D44/14b FF

[Romad1]

Guy wanted $400 for the set out of a 76 3/4 ton pickup. He said they had 3.73 gears in them. Told him i really didnt want 3.73 gears, asked if he would take $300, he said yep i just want them out of my garage. So i picked them up today, got them home and pulled the diff cover off the 14 bolt and read 1 GM 3977331 10 41 10 76 (76 being year of truck). So if math serves me corriect and divide 41 by 10 you get 4.1. Since it's a matching set and i saw the truck he took them off before he took them off Im going to go out on a limb and say the front is 4.1 as well. (i know i need to take the front diff cover off to be sure, but lets assume here)
So what route to would you take. Install the Front axle and just change out the Full Time hubs, or leave my original D44 on and change out backing plates/spindles and the 4.1 Ring and pinion.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

3977331...

My 14bff has 41 10 in the code, too.
But I believe it's a date code or something.

 

[sweetk30]

big pita to swap brake parts and reset up gears.

much faster to remove calipers and hang on the frame so you dont have to blead the brakes on the front. then drop drag link and 2 shocks and 4 ubolts.

then just bolt the new axle up in the truck.

 

[86chevyk10]

3977331...

My 14bff has 41 10 in the code, too.
But I believe it's a date code or something.

Nope, 4.10 gears, the 41 is ring gear teeth and 10 is pinion

 

[Romad1]

3977331...

My 14bff has 41 10 in the code, too.
But I believe it's a date code or something.

Isnt the last two sets of numbers i.e. 10 76 the month and year it was made?
and the 10 41 the pinion and ring gear? or am i way off base here.
O and that first set of numbers was 1 gm 3977334.

 

[sweetk30]

first # and next big batch #'s = gm part #'s

the next 2 = ratio divieded = 4.10

then last = date code range. 10th month of 1976

 

[Romad1]

 

[Romad1]

first # and next big batch #'s = gm part #'s

the next 2 = ratio divieded = 4.10

then last = date code range. 10th month of 1976

Thats what i thought...Thanks for the info

 

[86chevyk10]

first # and next big batch #'s = gm part #'s

the next 2 = ratio divieded = 4.10

then last = date code range. 10th month of 1976

You sir, are correct. I guess I should think before I type.