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axle upgrade

wage92

wage92

1/2 ton status
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Nov 3, 2011
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Upstate New York
Alright, so i finally got around to taking the cover off my rear axle to confirm that they are 4.11s like the PO told me and low and behold they are 3.08s. Im pissed, but instead of re-gearing i figure it will be cheaper to just get new axles with the gears i want in them....thinking 4.11s or 4.56s because i will have no overdrive. So im no expert at what to look for here, it wil be going into a 78 k5 and i cannot afford a d60 nor will i need one, so i would like to keep it 3/4 ton, possibly even 14 bolt sf in rear so i dont need to buy new wheels. So keeping it 6 lug but wanting an upgrade, what are my options? and what should i look for?
 
Front axles in the 6 lug variety are Dana 44's and GM corp. 10 bolt.

Rears, you have the 10 bolts corp. rear, 12 bolt and 14 bolt semi floater. The 14 bolt semi floater is kinda rare in the 6 lug variety.

If you can let go of the 6 lug wheels and go to the 8's you can get a matched set from a 3/4 ton. GM corp. 10 and 14 Bolt full floater or D44 and 14Bolt FF.

4.10's in a 3/4 ton are pretty common.

These are the most common choices. 12 bolt is a dead axle housing and not that easy to find anymore either. Really not worth looking for either. Might as well go with one of the slightly heavier duty options.
 
if you want to change gear ratios, and upgrade strength..... changing your wheels out to 8 lug is your best way to go. i went to a dana 44 / 14ff, all 8 lug from a k20, and i've got 4.10's stock.

most 3/4 tons were eight lugs, most 3/4 tons had 4.10's or better.. best way to go
 
what are your goals too? you mention not having overdrive, but if you don't have an overdrive, then the 3.08's allow you go achieve highway speeds at a lower rpm. if you change your gear ratio to 4.10's, or 4.56's, it'll increase your rpms at highway speed a lot, probably 1000 or 1500 or so rpm, especially without o-d.
 
Tire size, whats your tire size.


I also agree with biting the bullet and going 8 lug. From someone who has walked this road before, there are no wheels in the world worth keeping 6 lug for. You are limiting your part selection and if a year down the road you decide you either need a 14bff or a dana 60 front you're a step behind.

Look at it this way. A 6 lug 14b semi floater is difficult to find, and generally more expensive than a stronger, more available 14b ff. With that money from buying an 8 lug rear you could buy your 8 lug wheels and 8 lug hubs for the front.
 
i use to run 44 front with 4.10 and 36 - 38" tsl swampers .

2 sets of ring/pinions later the next set come in the form of a dana 60 and no problems since. that was years ago. still running same 60 and it even has a 8ft and or 9ft fisher plow on the front in the winter time. :whistle:

first truck that axle was in was a 1/2 ton truck / 1ton swap / 400sbc / th350-205 / mud -trail truck and snow play . now in a true 1ton truck.
 
wow lots of info thanks guys. Maybe i should just bite the bullet and go 8 lug. I have 36" tires, and it wont see too much highway time, but some probably, going to be used for light wheeling and camping, hiking, etc. Guess i should start looking on craigslist!
 
What size rim? 15s? I think (may be wrong..) but the only 15" 8 lugs are the waggon wheel styles.... :dunno:
 
your 3.08's hurt you at the low speeds, and at takeoff with your 36's, but they DO allow to get up to 55-65 without the engine screaming.

3/4t 8 lugs will have plenty of strength to run 36's for your application. (you can prolly find a 3/4 ton 8 lug dana 44/14 bff with 4.10's cheaper then any dana 60 front axle)
 
wage92 said:
wow lots of info thanks guys. Maybe i should just bite the bullet and go 8 lug. I have 36" tires, and it wont see too much highway time, but some probably, going to be used for light wheeling and camping, hiking, etc. Guess i should start looking on craigslist!
Click to expand...

Craigslist is your friend for sure! :thumb:

I recently decided to start acquiring my parts for an axle upgrade on my K10 after reading up on all the suggestions here. I wished I could keep my old 6 lug rims since they were in pretty decent shape, but in the end it was a dead end / roadblock to the upgrade.

I am finding out over the course of this that the initial cost seems really high once you start pouring over all the little details and ways you can upgrade the D60 and 14FF. You can find axles on Craigslist pretty easily, or even find a junk K30 truck to get the parts from (easier if you live in rust country like me!). But I'd prefer to only do this ONCE, so investing up front makes the most sense and avoiding aggravation and repairs later on down the line when I am beating on my stuff sounds like a better plan.

In the end, I found my axles on CL for a pretty good deal, I am sure you could too.

Edit:
I just found this one for instance --

http://nwct.craigslist.org/pts/3218022561.html

I found it easiest to find the right parts by using "K30" in search keyword
 
Just bought a 14 bolt sf off craigslist for 200 bucks that is 6 lug. I'm planning on upgrading to 3.73's from the stock 3.07's in the twelve bolt. It's not the cheapest option, but I really like my ralley wheels.
 
Something else to keep in mind....it's tough to run 15" wheels on a Dana60 unless you change the calipers, grind the calipers down, or run wheel spacers....
 
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