axle question, dana60 or gm14?

[500HP/SB]

ok, i'm running 35" tires, a 450+ hp small block with an sm 465 and an np205 with 1/2 ton axels (i think 3:73). I'm not sure which rear axel i want, a Dana 60 (3/4 ton?) or a gm 14 bolt full floater(1 ton?). i have ben told that there are two types of 14 bolts out there. someone told me that there is a 14b semi floater and a 14b ff. how can i tell the drifference? is a dana 60 strong enough for me, my niegbor has a rear dana60 with 4:10's(the gears i want) and a posi for $400. good price?

I think i can build my dana 44 strong enough since most of the time when i'm really puting the power down i will be on the street in 2 wheel drive. Can i build it strong enough?

I already have 6 lug aluminum wheels (previous owner). can i get 6 lug axels for a dana 60 or gm 14b?

Thanks alot, Lance

[JIMs70GMC]

$400 for what you want sounds good. Dana 60s came behind big block trucks. There's even a 1 ton dually version out there. The posi should be a powr-loc which is rebuildable and the pre-load can be increased by adding extra clutches. Sounds like a good deal. I tested the powr-loc in my dana60 (34 years old) still within specifications. I have a copy of the powr-loc service manual and could mail it to you if you needed it(a copy).
One last thing, are you stopping at 35s, or do you see even larger tires in the future?

[1969 GMC]

I may be going out on a limb here, but I think that $400 for that axle is too much...unless it has just been totally rebuilt with all new stuff. A dana 60 would work fine for your application, but a 14 bolt may be easier to find. 14 bolts came in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks 73+.

[500HP/SB]

Thanks guys, but can anyone tell me about the two different types of 14b axles?how can i tell the difference? A 14b is stronger than a Dana 60 right? No i dont think i will ever run anything bigger than a 35" tire, but i only want to do this once so maybe i will go for the 14b. I want to be able to try stupid stuff without worrying about my rear end. Can i get 6 lug axles for a 14b? oh, one more question, will the leaf spring mounts for a 73'+ be the same width as my 70' k10? thanks again, Lance

[DennyB]

A dana 60 is very strong, although IMO the 14FF is tougher.
You can also get the earlier version of the 14 bolt out of 67-72 3/4 tons.
Not sure about the semi-floater but the full floater is bullitproof.
I had one (open) in my 71 and also had a one with a locker out of a 69.
The FF has the hub extension that sticks through the center of the wheel and has a cap with bolts on the end.
This version has a round cover on the back with 10 bolts and a nodular drop out center section on the front similar to the ford 9".
These are called HO52 and HO72. The locker was referred to on the option list as a "no slip"
I dont know of a way to convert these to 6 lugs.
the HO52 and HO72 can ve had for a reasonable price. I bought a locker (HO52) for $75 and did not use it and sold it for $90.
These come in both leaf and coil versions

Check out this link..
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=105279

pic of the HO52..

[jerry moss]

there are several versions of the 14 bolt, my 90 SS454 has a 5 lug 14 bolt semi floater. early 90's 4x4s also used a 6 lug version of the 14 bolt semi floater. my 84 suburban 3/4 ton 4x4 has a semi floater 8 lug 14 bolt. i use full floater 14 bolts under my 72 3/4 ton 4x4s. newer H.D. trucks use a 8 lug full floater 14 bolt with disc brakes.
dana 60s are o.k. but axle shaft diameter is not even close to a full floater 14 bolt. i'm not sure about buying a completely rebuilt differential for 400 bucks, i just bought a new eaton posi unit, ring and pinion and install kit for my 14 bolt full floater and it cost me $800.00 just in parts--shop cost--we build differentials at the shop i work in.
i have a dana 60 with 4.10 gears and a factory detroit locker out of a 72 gmc 2wd with leaf springs if you're interested. you haul it $100.00.

[Budweis]

Originally Posted by 1969 GMC

I may be going out on a limb here, but I think that $400 for that axle is too much...unless it has just been totally rebuilt with all new stuff. A dana 60 would work fine for your application, but a 14 bolt may be easier to find. 14 bolts came in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks 73+.

man i wish i could have found one of these dana 60's totally rebuilt for 400.00 before i spent a grand rebuilding my rear differential. i would think just getting the new gears in would cost that much. if anyone has one of these rebuilt dana 60s for 400.00 ill take one for my front with 4:56 gears in it.

[500HP/SB]

WOW, had to read it a few times to grasp it all. so an HO52 and HO72 are both 14b but the HO52 is semi floater and the HO72 is FF? my niegbor, the guy with the dana60 for sale said he has blown up 2 14b semi floaters. any word on the leaf spring mounts for different years? Thanks so much guys, Lance

[DennyB]

Originally Posted by 500HP/SB

WOW, had to read it a few times to grasp it all. so an HO52 and HO72 are both 14b but the HO52 is semi floater and the HO72 is FF? my niegbor, the guy with the dana60 for sale said he has blown up 2 14b semi floaters. any word on the leaf spring mounts for different years? Thanks so much guys, Lance

Nope
Both the HO52 and HO72 are FF.
The semi floater are from the 80's and have a 9 1/2" ring gear.
Here is a blowup of the 9-1/2" SF axle
http://www.kldriveline.com/gmdiff9.5.htm
Also here is a quote from 1969 GMC on the link above.

Originally Posted by 1969 GMC

pre 67, 1/2 ton trucks had an axle that looked like the HO52 but was semifloat with 6 lugs.

I think the key here is the dana is a good deal if its in good shape.
If you do go with a 14 bolt, use a FF.
Remember the the pic I showed you above of the HO52 & HO72 only has 10 bolts in the rear pumpkin, but has 14 bolts holding the 10-1/2" ring gear to the carrier

[1969 GMC]

14 bolt ff axles are larger than the sf axles, they are heavier, have bigger ring gears, and bigger shafts. A dana 60 is actually stronger than a 14 bolt sf, but not nearly as strong as a 14 bolt ff. However, a 14 bolt sf may be your best bet...find one out of a junked early 90's light duty 3/4 ton (with 6 lugs, not 8). That way you can keep your wheels and add a little beef.

jerry, i thought the detroit locker was only available in the Eaton axles...the dana 60's only option was the powr-lok posi. ?

[Dwaynes56&68]

Since your only running a 35 inch tire, you would lose about 2 inches ground clearence with the 14 bolt, and about 1 inch with the 60. Kinda defeats the purpose of 35's off road clearence wise. Since you sound like you want to keep your wheels, maybe a set of c clip eliminators and some forged axles from Moser would work better for you. A 12 bolt setup like that would not be considered weak.

[b454rat]

I'm not sure what year your truck is, but on mine (62 burban) it has the same spring pad width as 1 ton Gms, and heavy duty 3/4 ton Ford, about 77 to 79. I did a bunch of checking on bolt in or near bolt in axles for the rear, and the Gm full floater was too big and heavy for what I wanted. I found a Dana 60 HD out of a 79 Ford that was the same pad width as my truck, 40 1/2". I don't know about dodges, I measured some and they were different. So, for bolt in axles I would go with the Dana 60, still stronger than the 1/2 ton crap, but no overkill like the 14 full floater. Dana 60 uses a better "posi" than the 14ff, it won't lock or unlock when you don't want it to. Just my opinion.

[jerry moss]

Adam---1969 GMC
the paperwork in the truck says it is a NoSPIN. i believe the nospin is the same unit used in the ho52 and ho72. i could be wrong though, i have been before,lol, hell, i've been married twice

[1969 GMC]

lol this is confusing me trying to read it all...i will try to make a little chart

14 bolt ff...came in 73+ 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. i think the axles from a 1 ton have the same perch width. 10.5" ring gear. 8 lugs with a large protruding hub. very heavy and overkill, but easy to find. 14 diff cover bolts. Gov-Lock is the only factory posi, except for the military CUCVs which had detroit lockers.

(for comparison) dana 70 ff...came in '70s Ford and International 1 ton trucks, and some 73+ GM 1 ton duallys. 10.5ish ring gear, 8 lugs with protruding hubs. equivalent to 14 bff. very heavy and overkill. 10 diff cover bolts. Powr-Lok is the only factory posi.

14 bolt sf...came in some light-duty newer model trucks. 9.5" ring gear. 6 or 8 lugs, no protruding hub. not sure on perch width. 14 diff cover bolts. Gov-Lock posi available.

dana 60 ff...came in 69(?)-72 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4s(leaf), and 69(?)-72 GMC & Chevrolet 2wd 3/4 ton trucks equipped with big block(coil). some 2wd may have come with leaf and w/o bb. This axle was also very common in Ford, International, and Dodge trucks from the 70s. 9.75" ring gear. 8 lugs with large protruding hubs. 10 diff cover bolts. Powr-Lok posi available.

dana 60 sf...came in 67-68 GMC 1/2 ton trucks and some mopar muscle cars. GMC version has 6 lugs with no protruding hub, unsure on chrysler. 9.75" ring gear. 10 diff cover bolts. Powr-Lok (?)

eaton ho52 ff...came in 47-72 GM 3/4 ton trucks. drop out third member. 10.5" ring gear. 8 lugs with protruding hub. 10 diff cover bolts in oddball pattern. detroit locker only factory traction aid available, called "No Spin"
eaton ho72 ff...same as above except came in 47-72 1 ton trucks, had larger backing plates and drums, otherwise the exact same.
eaton ho32(?) sf...came in pre '67 1/2 ton trucks, has a smaller ring gear than the above 2 axles and is sf, but still has dropout third. Unsure of locker/posi.
eaton h110 ff...was an optional axle in some pre '72 1 ton trucks. 12.25" ring gear. dropout third member. No diff cover bolts (cover is welded on). Unsure of locker/posi.

[DennyB]

Thumbs up Adam!

[Bram]

Here is a good reference on the 14 bolt, http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/14b_bible/

I am running a FF 14 bolt in my 72, and you will need to move the leaf spring mounts, and also the shock mounts.

[500HP/SB]

wow that is a great article. thanks for all the help guys