What front axle is this?
 

Sorry for my ignorance, I just started doing some work on my farm truck and noticed it has a different style front end than I'm normally used to seeing. It has a what I can only think to describe as a closed knuckle.
What type of axle is this, and what years did it come in?
sorry for the poor picture its really dark out today

Re: What front axle is this?
 

dana 44 i think they stopped using the closed knuckles in 70. i would lose the front lift blocks though cause they'e dangerous

Re: What front axle is this?
 

Yea I know those things are about to be removed, its just a farm truck right now, bought it like that, they're tube channels not even blocks lol

Re: What front axle is this?
 

Are parts for these harder to come by, if so should i just do an axle swap?

Re: What front axle is this?
 

from my understanding closed knuckle parts are harder to find because not many people use them.

Re: What front axle is this?
 

It's a closed knuckle drum brake dana 44 like my 68 had. You can bolt in any dana 44 or corp 10 bolt from any 1/2 or 3/4 ton chevy...

Then you open up a can of worms with disc brake conversion (prop valve, MC etc..) to include power steering swap but it would be worth it. Find a newer 71 and up chevy and take all the parts needed...

Or if it works fine then run what you got too...

Re: What front axle is this?
 

after sitting for three years the truck fired up like nothing, gotta love chevy!!! since I dont know what type of rig it will become, I'm just goin to replace things as they break, well that is except for the two barrel carb, thats gotta go asap!

Re: What front axle is this?
 

Just make sure there is plenty of oil in the front axle since the entire tube is filled and tend to leak over time.

Re: What front axle is this?
 

the front drive shaft is broken right now so 4wd isnt working, but I will check that in the morn to make sure its full. Thanks for the heads up :)

Re: What front axle is this?
 

If the hubs are not engaged then it won't matter... the front axle won't move or need oil...

Re: What front axle is this?
 

Thats what I thought, but i think I'll still take a gander at whats inside just incase

Re: What front axle is this?
 

You can confirm gear ratio's then as well.. There should be a number on the ring gear like 41:11 or 41 divided by 11 = 3.727272 (3.73's) or whatever ration you have.

Re: What front axle is this?
 

A nice benefit to changing to an open knuckle axle is a much better turning radius - I've got one truck with the closed knuckle and one with the open and the difference is pretty drastic.

Re: What front axle is this?
 

I have a 1968 k20 closed knuckle i lifted it 6'' added a drag link still dont get a full right turn. cant find a steering arm or pitman arm to correct it "yet "