How do you tell the difference between a 10 bolt and 12 bolt on a 3/4 ton chevy? I've been told that they don't make a 10 bolt in the 3/4 ton version. Is their any truth to this?

There is no 12 bolt front. Only rear options were 10 or 12 bolt rear (1/2 ton) semi or full float 14 bolt (3/4-1 ton). Fronts were 10 bolt, D44 (1/2- 3/4 ton) and D60 (1 ton)

is the 10 bolt 1/2 ton and the d44 3/4. what i have is a 10 bolt diff cover and 10 mounting bolts in the ring gear and 8 lug wheels.

both the 10 bolt and dana 44 were used on 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks. the 3/4 ton versions are stronger(or so i've heard). chevy phased out the dana 44 for the most part in the late '70s and went to the 10 bolt, but there ARE dana 44s stock on some trucks up into the early 80s

both have a 10 bolt cover on them, but they look distinctly different:
dana 44:
http://www.coloradok5.com/techpics/dana44.jpg

chevy 10 bolt:
http://www.coloradok5.com/techpics/gm10bolt85in.jpg

thanks for the info and the pictures tells all

i can not bring up these pictures is there another link or somewhere else i can go to see these?

actually 1/2 and 3/4 ton axles are about the same in the strength department, one just has 8 lugs vs 6.

to tell if its a corp 10 and not a d44, look for two little "ears" that stick off of the bottom of the diff. if it has these, its a 10b. good luck

i can not bring up these pictures is there another link or somewhere else i can go to see these?

Try here:
http://www.coloradok5.com/axleguide.shtml