6 lug front diff to 8 lug - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TLoz · 12-13-2007, 11:17 AM

Hi,
Interested in going from a 6 lug 4x4 front hub to a 8 lug 4x4 front hub. What's the estimated difficulty level 1-10? Parts availablity? I've got a 1977, 3/4 ton burb (2wd) going on a 1978 4x4 1/2 ton burb frame. Going to use the old diff and want to convert front over. My 16.5 tires and rims are like new. It's a stock 454 with 400 turbo, the newer frame has a 203 case that had a 400 bolted up to it. This should be an interesting winter project. Thanks in advance! Tom

abebummy26 · 12-13-2007, 11:26 AM

Front axles are a direct swap just switch one for another. If you want it to be pretty stout I would recommend a Dana 60 up front. A dana 60 might cost you though they can be kind of high in some areas and nonexistant in others. You could just go with a 3/4 ton front axle though that would be easy to get. Difficulty is a 2 I would say.

2 the board from East Central, MO

TLoz · 12-13-2007, 01:40 PM

Thanks for the reply and the welcome! At this time I don't have an 8 lug front diff. I may have one soon (if the guy who bought the truck doesn't come and pick it up). I was thinking about just switching out the hubs, but it sounds like I may just want to change out the whole differential. Thanks again, Tom

1969k10stepside · 12-13-2007, 02:36 PM

Not to far south of you..Welcome to the board! I'd just swap the outer assembly to 3/4 ton stuff if the axles had matching ratios..If not I'd find one that had the same ratio and use it if it's 3/4 ton or convert it to 3/4 ton if it's not.

pumpkin · 12-14-2007, 05:02 AM

Or you can just swapp in the backing plates, spindles, and hubs and rotors from a dana 44 or ten bolt onto your 6 bolt axle. Difficulty is the same as changing an axle. If you need more strength, they say chrome molly axles will put you into the same strength as a stock dana 60.

msgross · 12-14-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin

Or you can just swapp in the backing plates, spindles, and hubs and rotors from a dana 44 or ten bolt onto your 6 bolt axle. Difficulty is the same as changing an axle. If you need more strength, they say chrome molly axles will put you into the same strength as a stock dana 60.

I would say that it's more difficult to sawp the outers due to bearings, frozen spindles, brake calipers, etc.... And you need all the parts that are on the 3/4 ton axle anyway.

IF you find a 3/4 ton axle with the correct gears then do a total swap... If not then steal the outer parts as described above and accomplish the mission. Cost is about the same but it will take more time...

pumpkin · 12-15-2007, 04:55 AM

My reasoning for this way is I would want to inspect a repack all the bearings, and to do this you go that far anyways. You would just be putting the 8 lug stuff back in.

TLoz · 12-15-2007, 05:19 AM

Guys,
Thanks for the replies. I don't know what ratio the current front 6 lug diff has in it. My rear diff 8 lug is a 14 bolt corp. 10.5" with 3.73. The 4x4 frame isn't at my place yet, so I haven't checked the ratio. I'm sure I can find a 8 lug 4x4 diff with a trashed pumpkin, that I can transfer the ends over to mine. Thanks again, Tom

12-13-2007, 11:17 AM	#1
TLoz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 326	6 lug front diff to 8 lug Hi, Interested in going from a 6 lug 4x4 front hub to a 8 lug 4x4 front hub. What's the estimated difficulty level 1-10? Parts availablity? I've got a 1977, 3/4 ton burb (2wd) going on a 1978 4x4 1/2 ton burb frame. Going to use the old diff and want to convert front over. My 16.5 tires and rims are like new. It's a stock 454 with 400 turbo, the newer frame has a 203 case that had a 400 bolted up to it. This should be an interesting winter project. Thanks in advance! Tom

12-13-2007, 11:26 AM	#2
abebummy26 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Haven, MO Posts: 1,243	Re: 6 lug front diff to 8 lug Front axles are a direct swap just switch one for another. If you want it to be pretty stout I would recommend a Dana 60 up front. A dana 60 might cost you though they can be kind of high in some areas and nonexistant in others. You could just go with a 3/4 ton front axle though that would be easy to get. Difficulty is a 2 I would say. 2 the board from East Central, MO __________________ -Lincoln 1987 GMC S15 (soon to be a chevy clone) 2.5l, 4 speed, no ps, no pb, no ac Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver. Spoken by Cletus the hillbilly I like stickers... a whole bunch. Last edited by abebummy26; 12-13-2007 at 08:03 PM.

12-13-2007, 01:40 PM	#3
TLoz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 326	Re: 6 lug front diff to 8 lug Thanks for the reply and the welcome! At this time I don't have an 8 lug front diff. I may have one soon (if the guy who bought the truck doesn't come and pick it up). I was thinking about just switching out the hubs, but it sounds like I may just want to change out the whole differential. Thanks again, Tom

12-13-2007, 02:36 PM	#4
1969k10stepside Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 21,019	Re: 6 lug front diff to 8 lug Not to far south of you..Welcome to the board! I'd just swap the outer assembly to 3/4 ton stuff if the axles had matching ratios..If not I'd find one that had the same ratio and use it if it's 3/4 ton or convert it to 3/4 ton if it's not.

12-14-2007, 05:02 AM	#5
pumpkin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: East Sooke B.C. Canada Posts: 543	Re: 6 lug front diff to 8 lug Or you can just swapp in the backing plates, spindles, and hubs and rotors from a dana 44 or ten bolt onto your 6 bolt axle. Difficulty is the same as changing an axle. If you need more strength, they say chrome molly axles will put you into the same strength as a stock dana 60.

12-15-2007, 04:55 AM	#7
pumpkin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: East Sooke B.C. Canada Posts: 543	Re: 6 lug front diff to 8 lug My reasoning for this way is I would want to inspect a repack all the bearings, and to do this you go that far anyways. You would just be putting the 8 lug stuff back in.

12-15-2007, 05:19 AM	#8
TLoz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 326	Re: 6 lug front diff to 8 lug Guys, Thanks for the replies. I don't know what ratio the current front 6 lug diff has in it. My rear diff 8 lug is a 14 bolt corp. 10.5" with 3.73. The 4x4 frame isn't at my place yet, so I haven't checked the ratio. I'm sure I can find a 8 lug 4x4 diff with a trashed pumpkin, that I can transfer the ends over to mine. Thanks again, Tom

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