87 3/4 axles on a 70

[JimmyFloyd]

Ok, I am looking at some options for axles on my blazer. Currently have 3:73 open-diff 6 lug. Disc front, drum rear

I also have a 3/4 ton 70 suburban, with D44 front and HO52 No-Spin 8 lug. Not sure on gear, but it is an auto, so it's probably 4:10. both are drums


There is also an 87 High Sierra 2500 here in the junkyard, with what looks to be a 14ff and a D44 front. Unsure of the gears. Disc front, drum rear.

Also, another option would be there is a guy locally with a D60 from a 99 Dodge van with trac-loc and 4:10 gears. drum brakes

What would be the best direction to go with this. I don't plan on getting into serious wheeling, but I may take it off road occasionally (depending on if I can find places to go)

Would I be able to use the D60 and my suburban D44 front? The cost of this is higher due to the purchase of the D60, and converting the D44 to Disc.

Right now I am leaning towards the High Sierra axles, but what should I look out for with these? How can I tell if it is a locker if there is no RPO code list?

Thanks.

[70 beast]

how much does the guy want for the 60?
id deffinitly not use the drum 44. if you do go the route of a d44, id use the open knuckle from the junkyard.

IMO i would use the eaton. i have in my jimmy and love that thing! best investment ive made yet. plus the eatons locked! why not!

it all depends on money. times are tuff for some and cheaper is in some cases a better route. you have all good choices but depending on money, some choices may be better than others.

[ghettoluxury]

I would pull the axles from the Sierra

[BurnoutNova]

if there original 87 axles in that K2500 the rear should be a semi-floating 14 bolt. The front should be a 10 bolt i think to? I am pretty sure in 81 or 82 is when they quit putting FF 14 bolts on 3/4 ton trucks.

I would get a 71 and up 3/4 ton D44, and use that HO52 from your burb. The D44 isn't really that strong but if yours is a drum brake D44 it will have closed knuckles. They say they're weaker becasue the u-joint is smaller. That HO52 is a good diff and if you already have it all the better!

[duallyjams]

I would use the ho52 no spin that you already have and convert your 6 lug front to an 8 lug.The hubs are bolt on inter change able.

[BurnoutNova]

Originally Posted by duallyjams

I would use the ho52 no spin that you already have and convert your 6 lug front to an 8 lug.The hubs are bolt on inter change able.

You'd most likely need to swap the gear set and diff case as well, he has 3.73's and its sort of hard to find a 3/4ton rear end that has 3.73's, so it might be more work that just swapping in a whole 8 lug D44

In fact did they ever even offer a HO52, or a 14 bolt with 3.73's? I usually see 4.10's in 3/4 ton trucks.

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by BurnoutNova

In fact did they ever even offer a HO52, or a 14 bolt with 3.73's? I usually see 4.10's in 3/4 ton trucks.

eaton no, 14 bolt yes. they made ratios up to 3.21 for the 14b ff.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by BurnoutNova

You'd most likely need to swap the gear set and diff case as well, he has 3.73's and its sort of hard to find a 3/4ton rear end that has 3.73's, so it might be more work that just swapping in a whole 8 lug D44

In fact did they ever even offer a HO52, or a 14 bolt with 3.73's? I usually see 4.10's in 3/4 ton trucks.

I think we were thinking the `87 front end might be 4.10.We don`t even know what ratio some of these axles have.3.73 14-bolts are very common.4.10 is the highest gear in the HO52s.Brakes are available at Napa.Brake parts are swappable from backing plate out,also.There`s always converting to discs,that`s what I plan.Nothing low-budget about that,though.

If you don`t end up using the HO52 and want to sell it,let me know.

[BurnoutNova]

Originally Posted by special-K

I think we were thinking the `87 front end might be 4.10.We don`t even know what ratio some of these axles have.3.73 14-bolts are very common.4.10 is the highest gear in the HO52s.Brakes are available at Napa.Brake parts are swappable from backing plate out,also.There`s always converting to discs,that`s what I plan.Nothing low-budget about that,though.

If you don`t end up using the HO52 and want to sell it,let me know.

That's what I'm thinking to, about the front 87 diff being 4.10. I was just responding to duallyjams saying he would swap out the hubs on his dana 44 so he didn't have to swap the entire axle. It is a good Idea but I think the gears would not match in this situation.

That sort of surprise's me that 3.73's are so common on 3/4t stuff. I really haven't had that much experience with 3/4 or 1 ton 4x4 running gear but I do notice a lot of them seem to have 4.10's. Is that the most common ratio to find?

I would like to get some pre 81? (FF14bolt and Dana44) 3/4 axles for my 86 K10 but I just can't get rid of the 10 bolts it has. The previous owner paid me to put in Yukon 4.10s front and rear and a Detroit trutrac in the rear, along with all new bearings and all new brakes. I ended up buying it from him cheap after all the work was done. He put about $1500 into those axles

[duallyjams]

Originally Posted by BurnoutNova

You'd most likely need to swap the gear set and diff case as well, he has 3.73's and its sort of hard to find a 3/4ton rear end that has 3.73's, so it might be more work that just swapping in a whole 8 lug D44

In fact did they ever even offer a HO52, or a 14 bolt with 3.73's? I usually see 4.10's in 3/4 ton trucks.

I have a factory 14b with 3:73 with a matching 8lug corp front.

[70 beast]

good point.

i did that route on my jimmy. was easy and got the job done.

[JimmyFloyd]

So if I get the new hubs (any recommendations, or is junkyard fine? ) I will obviously need new rotors, but will the rest of the brake parts work for me? I ask because the brakes are pretty new on them now.

[special-K]

i have a K/30 axle set and i`m setting the 14-bolt aside and using an HO52 w/No-Spin cuz dats wut I likes mo betta.

[LONGHAIR]

The issue with the HO52 is brake parts. They can be hard to find, and I would assume that this is only going to get worse.

That '87 2500 should have a 10 bolt in the front. If it really is a Dana44, someone has been in there "messing around"

If you are not intending to get into serous 'wheeling, the stuff under the '87 is probably the easiest and most cost effective way to go.
The best thing to do is to pop the cover off of the 14bolt and have a look....take a few pics and post them here if you need to.
If it does have a traction device, it is most likely the factory "Gov-loc". They aren't the greatest thing going, but the bigger ones in the 14bolts are not that bad. I wouldn't pay extra for one, but in the 14bolt it isn't a deal breaker either.

I definately wouldn't mess with that closed knuckle Dana. Nearly anything you can find is going to be better than that....

[BurnoutNova]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

The issue with the HO52 is brake parts. They can be hard to find, and I would assume that this is only going to get worse.

That '87 2500 should have a 10 bolt in the front. If it really is a Dana44, someone has been in there "messing around"

If you are not intending to get into serous 'wheeling, the stuff under the '87 is probably the easiest and most cost effective way to go.
The best thing to do is to pop the cover off of the 14bolt and have a look....take a few pics and post them here if you need to.
If it does have a traction device, it is most likely the factory "Gov-loc". They aren't the greatest thing going, but the bigger ones in the 14bolts are not that bad. I wouldn't pay extra for one, but in the 14bolt it isn't a deal breaker either.

I definately wouldn't mess with that closed knuckle Dana. Nearly anything you can find is going to be better than that....

If I wasn't gonna do any wheeling or need 3/4 ton axles I would just leave the truck the way it is, assuming its in running condition. The stock 12 bolt and D44 are pretty decent axles especially if your not wheeling in 4 low on trails. I've beat the crap out of my 71 K10 and only thing thats ever broken was some teeth on the ring gear.

[JimmyFloyd]

I will have to give this some more thought. I like the idea of 3/4 ton axles so i can run some 37" hummer take-offs easier (which I am told need a 16.5" rim)

The Axles in their current form would be fine for what I plan to do with the truck, but I do like the idea of bigger is better. Plus the fact that I have the HO52 already.

I may just get the 87 axles just to have, since it'll probably be around $150 for the pair.

As for the HO52, if I don't end up using it, I have a line of people who have expressed interest in it, so I'd have to figure out what to do there.

Where would I get the information to ID the axle ratios and such on the axles themselves, or is that only possible by taking the rear cover off?

[BurnoutNova]

Originally Posted by JimmyFloyd

Where would I get the information to ID the axle ratios and such on the axles themselves, or is that only possible by taking the rear cover off?

You could always spin the pinion gear until the axle turns one revolution and see how many turns you get from the pinion. That will give you a close idea what they are.