I have a 1969 c30 cab chassis and would like to know....

[72timemachine]

if anyone can tell me if, (what I think is an ho72 rear end) is the same width as GM's 14 bolt corporate rear end. The lug nuts are going to need some work to get them off otherwise I would just measure it and not bother you kind folks.

The numbers/letter?....stamped into the top of the rear end are supposed to tell me if I have a ho72.....from what some folks have told me. I cannot be sure because it is a bit difficult to tell a letter from a number. Is it O27GL, but if you close it looks like there is a number or letter between the O and the 2 that I cannot make out. Is it a zero or the letter o? I never claimed to be parts number wizard.

I would rather take out the ho72 and save it because it has very low mileage on it and the parts are not easy to get if you break something and replace it with the cheaper more readily available 14 bolt which is strong enough for what I will be doing with it.

Thank you for any help ahead of time.

[cooperhw]

No sure on exact width, but I pulled out my ho52 & installed a 14 bolt. Used same springs, new u bolts.

[Mike C]

With square bodies, the dually (factory bed installed) trucks came with a Dana 70 while the cab & chassis trucks came with a 14 bolt. The C&C 14 is a bunch narrower than the 70 and would be about the same as the HO72 I think.

[swamp rat]

From the picture it looks like ether an HO52 or an HO72, round cover in the back?

Read this thread starting on pg 2 it may help but i don't have a picture of a 69 spec sheet.

There has been a big debate on what makes a 72 different from a 52, its not just the load bolt on the driver side as some 52's have that too, the only other factor is the drum size but even that is questionable

EDIT: would help if i add a link to the thread i'm talking about..

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=590959

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[franken]

If the original diff is ok, why change?
I think the 14 bolt came out in '75, but don't trust me.
There are a number of things to look at. wheel mount spacing (WMS), spring center, and shock mount. Shock mounts, or at least one are different (staggered vs on the same side of the diff). I think even the C&C in squares is going to have wider spring centers. Finally, the WMS is varied for dual wheels with different hubs, may generally be different as well. Generally diffs from a square body will be closer.
Later 14 bolts with disks will be wider.

I spent a lot of time researching this and marching around scrapyards measuring a few years ago.