Shaved 14bff

[76zimmer]

Having read some threads about shaving the 14....how much is needed to be left to keep it durable for bashing into rocks without breaking the casting?
Has anybody had a bad experience with that?

 

[MuddinManny]

Having read some threads about shaving the 14....how much is needed to be left to keep it durable for bashing into rocks without breaking the casting?
Has anybody had a bad experience with that?

It's that exact issue that keep me from even attempting to shave off 1/2". Even if I was to get an inch, I just don't see it makin' a big difference in the MUD. Now with rocks, you may have an argument, but when you take away from strength, you increase weakness. I've heard everyone's arguments, but if you're gonna get stuck, your stuck. 1/2" isn't gonna make it or break it/do it in my eyes. The risk of damaging the axle beyond repair is too great. JMHO, and I know that this is going to spark an argument. Guys, we're just gonna hafta agree to disagree, respectively.

But then again, my 14Bolt has almost 13" clearance under her at the lip. That's more than most folks. I acknowledge that.

Manny

 

[readymix]

I cut the lip off of mine and then smoothed the whole bottom out. No problems from mine at all.

 

[76zimmer]

I cut the lip off of mine and then smoothed the whole bottom out. No problems from mine at all.

Have you had any serious encounters with something solid, hitting the bottom of the housing?

 

[FOR MUD]

I have a 70HD and I left a 1/4" thick at the thinest place. So far no issues.

 

[txfiremank5]

I agree with manny. Yes clearanc is nice, but how often is that little bit going to make a difference? On mine I did shave.. but only slightly. I took mine down to where it meets the stock covers edge. But I think I had a bit more than most 14's. I have one of the later models that has all the extra webbing on the diff.

 

[readymix]

Have you had any serious encounters with something solid, hitting the bottom of the housing?

I smacked it on a few rocks pretty hard. All it did was scrape off a little paint.

 

[76zimmer]

I smacked it on a few rocks pretty hard. All it did was scrape off a little paint.

Excellent, thanks....good ole cast iron. Detroits wondermetal

 

[Chaddy]

I cut the lip off of mine and then smoothed the whole bottom out. No problems from mine at all.

X2.

 

[GM Man]

I cut the lip of mine as well, and it has hit its fair share of rocks with no damage. You'll be fine with the lip gone.

 

[Leper]

IMO its not the amount that you remove, it is the way you angle it to make it a smoother transition than the 90 degree lip. All you really need to do is grind down the leading edge until the lip looks like a ramp. If there is no transition "step" the diff will slide over stuff.