Wheel / Axle question

[bsarts]

It looks like I might have to put a later model rear axle under my '62 K20 to get the gear ratio I want. I have an Eaton HO70 with 4.56 gears, I know I can get 4.11s, but that's not gonna be good enough, I want better mpgs. I'm pretty sure the Dana 44 front end will be a lot easier to find a set of 3.73s for.

My concern is, will my stock, three piece, 8 lug wheels fit on a later model 3/4 ton rear end? With all the money I spent on tires and tubes, etc. I don't want to throw them away.


Thanks, Brad

[The Rocknrod]

69-72 eight lug are 8 on 6.5" ???
What is yours?

[bsarts]

I don't know what they are and it'll be a week before I see them again to measure it. I'm thinking I'll want to get a 14 bolt to put in the rear, I think the bolt spacing is probably the same, but I am worried about hub dia. and such.

[66x3]

I thought I'd hit pay dirt when I found a 72 C20 frame with a Dana 60 to raise my gear ratio from the 4.57s but after cleaning it up and painting found that is a 3.54 ratio which I think will be a little too tall for my little 283 as I sometimes carry a 2000# camper. From one extreme to another.

[RedRoad]

Ive used my KH 16.5x8 clip style wheels on my 59 HO72, 72 HO52 and 84 14 bolt with no modifications.

A 14 bolt out of a 1 ton truck will bolt right in but more than likely will have a 4.10 or 4.56. A 14 bolt out of a 3/4 ton is more likely to have 3.73 gears but the spring pad width is 42.5in and needs to be changed to 40in to fit the early truck.


The Dana 60 rears usually have those 3.54 gears and are usually behind a big block. Not sure if bearings are still available for this full floating axle.

[bsarts]

Thanks, Red.

[66x3]

Yeah ,I wrongly assumed the dana would be at least 3.73 or 4.10s. Not sure it would be worth it to buy new gears , bearings ,seals and pay someone to put the dana together. I might have access to another 66 C20 with a 250 6cyl and three on the tree. This truck seems really high geared to the point where you have to almost slip the clutch a bit to take off. Any opinions on what might be in here? Maybe 4.10 or even the fabled 3.90s?

[66x3]

And yes I do understand the 3 speed transmission is geared a lot different than the truck 4 speed.

[bsarts]

Too bad you're not closer, I'd like to take that Dana 60 off your hands, but it looks like the best thing for me to do is to find a good 14 bolt. Apparently, the Eaton hubs will go right on to a 14 bolt, then I know for sure my wheels will go on and I've got a hell of a diff.

[66x3]

Shoot I'll deliver it,even give it to ya if you pay my gas out and back! Be a great roadtrip but maybe not so much this time of year. I do have a 14 bolt non floater i could resort to. Haven't checked the gear ratio but I kinda like the hubs sticking out of my aluminum wheels, lets everyone one know it's a 3/4 tonner!

[raylube]

Swapped my eaton 4.56 with 14 bolt 4.10 your wheels should work fine, just make sure you match your front diff gear ratio. If you want a Dana 60 with 4.10 i have 2 of them i could sell after i finish swapping them for a 14 bolt but thatmay be a while, i am located in preston

[raylube]

I also have my old eaton axle and extra eaton parts and a new set of rear drums and the dana 44 closed knuckle front if that will help

[bsarts]

Thanks 66 and Ray, another concern I forgot about earlier, is that I just sent out my park brake cables to be remade and I don't want to use an axle that won't work with them. So my only option might be to use a 14 bolt and swap my Eaton hubs onto it.

Brad

[72cs20]

Using the Eaton hubs on the 14 bolt would allow you to retain the Eaton 1/2 inch wheel studs. The 8 lug axles went to 9/16 inch studs in 1971, with the 8x6.5 bolt pattern being the same throughout.