I am looking at buying a 84 crew cab diesel dually chevy and was wondering if the rear axle is the same size as that of a non-dually truck? I would like to remove the dual wheel set up if that is possible and still use the stock axle. Thanks

the "dually setup" is essentially the brakes. and the axle is configured to work with the brakes, so you cannot in my opinion completely convert to single wheel without changing the axle itself. I have an 89 1 ton c&c dually with the narrow 14 bolt. For now I'm running single h2 wheels on the axle, which gives me a narrower track width in the rear than in the front.I'm just going to live with that untill I can afford a later style, fully ribbed, one ton single wheel 14 bolt axle.The major bonus there being the ability to upgrade to disk brakes, which I can't do with the dually axle, because of the relationship between the backing plate mounting flange and the wms(i think, if I'm wrong please let me know)

hope that helps


49 gmc

If its a 14 bolt it should be. The dana 70 rearends were the narrow ones.

If its a 14 bolt it should be. The dana 70 rearends were the narrow ones.

:shaking: :shaking: :shaking:

1-ton WMS axle widths:
==================
DRW Cab & chassis (14-bolt): ~63"
SRW pickup (14-bolt): ~67"
SRW van (14-bolt): ~70"
DRW pickup (Dana 70HD): ~72"

49gmc is on the right track. The 63" and 67" versions are the same width housing, but the backing plate flange is a few inches further inboard for the dually brakes. The hubs are what change the overall width.

Ok after you switch the SRW 14 in the back what are you gonna do about the front dually hub offset? :eek:

I changed my dually to single wheel. The Dana 70hd rear is just to wide if you ask me. I would just sell it and get a single wheel 14 bolt. They run about $300 where I am. If you can find the right buyer those rears {D70hd} are worth quite a bit. The salvage yards are getting $1000-$1500 where I am. I was only able to get $350 out of mine but was in a hurry to get on with my project. The front was simple,just change to single wheel hubs. To do so you have to drill out the stud holes in the rotor so they will fit the single wheel studs. Remove the caliper,take off the dually hub and rotor,drive the studs out,drill the rotors out, install new bearings and races in the new hub after packing the bearings, set the rotor on the hub, install the new studs,and reinstall. Total cost about $480-$500.Cheaper than buying a single wheel Dana 60. I hope this helps.

Thanks for the info!

The salvage yards are getting $1000-$1500 where I am. I was only able to get $350 out of mine but was in a hurry to get on with my project.

:confused: :confused: :confused:

I know $350 isn't much but I live in Nebraska and there isn't any demand here. The nice thing is there are lots of old trucks sitting in tree rows. Old 1/2 and 3/4 tons not many 1 tons though.

No I meant, $1500 is an outrageous price for a dana 70...wow. :eek:

So how much do dana 60 fronts run there in Nebraska? I know on the west coast they are getting scarce cuz everyone's gettin into rockcrawling, and here on the east coast they are cheaper but always rusty and a bitch to disassemble.

No I meant, $1500 is an outrageous price for a dana 70...wow. :eek:


Depends on the context. $1500 is cheap for a D70 when you're a premium wrecking yard selling to a dealer for an insurance or warranty claim. I'm thinking $2200 net with new seals and 1-year warranty.

And if that wrecker's only got one in his whole yard... you guessed it - that's the price no matter who wants it. :p

Now if we're talking local Buy & Sell paper or penny ads... well... I saw a Chevy D70HD for $200 which I thought was 'reasonable'.

I'm looking for a D70HD right now and am having a hard time locating one locally. Is there a place I should try instead of regular bone yard; like a big truck bone yard?

I haven't found any dana 60's here except in yards.I did find a place that had two of them for $450 each. Most run $800-$1500 depending who has it. One chevy one dodge,one needed some work.There are quite a few furd 60s. I paid $1500 for a 1980 gmc 1 ton 4x4, had bad tranny. Sold tranny and t-case for $550,{th400-np205 combo},rear dana 70hd $350,and am selling the rebuilt 454 Weiand intake,Holley 4bbl for $1000obo if someone needs one.So I have a dana 60 front that didn't cost much.It is a nice clean one to. I think that is the best way if you have time and a trailer.We don't have all that wet weather so they aren't very rusty. As to dana 70hd's they shouldn't be that hard to find,look on Ebay. Those salvage yards are pretty proud or their stuff.Best to just find one someone parked.I know where a number are sitting.