I am doing research for a future senoir project at college. I want to design and develop a prototype selectable locker for the 14 bolt. I am wondering if theres a market for it? Whats the best way of operating it? Cable/Air/Electric Should it be just a drop in? Any and all commit and advice is welcome
Thanks.

If im not mistaking there are already some. What I would do is design something like the detroit electrac that is a LSD when "off" and locked when "on" It is not available for the 14 bolt. I think it would have a market, I know I would wan one. Also, I would find a way to use electricity that is reliable, that way there is no need for an expensive compressor etc..

I may be wrong but the 14 bolt axle is pretty easy to find and easy to install a detroit locker in it. Thats a no fuss type rearend. Now someone that has a special need in a selectable locker may want one. But at the cost that most lockers are running i would not want to spend the extra money to have something that in most cases would be less than desireable in the relaiblity and cost to install. The 14 bolt rear is not steerable in the same sense as a dana 60 could be. So no real reason to not have it locked up all the time.
Find something alot of people are bitching about and then fill that need with something and then you have something. Like brackets for a rearend swap into a New TJ Jeep wrangler using the 14 bolt.:D

You might also ask this at ColoradoK5.com, when I was there it seemed there was a lot of interest in this.

Pete

design some brackets to put a 1979 ford 60 in the front of a 1999+ half ton chevy truck. Only Kit out there is the fabritech one and its $$$. Ill be your test truck :cool:

If you want to know what there is huge demand for, Try working with a company to make gears higher than 5.13s for the 14bolt. The 14 bolt is the most commonly used heavy duty axle for offroaders. It is also paired with a dana 44, or dana 60 probably 9 out of 10 times. Both the 44 and 60 go as high as 7.17 and I know someone could sell a lot of those gears.

Charlo

If would buy a cable operated locker that:
is strong enough to match the 14s strength.
would fit in an open carrier.
is reliable and easy to operate.
cable routing that isn't hanging too far out in the breeze.
as easy to install as a Detroit, or close anyway, cable routing is an issue but not a big deal..
cost is comparable to a Detroit.
I really like the idea of a "reliable" cable operated locker. No electricity or air to worry about. Even if the cable gets snagged and broke you might still be able to lock the rear at the axle by moving the lever(or whatever control device).

I would like to get a selectable locker for mine. I've allready warn about 50% of the tread off my boggers in 7 months, with only about 3500 miles. The front are alittle better at about 65-70% left.