10-28-2002, 10:24 AM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Oregon
Posts: 69
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Locking hub questions
I just bought a "Dana 44 Heavy duty" from a 73 chevy 3/4 ton for my 68 project. The guy had 2 front ends with 2 different hub styles. 1 had a pair of warns that are held on with little allen bolts. The other axle has these massive hubs that bolt on. So my question is this. Is this a more severe duty front end or just a early style. I have never seen this style of hub before and they are alot different then the ones on my 72. Any comments? thanks :
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10-28-2002, 12:28 PM | #2 |
user # 2756
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chesapeake, Virginia
Posts: 4,612
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What you have is what's refered to as external hubs and internal hubs. The external hub is an older style. Supposedly slightly weaker than internal hubs. The big hub would be the external type, it sticks out further and has an extra piece(spacer) between the locking mechanism and hub that rides on the spindle.
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1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm |
10-28-2002, 02:39 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,492
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I agree those big hubs look massive, but they are rather weak. Try some truck pulling or offroading in them sometime. And they also have a tendancy to loosen up and fall off.....lol
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10-29-2002, 12:59 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee
Posts: 58
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That's interesting, I don't remember ever breaking a set, or seeing anyone in our group break them. Even with Rat powered stick shift trucks and BIG tires. I do remember the plastic centers (dials) wearing out or getting stuck, but nothing ever broke, and none ever fell off. We could have swapped for late model internals cheap at the time, even cheaper than new original Dana Spicer externals (those were $75 if you knew where to buy, and we converted a lot of full time trucks).
I blew a set of late model internals all over the trail once, in my K10 with a 400 and 465 stick amd 4.88 gears. Blew them again at the truck pull. Of course, REAL trucks have 8 lug axles. We didn't call that truck "the Jade Grenade" for nothing. That's the last 1/2 ton truck I'll ever own, except my little 64 2WD hot rod. Alan (Longhorn 4x4) |
10-29-2002, 08:57 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,492
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Yeah I agree with the K10 story. That reminds me of my first one which was a 78 K10 shortbed with 40" Ground Hawgs on it. It looked mean, but it was a grenade truck as well and it was just a stock 350.
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10-30-2002, 08:14 AM | #6 |
Hillbilly Hotrod
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 69
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Never had a problem with my external hubs, I have lock tabs to keep the bolts from loosening up.
I have blown spicer u-joints and the hubs are still hanging in there. I am due for another set though, I have had them off so many times (Warn hubs) that the return springs have stretched and will not retract the left side all the way and they click. I had the choice of either the external or internal hubs when i was doing my swap and I am kinda partial to the looks of the ole external ones, so that's the way I went. BTW the only thing that is HD about these axles is that the tube walls are a 1/2" thick.
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69 K5, .060 over 350/465/205. |
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