"Detroiting" your HO52 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

onpman · 12-15-2005, 01:06 AM

All right guys, here's what I got.....A 72 HO52 with 4.10 open carrier with 17 spline axles. I've heard by switching out the spider gears from a 14bolt I can run 30 spline 14 bolt axles with a detroit locker for a 14 bolt. Is this true? Anybody done this swap? I've already gathered up all those hard to find brake parts (big props to the thread on eaton's below

) just need to know what to look for to do this conversion. Thanks!

1969 GMC · 12-15-2005, 03:37 PM

if you use a detroit locker, you do not need spider gears. if you want to weld the diff you could do that, however.

I have all the parts, and I took both carriers apart and swapped the lockers (I had a detroit for each one). they fit interchangeably. I didn't finish putting either one back together, though, for lack of time (its finals week for me right now).
The 14 bolt shafts are a little bit longer than the eaton shafts, but it looked like they would work. if not, there is almost an inch of spline engagement that does not even go into the locker, so i could cut the ends of the shafts.

**JIMs70GMC** · 12-15-2005, 04:49 PM

What Adam said!

onpman · 12-15-2005, 05:00 PM

Thanks for the info....I just don't feel comfortable running the 17 spline eaton axles although the splines look to be in great shape and pretty beefy. I'm going to be running a modified version of the "Impersonator" SBC 406 with 35's and don't want to take any chances. While I've got the diff apart is there anything else I should look for or replace? The wear pattern on the ring and pinion looks pretty good and I don't see anything that looks bad.

4x4Poet · 02-11-2006, 07:20 PM

The Eaton axles are plenty strong for you engine, but finding a Detroit Locker with 17-spline axle side gears is difficult and expensive. The 14bFF Detroit and axles is a good mod for the Eaton. Advantage to start brand new with the Detroit, too.

For heavy duty use, I think someone makes 4340 14bFF axles. Maybe PolyPerformance. Probably overkill for most folks. I've never heard or read of either Eaton or 14bFF axle failures, but I don't get around much. Maybe if I dug on Pirate4x4.

I've read that some folks had to cut off 1/4 inch from the ends of the 14bFF shafts to fit them in the Eaton without the axle bottoming out in the diff before the axle flange mates to the hub. After the cut, I would bevel the ends to ease insertion.

12-15-2005, 01:06 AM	#1
onpman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: yakima, washington Posts: 63	"Detroiting" your HO52 All right guys, here's what I got.....A 72 HO52 with 4.10 open carrier with 17 spline axles. I've heard by switching out the spider gears from a 14bolt I can run 30 spline 14 bolt axles with a detroit locker for a 14 bolt. Is this true? Anybody done this swap? I've already gathered up all those hard to find brake parts (big props to the thread on eaton's below ) just need to know what to look for to do this conversion. Thanks! __________________ It it ain't broke..don't fix it!

12-15-2005, 03:37 PM	#2
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	Re: "Detroiting" your HO52 if you use a detroit locker, you do not need spider gears. if you want to weld the diff you could do that, however. I have all the parts, and I took both carriers apart and swapped the lockers (I had a detroit for each one). they fit interchangeably. I didn't finish putting either one back together, though, for lack of time (its finals week for me right now). The 14 bolt shafts are a little bit longer than the eaton shafts, but it looked like they would work. if not, there is almost an inch of spline engagement that does not even go into the locker, so i could cut the ends of the shafts. __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

12-15-2005, 04:49 PM	#3
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Re: "Detroiting" your HO52 What Adam said! __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

12-15-2005, 05:00 PM	#4
onpman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: yakima, washington Posts: 63	Re: "Detroiting" your HO52 Thanks for the info....I just don't feel comfortable running the 17 spline eaton axles although the splines look to be in great shape and pretty beefy. I'm going to be running a modified version of the "Impersonator" SBC 406 with 35's and don't want to take any chances. While I've got the diff apart is there anything else I should look for or replace? The wear pattern on the ring and pinion looks pretty good and I don't see anything that looks bad. __________________ It it ain't broke..don't fix it!

02-11-2006, 07:20 PM	#5
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	The Eaton axles are plenty strong for you engine, but finding a Detroit Locker with 17-spline axle side gears is difficult and expensive. The 14bFF Detroit and axles is a good mod for the Eaton. Advantage to start brand new with the Detroit, too. For heavy duty use, I think someone makes 4340 14bFF axles. Maybe PolyPerformance. Probably overkill for most folks. I've never heard or read of either Eaton or 14bFF axle failures, but I don't get around much. Maybe if I dug on Pirate4x4. I've read that some folks had to cut off 1/4 inch from the ends of the 14bFF shafts to fit them in the Eaton without the axle bottoming out in the diff before the axle flange mates to the hub. After the cut, I would bevel the ends to ease insertion. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup. Last edited by 4x4Poet; 02-11-2006 at 07:21 PM.

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