I have a dana 60(open) and a ff14bolt(gov. lock) in my chevy. They both have 4.10 gears. The things is since i am going to 39.5 boggers(up from 35 all terrains) i would like to go to either 4.88 or 5.13 gearing but some people are telling me in order to go over 4.10's i have to switch to a different carrier. Was just wondering if this is true. Also if i wanted to put a lock right in the 14bolt would i have ditch the gov. lock carrier and switch to a different carrier. I am very inexperienced with differentials so any help is appreciated. Thanks.

...I am very inexperienced with differentials so any help is appreciated. Thanks.This much is certain. If you have to ask, then take it to a reputable shop locally and tell them what you want. They will take care of any of the logistics.

If your bent on researching this more, go to Tractech's and ARB's website and start reading. The answers you seek are there.
Travis

the 14 bolt is easy, you can keep your carrier and install what the call a "thick" gear set, that allows you to use a 4:10 and taller carrier with lower gears. If you wanna get away from the gov loc, I suggest getting a stock open carrier and installing a detroit locker, the detroit goes inside the stock carrier on the 14 bolt, and is relatively cheap compared to others. As for the front 60, now is the time to put a tru trac or some ez locker type carrier up front that will accept the lower ratio ring and pinion. Thats what I'd do at least.
Sorry about the above post, some people find comfort in telling you what you should do rather then helping a guy out with a simple question.
I hope I have helped shed some light on the subject for ya. feel free to P/M me with any other questions you might have. I'll do my best to help you out.

Actually, I did help him out. Tractech's and ARB's website has the carrier ratio breaks as well as detailing the 'thick' gears on a lower carrier (that's on ARB's site for the 14 bolt). The Tractech site even go as far as to say that an open carrier must be sourced for their Detroit to be installed in it because they don't make a locker for the gov-bomb carrier. Every answer to every question the original poster had was there to be had and I told him where to get it. If this was insuficient then maybe I should have held his hand and even posted links to the exact information.
Travis

Sorry, my Bad, I just assumed a faunt of knowledge such as yourself would've known the answers right off the top of your head to these simple questions, and would've been happy to help the guy out first hand. :rolleyes:
And where is Aloha Or.? I lived in Bend for a while, I wish I had never moved back here to Ca. The air sucks here after being up there...

Yeah, I did consider just spewing forth the info, but thought it best to let said poster see it for themselves so that it would be considered fact an not just some asshats opinion. Yes, I was happy to help the guy out, even if not firsthand.

On a side note, Aloha is near Portland, OR. An unincorporated suburb in Washington County, often mistaken for it's closest major city Beaverton, OR. I hope your move south was for good reason, as I would not want to permanently relocate there unless forced to do so for a job, etc. At least you're closer to some really great wheelin' spots, although Bend has some pretty knarly trails, too.
Travis

Yeah, we thought My Mother in law had cancer, so we moved closer, thankfully she's fine, but now we're here....
I hope to get back to Bend within a year or so. For now, the Con is only 30 minutes away, now if I could only get my cruiser done....:(