junkyard crawlin question

[K5dreamer]

so im gonna be going to the local junkyard to pick up a few small items for the truck, and while im there im gonna price out a few other "wish list" items. namely a D60 front and 14 bolt rear, is there a vin number i should look for? i only ask because in my experience cars and trucks at the junkyard tend to be axle deep in the dirt, and regular identification is a bit difficult. or should i just look for the 8 lug axles as the easiest way to identify them?

and i thought i saw someone say that 150 was the max someone should pay for even a junkyard 14 bolt. what kinda price should i be looking for for a junkyard D60 and 14 bolt?

 

[Stomis]

I doubt you'll find a d60... Yes dont pay more than $150 for a 14b. A d60 is probably worth $400-700 from the junkyard maybe more if they offer a warranty.

I'd say if you dont know how to identify a d60 front the easiest way would be to check the cover.

Heres your cover :

Now besides that the truck will have to be one ton. 3/4 tons are 8 lug and have a dana 44 front but be careful because they look very similar. The 44 is just smaller but it may throw you off if you dont have them next to each other to compare.

Another thing you could do it grab a 1/2 ton u bolt lying around. If the Ubolt doesnt fit over the axle tube than thats your 1ton d60 front because they require a bigger ubolt.

 

[K5dreamer]

hmmm.... think they would fall for the.... "ill take that 10 bolt axle off your hands for 75 bucks" routine if im pointing at a D60??????

that being said, im not really against the idea of a D44 8 lug axle. except that i hear they are a bit more annoying to swap over from a factory 10 bolt axle than the D60's. My truck isnt exactly a "serious" off road truck, it just see's trails and mud and occational rocks when i get time to go play. i just thought that the only 8 lug axles were 14b and D60. So if the D44 front axle out of a 3/4 ton truck is an 8 lug, would that also have a 14b rear? or is there a different 8 lug rear axle????

 

[muddermilitia]

when you are searching for the d60 front, some things to look for:
- 8-lug (obviously)
- steering arm is held on with 4 bolts not like the 3 bolt boomerang style of the 10-bolt and d44
- There are three u-bolts that hold the axle to the springs. The passenger side will have one u-bolt and either two bolts or two studs.
- The D60 will have kinpins rather than ball-joints (If you are looking at chevy d60s, as later model ford 60s went to ball joints)

 

[muddermilitia]

hmmm.... think they would fall for the.... "ill take that 10 bolt axle off your hands for 75 bucks" routine if im pointing at a D60??????

that being said, im not really against the idea of a D44 8 lug axle. except that i hear they are a bit more annoying to swap over from a factory 10 bolt axle than the D60's. My truck isnt exactly a "serious" off road truck, it just see's trails and mud and occational rocks when i get time to go play. i just thought that the only 8 lug axles were 14b and D60. So if the D44 front axle out of a 3/4 ton truck is an 8 lug, would that also have a 14b rear? or is there a different 8 lug rear axle????

Actually the d44 is an easy swap for a 10-bolt. FYI There are also 8-lug front 10-bolts. If the truck has a 8-lug axle in the rear, it should have a 14-bolt in the rear (unless its a dually then it could have a dana 70). But there were 14 bolt semi-floaters and full-floaters.

 

[K5dreamer]

AAACCKKKK!!!

im the victim of conflicting information.... fix me PLEASE!

ok all joking aside, if there are other 8 lug front axle options, then its pretty clear that with the off roading i plan on doing, and the setup of my rig, a D60 simply isnt necessary and i should leave that to the serious big boys.

So, im looking at either a 8 lug 10 bolt, or an 8 lug D44. I currently have six lug 10 bolts. Im guessing the D44 would be a more desirable option than a 10 bolt? and those are pretty easy to tell apart from the pumpkin cover.

how much should i expect to pay for the D44 or i guess maybe an 8 lug ten bolt... which i guess would be a direct bolt in.

Are there any major differences in the 8 lug ten bolt? or just the hubs?

 

[muddermilitia]

So, im looking at either a 8 lug 10 bolt, or an 8 lug D44. I currently have six lug 10 bolts. Im guessing the D44 would be a more desirable option than a 10 bolt? and those are pretty easy to tell apart from the pumpkin cover.

how much should i expect to pay for the D44 or i guess maybe an 8 lug ten bolt... which i guess would be a direct bolt in.

Are there any major differences in the 8 lug ten bolt? or just the hubs?

Strengthwise, the d44 and 10-bolt are pretty equal. They are probably worth around 200-250 I would guess. The only thing that can be swapped between the 10-bolt and d44 are the outers, brakes, hubs, steering arm, and the knuckles. Another option you have is to swap just the outers from the 8-lug front onto your current 10-bolt. I would do this if I knew my current 10-bolt was recently rebuilt or had a gear swap.

 

[K5dreamer]

yeah, the axles definatly havent been touched, all original. Ive got a guy who is looking for a strait trade of a early 12 bolt rear, for a disassembled FF 14 bolt, so im working that angle for the rear. i might be able to score a 12 bolt for cheap.

for the front, ill just keep my eyes peeled for a cheep 8 lug 10bolt or D44. thanks much for the help.