10, 12, 14 -bolt?

[91-Blaz]

I am unsure on what to do. Is a twelve bolt the way to go, ground clearence and wieght, or should I really put a bullet proof 14 bolt in. How much do used units usaully go for? I am having a hard time finding either a 12 or 14 (six lug) and got one price of six fifty for a used 12-bolt. That seems a little high considering I can get a rebuilt 12- bolt posi for seven fifty. Some advice would be greatly appreciated

[brector]

Originally posted by 91-Blaz
I am unsure on what to do. Is a twelve bolt the way to go, ground clearence and wieght, or should I really put a bullet proof 14 bolt in. How much do used units usaully go for? I am having a hard time finding either a 12 or 14 (six lug) and got one price of six fifty for a used 12-bolt. That seems a little high considering I can get a rebuilt 12- bolt posi for seven fifty. Some advice would be greatly appreciated

What size tires are you going to run? This will make your decision for you.

[91-Blaz]

I am running 33's, but my go bigger as $$ permits

[drunkmarine]

those prices sound kinda high to me.. you should be able to get a 10 bolt for free, a stock 12 bolt that hasnt had anything done too it for free or maybe a couple hundred bucks. i ran 37" boggers with 10 and 12 bolt locked axles without breaking a rear, but if you get big tires i would invest in the 14 bolt if you can afford it just because it comes with huge brakes. my brake pads and shoes dont last but about 2 months before they get shot, so im going to 1ton axles as soon as i can afford to. do some more digging before you pay a lot for 1/2 ton axles.

[drunkmarine]

if you keep it to 35"s or less a 12 bolt will probably be ok.

[Bigger Valves]

Originally posted by 91-Blaz
I am unsure on what to do. Is a twelve bolt the way to go, ground clearence and wieght, or should I really put a bullet proof 14 bolt in. How much do used units usaully go for? I am having a hard time finding either a 12 or 14 (six lug) and got one price of six fifty for a used 12-bolt. That seems a little high considering I can get a rebuilt 12- bolt posi for seven fifty. Some advice would be greatly appreciated

$650 for a rear 12 bolt is a joke.. 12 would hold up to smaller tires.. but 14 bolt is so much stronger and simple to convert to disk brakes..

[brector]

Originally posted by drunkmarine
if you keep it to 35"s or less a 12 bolt will probably be ok.

I agree.

[spoolnaround]

Those prices are highway robbery :eek:
Keep your eye on the paper and let the word be known that you want a 14ff. Run the 10 bolt untill you find your deal on the 14. I paid $200 for my 14 ff and a 44 from a 74 3/4ton PU. The key is to keep the cash on hand so when the deal comes up you can jump on it.

I just got back from PNP 20 mins ago and there must have been at least 6 14ff and about half of those were complete and unmolested.

[tuckster]

Just be patient and shop for deals, I picked up a matching 10 bolt and 14 bolt ff with 4.10's for $25.... :D
I just bought a truck and pulled the axles; the motor, tranny and t-case paid for the axles. That's teamwork. :D

[CJ-Jeeper]

When you ask a question, you need to give all pertinent information. One axle is not right for every truck & every driver.

What kind of truck is it for?
How much horsepower?
What gears?
Do you use the stupid pedal a lot?
What type of wheeling do you do?
Did you break the 10 bolt?
How big a tire will you eventually run?

If this is for a '91 Blazer, a 12 bolt is'nt much of an upgrade. Just a little bigger ring gear. Your 10 bolt should have the same 30 spline shafts & you still have a weak housing.
On the other hand, a FF14 is too big for 33's & they are all 8 lug. They can be converted to 6 lug, but that's expensive unless you have a buddy with a machine shop. Is your truck IFS or SFA? If you have IFS & are'nt doing a SAS, you're SOL for an 8 lug rear.

Sounds like you need a 6 lug SF 14 bolt. They came in light duty 3/4 tons & I think some Z71's, from what I have heard. Or just keep the 10 bolt if you're not breaking it.

[spoolnaround]

Or find a 60 and shave it.

[91-Blaz]

Thanks for all of the input. I think a sf 14bolt with 6 lug axles is what I want, I am just having truble finding one.

I did some more pricing and it will cost me aroung nine hundred for a rebuilt twelve bolt with a aburn posi. Sounds like a rip off.

I am putting it in my 91 Blazer, a solid front axle, only pushing around 230 hp:( . I plan on stroking the 350 when this one dies, and yea I guess I use the stupid pedal a little. I might up my tires to 35's but not anytime soon and I did blow the ten (Spider Gears) so I need something bigger than a 10 and I guess 12.

I have been to a couple of pnp around here but there hasn't been squat. I guess I will keep looking. thanks

[indysand]

I've seen 8 lug 14's for under 200. They are easy to setup gears in, and a detroit locker is the cheapest for the 14 also. If you are gonna do it, go for the strength.
Phil

[Big J Blazer]

I have a kinda similar question? I have an 84 K-5, that i just want to be huge. Not gonna wheel it at all. I can do this cause I am fortunate enough to have a 73' Ford F-250 as a beater. the K-5 has a new 350, 260 horses i think, and a 700r4 with 10-bolts. I'll be puttin in 4.56's. For street use only, could the stock 10-bolts handle, say, 39.5" swampers? Or would they break just under street use?

[SCOTTS_4X]

I've seen plenty of 39.5's on 10 bolts (and laugh every time) they hold up fine, especially with only 4.56's, you won't be twisting anything very hard with 260 HP and 4.56's, it shoudl holf up fine, hell I have 4.10's and 38.5's and it's a dog, I need 4.88-5.13 range to get any kind of power out of it, but that's in the works....anyways, just my .02

-Scott

[over rev]

I own a 93 blazer, I have gone through 3- 10 bolts untill I went to straight axle,I owned this truck since new,If I were you run the ff 14blt and add the 8 lug I.F.S outers for 8-lug for now,now thats smart! and affordible,,,,,,Is there a u-pull it anywere out there? I see IFS outers all the time here ff 14blts for $104.00----u-pull-it!I am sellin a complete front axle for $1000.00 complete with high steer arms and solid steel tie rods with heim joints and brakets u weld on(gear 4:10 open diff);)

[Home Built]

I got a 12 bolt rear and a 10 bolt front stock with 373 gears and open that I am not using.
Make me an offer if you want them, or one of them.
the 12 bolt looks like it just needs drums and the 10 bolt is complete except calipers.