard hard hard core snapping things a ton, as this is my DD. If the right SF pops up affordably, I can keep my wheels, and get somewhat up a strength/gearing upgrade I will be happy for now.
 
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