[tellicojeeper]

i have a 14 bolt that is 68" wide and i have a dana 70 that is 73" wide. i want to run a axle about 66"-68" wide. they both have 4.10 gears. both are factory locked. and the d70 has dually hubs that will have to be swapped to srw hubs. i will have to cut the d70 to get it in my width range. i want to run 5.38 gears and 37s-38s. i know these axles are overkill but they are free and i will not have to worry about breaking and holding up the group. when i measured the pumpkin from the tube down, both seem to be around 5". 2" of which can be shaved easily. so which axle has the upper hand. lets hear your preferences.

[tellicojeeper]

the dana 70 is the d70hd version with 1/2od tubes

[flatlander757]

Considering 5.38 gears aren't available for the D70 go for the 14 bolt

FWIW the 14 bolt is easier to get spare parts for in general, they are super easy to set up the gears, and they have a pinion support which is stronger and can make a great spot for tying a truss into.

I got my D70HD because it was already built to match a D60 that I got with it. I THOUGHT I had 5.38s but some research and I found out they don't exist for a D70. Turns out I have 5.86s which is fine by me as it moves fine and RPMs are about perfect with 40s.

Sounds like there's no reason for you to go with the D70.

[tellicojeeper]

when i measured the bottom of the pumpkin, they seem to hang down the same. why do they say a d70 has better clearance

[flatlander757]

You might not be measuring right or something as I'm pretty sure the 14 bolt is indeed bigger than the 70.

There are like 7 different versions of the D70... there is the standard D70, the D70B, the D70U, the D70HD, the D70HD-3, etc etc.

The D70U has a very smooth bottom and is a bit higher clearance than the 70HD.

I tried digging up factual clearance numbers on both axles but couldn't find anything, though I'm sure that the D70HD is the biggest of all the different 70s, which might just be the same or very close to the same clearance as a 14b.

I did find out that the D70 has a nodular iron housing vs the 14b cast iron housing. The 14b torque load rating is 6242lb-ft and the 70HD is 8800lb-ft. Neither of which really mean a whole lot in the real world but figured I'd share.

[tellicojeeper]

i like the pinion support on the 14 bolt. but then a dana is a dana. course its just a name also. my dad has 4 14 bolts. 3 out of cab and chasis, and one dually truck. so plenty of extra parts. the d70hd has some serious axle tubes,like 4in tubes. both look like they can be shaved quite a bit. i guess someone is going to have to tell me use this one not the other one. wish all decisions was like this. cant go wrong either way. the reason im torn on the d70 is i talked to the manager at OX Lockers. we talked about an hour about designing a locker for the 70. always wanted a rear ox locker. i will probally just run a 14b with 4.10s since the hp 44 has 4.10s. and wait a little while to see if OX follows through. that way im only out a u-joint, spring perchs and shock mounts. got to love rear leaves. since the wheels will work on either.

[tellicojeeper]

how is your 70hd setup locker wise? is yours shaved? how much does your chunk hang below the tubes?

[Mark4883]

Do you have any pics of this beast, I don't think I have ever seen one before. Also, what is the D70 coming out of?

[Brads_nky_yj]

14 bolt. Nuff said.

[tellicojeeper]

thanks brad, just what i needed

[tellicojeeper]

i dont have any pics of it. they come in one ton trucks and vans. chevy, ford, and dodge used them selectively. the cover looks just like a d60. but the actual chunk is huge. my d70 is a hd with 4in tubes if you can imagine that. you can google dana 70 thread. lots of info. flatlander has one, check out his pics.

[5-90]

NB: There are two variations on the GM 14-bolt axle:

The semi-floating version has a 9.5" ring gear.

The full-floating version has a 10.5" ring gear.

Is yours a 14B SF or a 14B FF?

And, as I recall, switching from DRW to SRW is worth something like five inches of narrowing on the D70, so that would bring it in range of the 14B anyhow.

[tellicojeeper]

my 14b is the 10.5 ff. the deal with the hubs on the 70 is installing srw hubs widens the axle over drw hubs. duallys were narrower to compensate for two rear tires. my d70 is the widest dually axle at 73" by installing srw hubs it would be 78~79". correct me if im wrong.

[tellicojeeper]

just recieved a pm from yjcrawler. his 14 bolt has 11" of clearance with bald 37s and retains all 14 bolts, just the bottom lip shaved. my 8.25 has 8" of clearance with 31s. difference between 31s and 37s is 3" of ground clearance. so it would be the same ground clearance ratio. correct?

[Mark4883]

Originally Posted by tellicojeeper

i dont have any pics of it. they come in one ton trucks and vans. chevy, ford, and dodge used them selectively. the cover looks just like a d60. but the actual chunk is huge. my d70 is a hd with 4in tubes if you can imagine that. you can google dana 70 thread. lots of info. flatlander has one, check out his pics.

Will do, thanks.