front axle ID - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

crosby · 02-21-2005, 12:37 PM

I have a (3/4 ton?) with an 87 body on it, can't seem to figure out what it is. The axles are eight bolts, with a 14 bolt FF rear. I think it had a 203 in it, because a 203 xfer case shift indicator is in the glove box. The fenders say K10. I am wondering what front axle this has, how I can tell the difference between a dana 44 and a 10 bolt front, or a dana 60 for that matter. I do have an 85 K30 I am stripping, which has a dana 60 front and 14 bolt FF rear. I am hoping my truck doesn't have the 700r4, or a 203 (anymore?). Thanks alot for your help guys.

Prerunner1982 · 02-21-2005, 12:50 PM

compare the K30 front to the K20 front... but i bet its probably a dana 44..

crosby · 02-21-2005, 02:30 PM

Hi Jon. It's hard for me to tell the difference between a dana 60 and a dana 44, but I am not sure what good that will do me. I do have pictures I will post in a minute... thanks!

crosby · 02-21-2005, 02:36 PM

here's a few pictures. We're getting a lot of snow right now, about 8 inches so far, so truck work is not happening today.

good day to work on my garage, and tool bench though. I got some metal shelving for free from my work. That will help clean and organize the garage, help with productivity. Take care... Thanks for your help guys (girls?)

**MJN** · 02-21-2005, 03:16 PM

Thats a Dana 44. Dana 60's are much bigger than a 44 and only use three u-bolts. The pumpkin is so big that there is no room for a u-bolt and there are two studs coming out of the pumpkin for the spring plate to mount to. 60's came only in K/30 trucks.

crosby · 02-21-2005, 04:14 PM

Thanks MJN! What would identify a 10 bolt? I am going outside right now to look at my one ton to see the dana 60 with the two bolts coming out of the top. Thanks very much for the great information.

**MJN** · 02-21-2005, 04:21 PM

A GM 10 bolt would have more of a rounded cover and the 10 cover bolts that give it it's name. They look nothing like a Dana axle since Dana diff covers are easy to identify. Looking at the last picture you posted, scrape off the lower right hand corner where the small angle part of the pumpkin is and it should have a cast "44" right there. Hope this helps.

plumbcut · 02-21-2005, 04:21 PM

a dana 44 will have "44" cast into the case right where one of the yellow arrow's are.. sometimes you have to scrape the crud away to see it..

**MJN** · 02-21-2005, 04:23 PM

plumbcut beat me to it.

crosby · 02-21-2005, 04:30 PM

Thanks guys. It looks to me like the 44 has 10 bolts too. I always thought, like in the 12 bolt axles, they were referring to the bolts on the ring gear, not the cover... So is the 44 pretty decent then for my truck? I have a dana 60, but I would like to sell that and use that money to pay for a water softener/filter for our new house. The water smells funny now too, so I we've got to do something. It's always something, isn't it? I want to build a barn/shed this spring too. I will be plowing, driving the truck to the dump, and maybe horsing around a little here and there with it. Thanks a lot!

**MJN** · 02-21-2005, 04:51 PM

Dana 60 fronts easily go for $1000. Yes the 44 cover has 10 bolts also but it's not a "10 bolt". I've never had problems with a 44 before, have off roaded with mine and my friends have run 40" tires with no problems, the usual parts like ball joints just wear out faster but nothing major ever broke. You won't have a problem with your 44.

Prerunner1982 · 02-21-2005, 05:04 PM

just depends on how hard you wheel it...

Prerunner1982 · 02-21-2005, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crosby

I always thought, like in the 12 bolt axles, they were referring to the bolts on the ring gear, not the cover...

from what i understand a 10bolt has 10 bolts on the cover as well as on the ring gear... a 12bolt, has 12bolts on the cover as well as ring gear...

SanitysBane · 02-21-2005, 06:57 PM

some of the very first 10 and 12 bolts didn't have the same number of cover bolts as ring gear bolts

crosby · 02-22-2005, 12:10 AM

Hi guys. Here's some pics of the dana 60 in my one ton. Lots of rust on this one, but I am sure the axles are still good. Need a good going over I am sure. Back to work

02-21-2005, 12:37 PM	#1
crosby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 437	front axle ID I have a (3/4 ton?) with an 87 body on it, can't seem to figure out what it is. The axles are eight bolts, with a 14 bolt FF rear. I think it had a 203 in it, because a 203 xfer case shift indicator is in the glove box. The fenders say K10. I am wondering what front axle this has, how I can tell the difference between a dana 44 and a 10 bolt front, or a dana 60 for that matter. I do have an 85 K30 I am stripping, which has a dana 60 front and 14 bolt FF rear. I am hoping my truck doesn't have the 700r4, or a 203 (anymore?). Thanks alot for your help guys. __________________ Crosby 1978 Chevrolet K10 stepside NH

02-21-2005, 12:50 PM	#2
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	compare the K30 front to the K20 front... but i bet its probably a dana 44.. __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

02-21-2005, 02:30 PM	#3
crosby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 437	Hi Jon. It's hard for me to tell the difference between a dana 60 and a dana 44, but I am not sure what good that will do me. I do have pictures I will post in a minute... thanks! __________________ Crosby 1978 Chevrolet K10 stepside NH

02-21-2005, 02:36 PM	#4
crosby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 437	pictures of front axle - unknown truck here's a few pictures. We're getting a lot of snow right now, about 8 inches so far, so truck work is not happening today. good day to work on my garage, and tool bench though. I got some metal shelving for free from my work. That will help clean and organize the garage, help with productivity. Take care... Thanks for your help guys (girls?) Attached Images __________________ Crosby 1978 Chevrolet K10 stepside NH

02-21-2005, 03:16 PM	#5
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 3,051	Thats a Dana 44. Dana 60's are much bigger than a 44 and only use three u-bolts. The pumpkin is so big that there is no room for a u-bolt and there are two studs coming out of the pumpkin for the spring plate to mount to. 60's came only in K/30 trucks. __________________ '51 South Bend Model "9A" '56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's '72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress '08 GMC Envoy Denali '12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali '17 GMC Yukon XL VCCA member #58596 http://www.nohrco.com Last edited by MJN; 02-22-2005 at 11:44 PM.

02-21-2005, 04:14 PM	#6
crosby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 437	Thanks MJN! What would identify a 10 bolt? I am going outside right now to look at my one ton to see the dana 60 with the two bolts coming out of the top. Thanks very much for the great information. __________________ Crosby 1978 Chevrolet K10 stepside NH

02-21-2005, 04:21 PM	#7
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 3,051	A GM 10 bolt would have more of a rounded cover and the 10 cover bolts that give it it's name. They look nothing like a Dana axle since Dana diff covers are easy to identify. Looking at the last picture you posted, scrape off the lower right hand corner where the small angle part of the pumpkin is and it should have a cast "44" right there. Hope this helps.

02-21-2005, 04:21 PM	#8
plumbcut california fill Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sunny So-Cal Posts: 694	a dana 44 will have "44" cast into the case right where one of the yellow arrow's are.. sometimes you have to scrape the crud away to see it.. Attached Images

02-21-2005, 04:23 PM	#9
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 3,051	plumbcut beat me to it.

02-21-2005, 04:30 PM	#10
crosby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 437	Thanks guys. It looks to me like the 44 has 10 bolts too. I always thought, like in the 12 bolt axles, they were referring to the bolts on the ring gear, not the cover... So is the 44 pretty decent then for my truck? I have a dana 60, but I would like to sell that and use that money to pay for a water softener/filter for our new house. The water smells funny now too, so I we've got to do something. It's always something, isn't it? I want to build a barn/shed this spring too. I will be plowing, driving the truck to the dump, and maybe horsing around a little here and there with it. Thanks a lot! __________________ Crosby 1978 Chevrolet K10 stepside NH

02-21-2005, 04:51 PM	#11
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 3,051	Dana 60 fronts easily go for $1000. Yes the 44 cover has 10 bolts also but it's not a "10 bolt". I've never had problems with a 44 before, have off roaded with mine and my friends have run 40" tires with no problems, the usual parts like ball joints just wear out faster but nothing major ever broke. You won't have a problem with your 44.

02-21-2005, 05:04 PM	#12
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	just depends on how hard you wheel it... __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

02-21-2005, 06:57 PM	#14
SanitysBane Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,121	some of the very first 10 and 12 bolts didn't have the same number of cover bolts as ring gear bolts __________________ '96 Nissan Pathfinder '02 Firebird Trans Am. '88 K5 Blazer

02-22-2005, 12:10 AM	#15
crosby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 437	pictures of dana 60 Hi guys. Here's some pics of the dana 60 in my one ton. Lots of rust on this one, but I am sure the axles are still good. Need a good going over I am sure. Back to work Attached Images __________________ Crosby 1978 Chevrolet K10 stepside NH

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