3/4t axles into a 1/2t ?

[BurnoutNova]

I may have found a good deal on some 3/4t axles from a 75 K20, and I'd like to put them in my 71 K10... but I've heard the spring pads are in a diffrent location on the 75 model axles vs. the 71 model?

I really want to put the dana 44 and 14bt under my K10 when i go to lift it, but I dont have the capabilities to move the spring pads myself, and I really dont trust my welding on somthing like that, lol.

Anyone here know the details on these?

[1969k10stepside]

The front will go in no problem.The back will need the spring pads and shock mounts moved.If you can find a 14 bolt from a one ton the pads will work w/out moving but you will still have to change the shock mounts.Alot of people are getting rid of their ol Eatons (Which I prefer) so you maybe be able to find one from a K20 with the right gear ratio and you could use it.Worse comes to worse pay someone to weld the pads for the 14 bolt.

[BurnoutNova]

Whats so good about the ho72's?

I'd prefer a dana 60 over an eaton anyway, the parts are hard to find i hear

and the 14bolt is stronger than both, right?

[1969k10stepside]

Not just the Ho72,the 52 too which the K20s used.Just mentioned that because most go to 14 bolts so you might be able to find one cheap to use so you dont have to modify the 14 bolt perches.The 72 was only in one tons.Some parts are hard to find but some you can get or modify to use from a 14 bolt.As for the which is stronger they are about equal.

[special-K]

The HO52s are as strong as a 14-bolt,yet lighter and less bulky for better ground clearance.The 14-bolts use a higher spline count on the axle shafts which is a plus.But,I`ve never seen a HO52 have a spline problem,either.The Dana60 is the weakest of the three.Parts are available for all these axles.My next HO52 rebuild will get disc brakes anyway.

[BurnoutNova]

well, if i could find a 4.10 ho52 maybe that would be good, but i already preety much have these other axles so maybe i'll just use them.

and i was buying parts for my 12 bolt the other day, and the parts store called it an h033? is that the name for a 12 bolt?

[BurnoutNova]

another question, what will i have to do about the rear shocks... i was looking at this 75 K20 and one of the shocks are opposite directions of my 71

[va_tlc]

just cut the shock mounts off your old rear and weld back on the 14 bolt, summit or jegs has spring perches, i used theres and they wee taller than stock so i had to take my 4 inch blocks out and cut them down some to get the truck level.
did ya find out what ratio these are?

[BurnoutNova]

Originally Posted by va_tlc

did ya find out what ratio these are?

The stock axles I have are 3.07 ratio, the ones I want to put in are 4.10 gears, I figured with the 35's I want to run I should put in some steeper gears, the 31's that I have now are bad enough with 3.07 gears

[va_tlc]

yea you should be fine runnin 35s and 4.10. i cant remember about the u bolts weather you have to buy more, i had to cause of the spring perches and blocks, the front should work as long as you can get urs off without damaging them, spray em down with lube a few days b4 you start, if not i had to cut em off with a grinder.

[BurnoutNova]

I'll replace all the u bolts anyway, I don't like re-using parts like that. I probably wont put these in for a while, just because I don't have any 16.5" tires yet, and I don't have the lift kit yet either.

[AJs72K5]

DIY4X or RuffStuffSpecialities has everything you need to do an axle swap. You'll just need to find someone to do the welding for you.