1968 k10 closed knuckle dana44 question

[Dylanic_350]

I want to lift my 1968 k10 pickup and it has the closed knuckle dana44 up front. Will a 69-72 lift fit in the front or not?? Is there anything wrong with a closed knuckle front axle? I would prefer to keep the axle and find a way to lift the pickup up 6 inches with 37's. Any help would be great!

[duallyjams]

6 inch lift you start running into steering problems. I'm sure you can and other people have but I would change out the front rear to a open knuckle with disc brakes and run cross over steering IMO it would be a lot safer.
1) bigger rims and tires need a lot more stopping power( due to weight ) disc brakes
2) 6 inch lift can cause whats called death wobble in the steering and it will loose turning radius ( cross over will correct )
this is just IMO

[Yukon Jack]

I bought an adjustable drop drag link when I did my initial 4" lift on my 69 K20 - that was the only option to correct the steering. Changed later to 6" of front lift and continued to use the same drag link.

You'll find the turning ratio with the closed knuckle axle goes from bad to really bad when you got to a larger tire, when compared to an open knuckle axle.

I ended up going to a Dana 60 when my Dana 44 ate some bearings and the better turning radius and disk brakes up front are so nice now!

[Dylanic_350]

thank you!!! if i switch to a open knuckle 44 should i swap steering boxes? I'm not sure if they're compatable as far as steering goes. This is my first 4x4 build and need all the help that i can get!

So if i switch to a dana 44 with the open design what else would i need other than the axle and brake lines to do the swap? Any steering changes?

[1969K10]

my understanding, is that the only steering changes will be you'll need a new arm from the box to the axle, based on a 1972.

[bigbadchev72]

Not sure if the frame is flat on a 68' like my 67' was where the steering box mounts up?

If so i suggest looking into captainfab's (member one here) powersteering box bracket. I found out the hard way that when the previous owner swapped my 67' over to power steering he shimmed the box out with washers, I never noticed this until one night trying to pull out of a paralell parking space and the bolts snapped off the steering box. Its a good way to ruin your day.

The closed knuckle frontends are junk and hard to find parts for, The newer open knuckle frontend will swap right in, but you will need a newer power steering box as well since the motion of the arms are different.

[lowrollin70gmc]

Also, the 69 and up springs are narrower than the 67/68s, so if you order a lift be prepared to go junkyardin' to find some later spring perches and shackle mounts. The previous owner of mine put proper perches in front but not shackles and my burb sways everywhere when I drive it.


Or you can go this route to space the spring within your stock perch: http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...product_id=107

Then I would possibly have them build a set of narrowed shackles that fits the stock 68 mount and the 69 up spring.

Good luck and post some pics of progress.

[msgross]

I put a 1982 corp 10bolt under my 68 K-10... check out my build, idle as it may be right now, and let me know if you have questions..

[bad_turbo]

I have a very old 6 inch lift under my '67 burb that I got with the axles out of a '68 gmc truck. They are closed knuckle (no p/s) and with the addition of my 37 inch tires, my forearms are looking like Popeye's.

[Dylanic_350]

Thanks guys so much for all your input. I have a Dana 44 out of a 79 blazer and the power steering box and pump. Along with this I have the power brake booster and lines. I ordered matching 4.10 gears front and back. Now it's time for the lift.

I'm looking to purchase the tuff country 6 inch lift with rear blocks. Will the rear blocks work for my stock rear springs? If so should I get them re-arched and put add a leafs in or just put the leafs in and forget about re-arching them?
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[Chevybowtie]

I have a Tuff Country 6 inch E-Z ride on my 68 k10. For the rear i have blocks and 2 add a leafs per side. The blocks worked great on my truck. I also have the closed knuckle front axle, and im using a drop draglink. It seems to work good.

[Mt Man Chad]

Sky manufacturing makes perches for axles and various steering parts for early Chevy 4X4's.
http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/new...egory=steering