11-08-2011, 03:43 PM | #1 |
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Axle Options
I've been doing a lot of research on here and not for sure what set up I should go with. I have a 1969 k10 and want to beef up the suspension and axels some. Im not looking to bog hard, just mud some and have it to pull a trailer. I like the whole 14 bolt ff with a dana 60 up front but I dont think I need that much beef for what I am doing. I have a set of 6 lug 35s and wheels that are left over so I dont want to go 8 lug. What would yall suggest for the best option as far as axles, rearend, and gear ratios?
I dont know if it matters or not but future plans include a lq9 and 4l80e. |
11-08-2011, 09:57 PM | #2 |
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Re: Axle Options
well if your not gonna mud hard or rock crawl might as well save the money from a D60 and put that towards the lq9 and im not sure if there's 6 lug versions or adapters although there could be unless the d60 is like dirt cheap and you somehow got it for an awesome price, 14 bolt FF's are usually cheap so might as well but if your wanting a 6 lug im not sure about that i know they did the heavy half but i thought that was a SF hopefully someone else with more info on those can chime in
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1987 Chevy V30 - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=573854 1988 IROC-Z Camaro - 305/T5 T-Top 1989 GMC V35 - Marbolo Express http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=596850 1991 V2500 Suburban Silverado - Sold 1991 V2500 Suburban Scottsdale - Big Nasty http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=497423 2001 Ram 3500 5.9 H.O NV56 EC DRW - Sold 2003 1500 Silverado 2004 Ram 3500 5.9 H.O NV56 CC DRW - Sold 2005 Silverado 2500HD 6.6/ZF6 CC LWB |
11-08-2011, 10:36 PM | #3 |
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Re: Axle Options
A Dana 44 is really marginal for 35" tires.
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11-08-2011, 10:54 PM | #4 |
Redneck Customs Bumpers, IA
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Re: Axle Options
all depends on how you drive it, I've been wheeling 44x18r15's on the same dana 44 8 lug for the last 4 years without any problems, as for the rear I ran a welded 14bolt simi float in the rear till last year at which time I hand gernaded the carrier in some deep quicksand
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Overkill is under rated, Redneck Customs Truck Club Hudson, IA "Clifford" 83 Chevy K20 4x4, Mudder 7" lift rolling 44's "Basterd Child" 86 Chevy K30 4x4 crue cab Dule, 7.3l international WIP '00 ex-cab Silverado 4x4 DD I hate red trucks but you can't tell by looking at what I own Last edited by Tex_50613; 11-08-2011 at 10:59 PM. |
11-08-2011, 11:27 PM | #5 |
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Re: Axle Options
I always thought i had some magical 10 bolt because i ran the....... crap out of mine and ramped it and it held up great until i tried yanking this out and as you can tell it had to be dug out with a trakhoe, +1 for my 91 10 bolt lol rest in piece my former axle
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1987 Chevy V30 - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=573854 1988 IROC-Z Camaro - 305/T5 T-Top 1989 GMC V35 - Marbolo Express http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=596850 1991 V2500 Suburban Silverado - Sold 1991 V2500 Suburban Scottsdale - Big Nasty http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=497423 2001 Ram 3500 5.9 H.O NV56 EC DRW - Sold 2003 1500 Silverado 2004 Ram 3500 5.9 H.O NV56 CC DRW - Sold 2005 Silverado 2500HD 6.6/ZF6 CC LWB |
11-09-2011, 10:43 AM | #6 |
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Re: Axle Options
yeah the truck will just see some pipeline and deer lease mud. Nothing too too deep. I would just drive it as a truck for truck things the majority of the time. I have a little ricer that i drive to work to save on gas so the truck wont be a full time daily driver.
Redcap: what would you suggest? Im pretty new to the axle and gear ratio world. Ive been doing my research, just looking for some suggestions. here is the truck as it sit now. Just got it in two days ago. bought it off ebay. it took two months to get from utah to texas lol. |
11-09-2011, 11:05 AM | #7 | |
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Re: Axle Options
Quote:
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11-09-2011, 01:26 PM | #8 |
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Re: Axle Options
so the d44 will be good with 35s?
what gear ratio do I run in the front and back? 3.73 and 4.10? or do I even need that much?
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11-09-2011, 04:39 PM | #9 |
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Re: Axle Options
From the uses you are describing you will be fine with the D44 for 35's. As for the rear, guy could search for a semi-floating 14 bolt with the 9 1/2" ring gear with the 6 lug pattern. Check the bone yards for early 90's heavy 1/2 and light duty 3/4 ton Chevy's and GMC's.
As for gears, there is lots to factor: what motor do you have and how is it built? What trans do you have? Stick/auto? Overdrive? A near stock small block will necessitate 4:56's. More torque, especially if you have a big block and you can use 4:11's. I'm guessing this is a stock 1:1 tranny so a guy would probably stick to 4:11's to keep the rpm's down on the highway but you won't come out the hole as easy with a heavy load. There's lots to think about to get the combo happy together.
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Steve 1971 GMC Longbox. Full Roller Stroker 489 w/ FiTech EFI, Chris Straub Cam/NV4500/205/D60/14B w. Grizzly Locker and 4.11's. 2" Lift on 33's |
11-09-2011, 04:45 PM | #10 |
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Re: Axle Options
yeah thats what ive been trying to figure out. its got a 350 in it now with a 4 speed stick. I want to shove that 6.0 in there with the 4l80e soon. so what ever i do now, i want it to jive with the new motor and tranny set up.
that being said, snj8198 what combo would you put together? ive got lots to learn...
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11-09-2011, 04:53 PM | #11 |
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Re: Axle Options
With the 6.0 you can do about anything you want as it's a nice power plant with a nearly seamless torque curve and broad power band. But my opinion is 4:56's with the OD. That 4L80E has a tall first gear 2:48 and could use a bit over gearing to pull a load from a stop. When playing with an overdrive and 35's I like 4.56's with small block and 4:11's with a big block. Again I find it depends on the motor build though.
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Steve 1971 GMC Longbox. Full Roller Stroker 489 w/ FiTech EFI, Chris Straub Cam/NV4500/205/D60/14B w. Grizzly Locker and 4.11's. 2" Lift on 33's |
11-09-2011, 04:57 PM | #12 |
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Re: Axle Options
i found a really good budget build up in hot rod mag for the 6.0, I can easily get 450+ hp out of it with mild bolt ons and different cam. thats plenty for me. Im not drag racing it lol
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11-09-2011, 06:11 PM | #13 |
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Re: Axle Options
careful on your cam profile. you dont want to raise you powerband up so high that you make the vehicle ineffective for the towing aspect, if that's important to you. The higher the powerband starts, the deeper the gears you'll need to get into that band.
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Steve 1971 GMC Longbox. Full Roller Stroker 489 w/ FiTech EFI, Chris Straub Cam/NV4500/205/D60/14B w. Grizzly Locker and 4.11's. 2" Lift on 33's |
11-09-2011, 06:17 PM | #14 |
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Re: Axle Options
here is a quote from the article:
GM Hot cam, which had a 112-degree LSA and a lopey idle. It turned out that the first step up from stock-Crane's PN 1449551 with 210/218-degree duration at 0.050-inch tappet lift-was a real torque monster, churning out more peak and average lb-ft than any other cam tested. Read more: http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...#ixzz1dFVPeNKZ after they did all their "mild mods" they were getting over 500 hp
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11-10-2011, 01:57 AM | #15 |
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Re: Axle Options
I chose to go with a late model rear that has factory disc brakes w/ e-bake. It came out of a GMC truck with a 6.0L / 4L80e and has 4.10 gears and factory locker. This is an AAM 14 bolt full float axle 8 lug with a 10.5" ring gear.
I had purchased a complete low mileage rear from a diesel truck with the allison trans and it was geared 3.73... This is even bigger with 11.5" ring gear as opposed to the one above that had a 10.5" ring gear. I decided to go overkill with a D60 front and will probably never use it to its full potential, but I will never have to worry about it when I'm done.. plus the cool factor... Again these are 8 lugs and would require new wheels... as well as some fabrication to get the rear axle under the truck. I picked up a set of Hummer H2 17" wheels for cheap so that was a plus. |
11-10-2011, 10:18 AM | #16 |
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Re: Axle Options
dang mcmlxix that sounds beefy...i like it.....what type of fab work did that rear axel take?
and I talked to the guy I bought my truck from and he said the front axle was out of a k5. He said it was a 3.73 gear ratio...would this have the d40 or d44 axles in it?
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11-10-2011, 11:20 AM | #17 | |
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Re: Axle Options
Quote:
The AAM rear just needs a new set of perches at the right width and shock mounts that match the mounting points on the frame... You could tow a house and probably never kill the larger AAM rear.. Last edited by mcmlxix; 11-10-2011 at 11:23 AM. Reason: added link for conversion ... |
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11-10-2011, 11:23 AM | #18 |
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Re: Axle Options
the front is a 1972 k5 set up...
i found a 14 bolt ff with 4.56 on craigslist for $200, does that sound like a good deal?
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11-10-2011, 11:25 AM | #19 |
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Re: Axle Options
My rear end is almost identical to mcmlx's except I went with an 06 10.5 FF not the AAM and as he said gotta get new perches and move shock mounts as well mine is slightly wider than original semi floater but that's fine and I'm also running h2 wheels lol
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1987 Chevy V30 - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=573854 1988 IROC-Z Camaro - 305/T5 T-Top 1989 GMC V35 - Marbolo Express http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=596850 1991 V2500 Suburban Silverado - Sold 1991 V2500 Suburban Scottsdale - Big Nasty http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=497423 2001 Ram 3500 5.9 H.O NV56 EC DRW - Sold 2003 1500 Silverado 2004 Ram 3500 5.9 H.O NV56 CC DRW - Sold 2005 Silverado 2500HD 6.6/ZF6 CC LWB |
11-10-2011, 11:27 AM | #20 | |
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Re: Axle Options
Quote:
HERE is a good article about the 14 BFF .... |
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11-10-2011, 11:29 AM | #21 | |
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Re: Axle Options
Quote:
and how are yalls front ends set up? im basically starting from scratch so i can go any direction.
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11-10-2011, 11:34 AM | #22 | |
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Re: Axle Options
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I dont have mine installed yet... I need the cash from the sale of the rear to fund my crossover steering... I dont want 8 lug w/ 35" tires on the back and 33s up front while I wait to fund the D60 swap... |
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11-10-2011, 11:39 AM | #23 |
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Re: Axle Options
Mine was quite a bit for my rear axle lol but I wanted everything on it nothing missing a low mileage piece it came with the g80 locker, disc brakes etc as for my front I'm running an 86 Dana 60 that was a bolt in setup all I needed was new spring plate and u bolts which I got from 4wdfactory, in your case you want one from a single wheel 3/4 ton truck a 1 ton the perches will have to be moved out
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1987 Chevy V30 - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=573854 1988 IROC-Z Camaro - 305/T5 T-Top 1989 GMC V35 - Marbolo Express http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=596850 1991 V2500 Suburban Silverado - Sold 1991 V2500 Suburban Scottsdale - Big Nasty http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=497423 2001 Ram 3500 5.9 H.O NV56 EC DRW - Sold 2003 1500 Silverado 2004 Ram 3500 5.9 H.O NV56 CC DRW - Sold 2005 Silverado 2500HD 6.6/ZF6 CC LWB |
11-10-2011, 11:40 AM | #24 | |
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Re: Axle Options
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Also make sure the one you find is complete... rotors, calipers and if possible brake lines.... mine has all that and the e-brake cables... |
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11-10-2011, 11:41 AM | #25 | |
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Re: Axle Options
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ill have to start searching the bone yards. what gear ratio would most likely be in the 3/4 ton fronts?
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