I have a 1970 800a that I am building for the trails. My brother has a narrowed gm 14 bolt rear and a narrowed dana 44 front that will give me to put on it. I know these axles are stronger that what is on there now but my concern is I have not dealt with narrowed axles in the past, are they more prone to breakage than stock axles? I do know that the axles were narrowed before my brother got them and I do not know who made the modifications. I like the upfront price(free) but will this just cost me more money down the road?

what?

On the rear, I see no way to weaken a 14-bolt by narrowing it.

On the front, i am assuming that he only narrowed the long side, so that side will be stronger as narrowing it got rid of the neckdown, unless he just used a scout longside inner. The short side is still just as weak if its still stock, but i suppose you could narrow a long side and stregthen it up, but...

IT'S STILL A DANA 44!!!

what?

On the rear, I see no way to weaken a 14-bolt by narrowing it.



Unless they used questionable aftermarket shafts or narrowing practices. Seeing how he got the axles for free and I know what goes into narrowing axles, I'm willing to bet they arent top of the line parts.

I say run them till something breaks then upgrade to better parts or whatever.

Unless they used questionable aftermarket shafts or narrowing practices. Seeing how he got the axles for free and I know what goes into narrowing axles, I'm willing to bet they arent top of the line parts.

I say run them till something breaks then upgrade to better parts or whatever.

good point, and X2. put it in and run it. Or find a a junked K20 and go full width and H1's. That's what all the cool kids are doing these days. :smokin:

what?

On the rear, I see no way to weaken a 14-bolt by narrowing it.

On the front, i am assuming that he only narrowed the long side, so that side will be stronger as narrowing it got rid of the neckdown, unless he just used a scout longside inner. The short side is still just as weak if its still stock, but i suppose you could narrow a long side and stregthen it up, but...

IT'S STILL A DANA 44!!!


I know its still a dana 44 but it would replace a dana 30 so it would still be an improvement. The previous owner put a 345 in it and all the information I have seen is telling me having a heavy motor over a light front axle like the 30 is a bad idea. I don't want to run tires over 35" on it so I am thinking a 44 would be ok for that.

I'm betting that the rear 14B has not been narrowed.
What is the WMS to WMS lengths of both sets?
It's probably a C&C 14 Bolt (63.5" wide IIRC).

The front is probably a Chevy Front that was narrowed on the long side.

If the guy who did it had any brains, he would have narrowed it to be either Waggy or Bronco LS lenght.

I'd do the 14B & D44.... If your only running 35s, then make sure you shave the heck out of the 14B... Otherwise you can use it to plow fields.

I'm betting that the rear 14B has not been narrowed.
What is the WMS to WMS lengths of both sets?
It's probably a C&C 14 Bolt (63.5" wide IIRC).

The front is probably a Chevy Front that was narrowed on the long side.

If the guy who did it had any brains, he would have narrowed it to be either Waggy or Bronco LS lenght.

I'd do the 14B & D44.... If your only running 35s, then make sure you shave the heck out of the 14B... Otherwise you can use it to plow fields.

I haven't seen these axles yet so I don't have the lenghts I will have to check them out when I get up to my brothers some time. I do know he was going to put them under his cj 7 but changed his mind after he got them. thanks for the heads up on the shaving part I hadn't thought about that yet