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New 14 bolt acquisition

Hubnut

Hubnut

1/2 ton status
Joined
Dec 21, 2008
Posts
323
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Location
Gainesville, FL
Well, I finally located a 14bff. I hope I did okay. I'm a rube you know. I paid $250. Opened it up and it has these numbers stamped on the ring gear: 3992484 11 41.73 GM2. I'm assuming 41/11 = 3.73:1 ratio. Right? Also, on the axle tube (right side on top) is stamped: TFDG 02 71. These dates are much older than the vehicle. What gives? Did I get the wrong thing? I'll take some photos and post later.
 
Here are some photos.

DSCN1763.jpg


DSCN1764.jpg


DSCN1765.jpg
 
Wouldn't go by that number for the year. Year will be on the ring gear, near where the teeth count it....
 
Hubnut said:
Well, I finally located a 14bff. I hope I did okay. I'm a rube you know. I paid $250. Opened it up and it has these numbers stamped on the ring gear: 3992484 11 41.73 GM2. I'm assuming 41/11 = 3.73:1 ratio. Right? Also, on the axle tube (right side on top) is stamped: TFDG 02 71. These dates are much older than the vehicle. What gives? Did I get the wrong thing? I'll take some photos and post later.
Click to expand...

It looks from the numbers on your gears that it's a 73
The 71 on the casting could be true too since they have parts made and put them in the bin and then assemble vehicles later so the axle should be older than the vehicle.
 
Hubnut said:
I'm assuming 41/11 = 3.73:1 ratio. Right?
Click to expand...

Correct.

$250 is high, but it looks like it is in pretty good shape.

BTW you're giving me major deja vue (sp?). When I was building my 14BFF, I had it up on the same jack stands dripping into the same drain pain....

Also those shock mounts look like they are from a C20. They hang very low. I have a '79 14BFF from a C20. I cut off the shock mounts and welded on new ones from Ruff Stuff.
 
According to the numbers on the gears it is a 3.73 ratio and a 1973. That axle is also from a 2WD (shocks mounts hang low). When ordering any parts for that axle just make sure they are for 1987 and earlier and you'll be good. 1988 used a larger pinion bearing on the inner bearing IIRC.
 
I'm assuming the bolt pattern is 8 on 6.5 inches? Also, another question. I got a quote from a local 4wd shop to install a Detroit Locker and 4.56 gears. They want $1200. Sounds reasonable to me. A friend is telling me NOT to put the detroit in it. He says they behave badly on the road. I do plan on driving this rig on the road. Lastly, I can get a Dana 44 for the front already set up with the correct gears (open diff) for $300. Should I pass and wait for a Dana 60? Trying to stretch my money (what little I have), but I want to make this a heavy duty, rugged trail rig.
 
They handle fine on the road. Can make some bad noises(I.E sounds like it gonna explode) not a big deal though. it's mechanical, just enggung and disengaging is all. You don't have any snow and ice down that way to worry about. That was the only trouble i had with mine.
 
Hubnut said:
I'm assuming the bolt pattern is 8 on 6.5 inches? Also, another question. I got a quote from a local 4wd shop to install a Detroit Locker and 4.56 gears. They want $1200. Sounds reasonable to me. A friend is telling me NOT to put the detroit in it. He says they behave badly on the road. I do plan on driving this rig on the road. Lastly, I can get a Dana 44 for the front already set up with the correct gears (open diff) for $300. Should I pass and wait for a Dana 60? Trying to stretch my money (what little I have), but I want to make this a heavy duty, rugged trail rig.
Click to expand...

$1200.00 is a little too much. A detroit is about $400.00, gears are about $200.00, install kit is about $125.00, labor to set up the gears is about $200.00 and to install the detroit they shouldn't even charge you but since nothing is free i would assume $50.00 is fair since the carrier will already be out and it's just a matter of seperating the two halves and removing the guts and installing the detroit. So with that said i would not pay more than $1000.00 with tax or very close to it.
 
Wow, I have never priced a detroit but that sounds way high to me. When you add that to the price of 44 front, you would have $1750 tied up in 3/4 ton axles. I would hold on to that $$ for a set of CUCV axles. Then you would have what you wanted for the same $$ but it would be a 60 instead of a 44.
 
and the 14ff he has would let him just unbolt and swap the cucv gears in to it so no pad/shock moving around.

and skip the detroit if you want beefy just weld the spiders up and be done with it. will be basicly the same on the street. and much cheeper.

could buy one of these also

pic 1 = mini drop in spool
pic 2 = full carrier spool.

14 ff carriers mini spool.jpg

14ff carriers full spool.jpg
 
Looks like you have a miller perfectly capable of welding it right there in the back ground. Do a little research, take it nice and slow, pre heat and you'll be good, Maybe i overread it but what size tire to you want to run?
 
If this is a DD or at least see's a fair amount of street driving do not weld the spiders unless you like to replace tires alot more often.
 
I'm thinking 36 to 38 swampers. I am going with the Dana 60. How about the rim size. I was thinking 16 inch. The detroits I priced were over $500, so it could be closer to a fair price. I can't do it and I want it set up correctly. I'll probably pay the man. Dana 60 is next. My plan is to shackle flip, use the wraptor system from DYI, get a Dana 60, slip yoke eliminator kit, and crossover steering. I am not a patient man, but lack of funds (liquidity) will force me to do this piecemeal. Should I go deeper with the gears 4.88 or 5.16 with 38 inch tires? Also, is 6 inch lift enough for 38s? New to the game and am trying to learn as I go. Thanks for the help.
 
Hubnut said:
slip yoke eliminator kit, Should I go deeper with the gears 4.88 or 5.16 with 38 inch tires? Also, is 6 inch lift enough for 38s? New to the game and am trying to learn as I go. Thanks for the help.
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what engine, tranny, transfer combo are you running now?
it will make a difference on what gears to run.
6 is enough if you are not afraid to cut the fenders.
 
350 TBI with original auto tranny. It's a 1991 GMC Jimmy. I forgot the nomenclature of the tranny 700R or equivalent?
 
stock or anything with 700r4 go as deep as you can get. 5.13 or 5.38

the big tires on deep gears will make the 700 run better and last longer and be able to use overdrive .

6" lift and cut fenders or 6" and 2-3 body lift or better option i like is 4" lift and 3" body lift . i have a friend who has run this for years and 38" swampers. tiny bit of trim on back corners. and the 1ton swap on 1/2 ton frame gets you around 1" lift over tiny o.e. axles.
 
I vote for 4" all suspension lift and 38" tires. That is what I am running. You just need to loose a little more fender. I am also running 4.88 gears. :cool:

A 14BFF Detroit is $415 at PORC. :deal:
 
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