1971 K20 Axle Swap

[68K20]

I have a source for a full set of axles out of a late 80's 1 ton 4x4 fleet side (Dana 60 front and 14 bolt FF) , what would I have to do to get them to work? e.g. swap perches spring mounts, etc? Thanks.

P.S. my 68 has 71 running gear right now, and I am looking for added flexibility when it come to upgrades (brakes and gears), and I am also planning to go with a big block in the not too distant future.

[1969k10stepside]

The 14 bolt rear wont require spring perches being moved but the shock mounts will have to be moved.
The front should just be a simple bolt in with the spring plates,ubolts,etc.
I dont know about driveline mods...

[68K20]

Originally Posted by 1969k10stepside

The 14 bolt rear wont require spring perches being moved but the shock mounts will have to be moved.
The front should just be a simple bolt in with the spring plates,ubolts,etc.
I dont know about driveline mods ..

Thanks.. That is what I was hoping for.

Wow just noticed your sig..looks like someone has been busy scarfing up all the 69-72 trucks in your area :-D

[1969 GMC]

Are you planning on running some pretty big tires? 38" or taller? If not, I would say sell the 1 ton axles and just pocket some coin. SRW D60's seem to fetch more $$ with each passing day.

[68K20]

Originally Posted by 1969 GMC

Are you planning on running some pretty big tires? 38" or taller? If not, I would say sell the 1 ton axles and just pocket some coin. SRW D60's seem to fetch more $$ with each passing day.

Actually I plan on hauling a 15,000 pound goose neck trailer with a 502 under the hood. So I need the better brakes up front and I also don't feel good about putting that kind of stress on a D44 front. I think the HO52 I have is plenty strong but the 14BFF I am looking at has a locker and brakes and gears are a lot easier to find.

[snj8198]

not to get off track, but what's the census on towing with a locker? i've heard alot of points for and against towing heavy loads with say a detroited rear. the 4x4 mags have written articles both ways and one even built a tow rig using a detroit not long after posting an article about not using a locked rear for heavy tow applications.

regardless, enjoy your build! -steve

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by 68K20

Actually I plan on hauling a 15,000 pound goose neck trailer with a 502 under the hood. So I need the better brakes up front and I also don't feel good about putting that kind of stress on a D44 front. I think the HO52 I have is plenty strong but the 14BFF I am looking at has a locker and brakes and gears are a lot easier to find.

I concur, you may be exceeding the design parameters of the D44 a "tad."

I didn't notice you have a KLR. How is that treating ya?

[68K20]

Originally Posted by 1969 GMC

I didn't notice you have a KLR. How is that treating ya?

I love the KLR it is a great Motorcycle, goes anywhere I want it and has been dead on reliable (even after losing the oil plug and draining all the oil over a 3 mile stretch of mountain trail ... gotta love royal purple :-), although I think the doohickey in it has failed, looking to get all the stuff to replace that. It is my normal DD.

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by 68K20

I love the KLR it is a great Motorcycle, goes anywhere I want it and has been dead on reliable (even after losing the oil plug and draining all the oil over a 3 mile stretch of mountain trail ... gotta love royal purple :-), although I think the doohickey in it has failed, looking to get all the stuff to replace that. It is my normal DD.

I hear you on the doohickey, I think mine went sometime after the 2nd oil change. Mine should be arriving any day now, I already have the tools and I'm going to a tech day in NY state later next month, probably change it there.

Good to hear others are more reliable, mine has already gotten a new battery under warranty (bought it new in March) and I've had to do quite a bit of work to it (mostly electrical problems...my tank had broken a wire, tail light socket failed, license plate fell off, etc). Other than that it has been a good bike, and I think it was a great learner street scoot.

[pumpkin]

Originally Posted by 68K20

Actually I plan on hauling a 15,000 pound goose neck trailer with a 502 under the hood. So I need the better brakes up front and I also don't feel good about putting that kind of stress on a D44 front. I think the HO52 I have is plenty strong but the 14BFF I am looking at has a locker and brakes and gears are a lot easier to find.

The locker from the 14 bolt will bolt int the ho52, or ho72, if you use the 14 bolt axles. The difference between the two are that the ho72 has a bushing opposite the pinion gear that stops the ring gear from deflecting away under heave load. Tou can identify it by the screw and jam nut in the side of the case. As far as towing with a detroit locker, I tow a car trailer, that when loaded is as much as 7000 lbs. and have no problem at all. It is quite nice however when I go to back up a hill, for example on gravel, and I can do it without the tire spinning and digging a hole.

[68K20]

Originally Posted by 1969 GMC

I hear you on the doohickey, I think mine went sometime after the 2nd oil change. Mine should be arriving any day now, I already have the tools and I'm going to a tech day in NY state later next month, probably change it there.

Good to hear others are more reliable, mine has already gotten a new battery under warranty (bought it new in March) and I've had to do quite a bit of work to it (mostly electrical problems...my tank had broken a wire, tail light socket failed, license plate fell off, etc). Other than that it has been a good bike, and I think it was a great learner street scoot.

I have learned to loc-tite everything (anything that can be unscrewed will come out by itself I have lost a bunch of screws that way , I have had my share of blown fuses and such (usually in the rain). Although the multi color body work is the work of a deer that hit me (t-boned me) just before Christmas last year. As a beginner bike I think is a bit tall, but otherwise it is good (my first bike was a BMW R80RT, bad beginner bike) Right now I am restoring a 1983 Goldwing Standard (no fairing or bags)

[68K20]

Originally Posted by pumpkin

The locker from the 14 bolt will bolt int the ho52, or ho72, if you use the 14 bolt axles. The difference between the two are that the ho72 has a bushing opposite the pinion gear that stops the ring gear from deflecting away under heave load. Tou can identify it by the screw and jam nut in the side of the case. As far as towing with a detroit locker, I tow a car trailer, that when loaded is as much as 7000 lbs. and have no problem at all. It is quite nice however when I go to back up a hill, for example on gravel, and I can do it without the tire spinning and digging a hole.

What I have is the HO72 then, for I have the pinion screw, maybe I will keep the rear and just throw a set 4.56 gears into the D60 to match up with the rear HO72. From you are saying, I can also take the 14BFF axles and locker and put them in the HO72? If so that would be the most reasonable way to get a locker in that axle.

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by 68K20

I have learned to loc-tite everything (anything that can be unscrewed will come out by itself I have lost a bunch of screws that way , I have had my share of blown fuses and such (usually in the rain). Although the multi color body work is the work of a deer that hit me (t-boned me) just before Christmas last year. As a beginner bike I think is a bit tall, but otherwise it is good (my first bike was a BMW R80RT, bad beginner bike) Right now I am restoring a 1983 Goldwing Standard (no fairing or bags)

I am 6'4", so this bike fit me pretty well. I was going to ask about the multicolor- but the other night I hit a medium sized cat, and then about 5 minutes later, a 60 lb or so doberman...that was some scary shiat, I can't believe a deer!

Oh, and you can swap the 14 bolt stuff into your Eaton, but you may have to trim the axleshafts down a little bit.

[68K20]

Originally Posted by 1969 GMC

I am 6'4", so this bike fit me pretty well. I was going to ask about the multicolor- but the other night I hit a medium sized cat, and then about 5 minutes later, a 60 lb or so doberman...that was some scary shiat, I can't believe a deer!

Oh, and you can swap the 14 bolt stuff into your Eaton, but you may have to trim the axleshafts down a little bit.

Well I guess the KLR would not be too tall then . A cat and a doberman??? Wow I think I'll take the deer (the deer here are small, the one that hit me was only 100 lbs or so), at least the deer would not want to take a bite out of me :-D.

How much would I have to trim off the 14BFF axles? And does anyone make gears for the HO series axles? I have 4.56 and without going to a 4 speed auto or 5 speed manual I can't drive faster than 65 or so.

[1969 GMC]

One of the truck parts mags used to have 3.90's for the Eaton, but they were pricy. I don't think the D60 has a corresponding ratio, either. You can get 3.92's for a D44, iirc. Probably gotta go with 4.11's. From what I remember about the shafts, it depends. I test assembled mine and it fit, but I heard from some that you may need to cut about a 1/4" off the splined end.

[68K20]

Originally Posted by 1969 GMC

One of the truck parts mags used to have 3.90's for the Eaton, but they were pricy. I don't think the D60 has a corresponding ratio, either. You can get 3.92's for a D44, iirc. Probably gotta go with 4.11's. From what I remember about the shafts, it depends. I test assembled mine and it fit, but I heard from some that you may need to cut about a 1/4" off the splined end.

I could have swore Randy's R&P had 3.73 for both the D60 and 14BFF... I will have to look around some more.