My 14 Bolt Build

[coyote72]

I wanted to put a 14 bolt in my blazer for durability and because we got a travel trailer. I didn't want to give up my wheels (6 lug) but I wanted the full floating axle. So I opened up the wheels center hole and got to work on the hubs. I used front rotors and calpiers from a '77 3/4 ton, and fab'd up some brackets. On the hub itself I drilled out the existing 8-lug pattern and tapped it for a 5/8-18 bolt to bolt the rotors to and also to plug two of the holes for the 6-lug overlap. Then came machining the bolt pattern, I used stock 12 bolt rear axle studs and counter bored the hub to accept them. Then turned the outside of the hub down to fit inside the wheel. I did end up having to turn down the heads of the socket head cap screws to get the wheel on. Every thing fit together great! Even my modified Gov-Lock has held up so far.

[coyote72]

More pics

[coyote72]

more pics

[Captainfab]

Very interesting and nice work. It must be nice to have a lathe and a mill so projects like this only cost you some time. Did you have to grind the caliper much to fit the 15" wheels.

[coyote72]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Very interesting and nice work. It must be nice to have a lathe and a mill so projects like this only cost you some time. Did you have to grind the caliper much to fit the 15" wheels.

I did not have to grind the calpier at all (thankfully) but it is real close.... enough to knock off my wheel balance weights

[Davidmichael]

very nice work. love the fact you went with rear discs also.

[thirdstreettito]

Nice! *high five*

[snj8198]

very nice. neat to see a 6 lug on a full floating 14.

[mod58]

Excellent work for not using an indexer!!!!!!!You just gave me an idea!Thanks!!!!!!

[USSkoval]

How much time did you have invested in that? I'm guessing the stock center cap has no chance of fitting?

[orbot]

Interesting job you did, i might do the same...i have seen several posts about converting the 8 lug to 6 lug but thoose guys usually buy a kit for it, good thing i god a buddy that has a machine shop..

[vk_chevy]

I guess it goes without saying that having the right tools for the jobs makes a world of difference.

[k5xjfiles]

Please tell me what you are now doing for an e-brake. Ive got a 14 ff that is going under my 72K5 some day and will need some type of ebrake.

[SeventyOne]

I am swapping a 14bolt with discs in my Blazer and will be using a High-Angle-Driveline T-case ebrake. You can also use Caddy Eldorado calipers that have a built in ebrake but I hear they are expensive and hard to adjust.

[coyote72]

For the E-brake I am thinking of using a hydraulic valve... kinda like a line lock but without an electronic solinoid. There is a company that makes a valve for that purpose. They are kinda pricey that I remember, I was going to try some alternative routes, maybe like grainger or something. I thought about the caddy calipers, but the cost of them new, or going through junk yards and rebuild didn't appeal too much to me. I was hoping to find a valve with a lever and use my parking brake release to set and release...

[DirtyLarry]

Keep us all posted. Several of us want to go the route of rear disks but need a park brake without dealing with the hassles of the Eldorcrapo rear calipers. I really wish someone would come up with a kit to retrofilt the rear disk brake set up like what is on the 2001 and later Silverado/Sierra HD trucks that has a park brake drum inside the rotors.

[Franks Fab Shop]

Originally Posted by coyote72

For the E-brake I am thinking of using a hydraulic valve... kinda like a line lock but without an electronic solinoid. There is a company that makes a valve for that purpose. They are kinda pricey that I remember, I was going to try some alternative routes, maybe like grainger or something. I thought about the caddy calipers, but the cost of them new, or going through junk yards and rebuild didn't appeal too much to me. I was hoping to find a valve with a lever and use my parking brake release to set and release...

i see your in orange. in HB theres a place called vw parts specialties ... i think off warner and newland. and they have those inexpensve and adaquit line locks.
i think bugpak makes them

[fayettecopa]

http://www.jbugs.com/product/3155.html

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice job Coyote72! I'm guessing you could start doing this service for other member's hubs real easily.

[DirtyLarry]

Nice job Coyote! I saw a few people rework 14FF to 6 lugs and yours is definitely the cleanest job!

[msgross]

do you think it weakened the rim by removing the inner lip?


they also make disc e-brakes for the driveshaft... not cheap either.

[coyote72]

Thanks for the input on the parking brake. I think I will try the vw place, I've seen it before. I'm sure it will be ok as a parking brake, sometimes you just need a little extra. If I had a manual trans it would be a different story.

As for the wheels I did some research on reproduction wheels and they are made without the lip. The wheels no longer locate on the 'hub' anymore, but on the wheel studs. I figured if there are 6-lug wheels made out there with a 4.25" hole, it would be ok to machine mine.

[TheWhiteElephant]

Speedway Motors has a similar e-brake lock.

[Burt4x4]

http://www.mico.com/products/displaysubinfo.php?id=43

This is what I have been using for years now. Mostly as a third foot when wheelin but I do use it for temp parking brake...I wouldn't want my calipers to be at pressure for long periods of time..seams too me the seals would were out quicker but that is just my opinion. I did test it overnight when I first installed the lever lock and I did not loose any pressue to the calipers. Also I never did hook up the low pressuer alarm switch it comes with, buzzer or light type..
Good Luck and awesome job on the 6lug conversion!!

[propanemudtruck]

Originally Posted by Burt4x4

http://www.mico.com/products/displaysubinfo.php?id=43

This is what I have been using for years now. Mostly as a third foot when wheelin but I do use it for temp parking brake...I wouldn't want my calipers to be at pressure for long periods of time..seams too me the seals would were out quicker but that is just my opinion. I did test it overnight when I first installed the lever lock and I did not loose any pressue to the calipers. Also I never did hook up the low pressuer alarm switch it comes with, buzzer or light type..
Good Luck and awesome job on the 6lug conversion!!

Not to step on you and I've never done a rear disk conversion, but wouldn't a standard caliper e-brake apply pressure to the seals of the calipers too? This is a good topic! The build and the 6 bolt conversion are pretty interesting!