[Cliffy [JD]]

Someone once told me I'd have to get custom shafts made. Does that same someone (or anyone) know why???

I was thinking of narrowing my 14bolt and 8-lug-44 for my scout (just a couple inches wider than stock scout)

PS: in the new "JP" magazine there's an informative article about shortening a front axle. FOR ANYONE INTERESTED.

 

[The Jerk]

well if you narrow the housing youll need to narrow the axel shafts too hence the word"custom" jiMMy

 

[Cliffy [JD]]

WOW <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> REALLY.....c'mon I knew that.....

What I was meaning was that "someone" told me that my shafts couldn't just be cut down, and respline but that I would HAVE to order custom shafts from someone like "DYNATRAC" for example....

 

[dirtrod]

If you were cutting a d70 you would have to replace the shafts, because they neck down the shaft, it's probably the same with the 14 bolts.

 

[Cliffy [JD]]

Hmmmm good point, not sure about it.

What about shaving a FF14bolt for clearance, I'm thinking that between doing that and narrowing it, I would be at or less than the weight of a (full width)D60 with (HOPEFULLY) equal or better Ground Clearance.

Anyone shave a 14 before?? GOT PICS???

[ 09-30-2001: Message edited by: Cliffhanger ]

 

[dirtrod]

I think a 60 would still be smaller/lighter, but It really wouldn't matter much either way, 14 bolts are good stuff.

You might look into leaving it full width and going with massive offset in the rear wheels, along with some 1/2 ton brakes. It would save $300, plus the narrowing work.

 

[Realsquash]

My 14 bolt shafts don't neck down... But I do think they are rolled splines, not cut. I could also be hallucinating?

Squash

 

[NoBrainR]

My axle shafts neck down. 1.540" od at the splines 1.360" od on the shaft.

 

[High5]

my 14bolt axles do neck down a bit and could not be cut down. why narrow a 14bolt? go find a cab and chassis dually chevy and get the rear end from it. the cab and chassis version dually 14bolt rears are 62" wide instead of the standard single rear wheel or standard duallys width of 67". you'll spend time and $$$ narrowing a standard 14bolt when you can just go find one of these rears and be done with it. that is what i run. i narrowed my front 60 to match.

 

[wheelinjp]

Well I had posted the fact that most 14bolts neck down after the splines and that most d70s dont. I thought you could use a d70 axle shaft and have it cut down, but it depends on what 14bolt you have. There is a 10.5 in one and a 9.75 one I think and the axle spline counts are different. But if you are getting them resplined just match it to the side gears.I also am not sure if the axle shaft end bolt patterns are the same between the d70 and 14bolt. As far as the clearancing of te housing I believe you can cut it down to the same as an uncut 60.

High 5 you said the same ting on the post I wrote this info on before and how common are these cab and chassis axles cause I dont think I have ever seen one from Alaska to Idaho.What dually came narrowed and are the axle shafts and hub assem. also narrower? If so What years and makes of truck did they come in?Thanks

 

[High5]

High 5 you said the same ting on the post I wrote this info on before and how common are these cab and chassis axles cause I dont think I have ever seen one from Alaska to Idaho.What dually came narrowed and are the axle shafts and hub assem. also narrower? If so What years and makes of truck did they come in?Thanks

well the only cab and chassis dually i have seen were the older early 70's-80's body style. the cab and chassis duallys are the truck that are sold as just that a cab and a chassis. they are used for work trucks that utilize utility beds, wreckers, box vans, flat beds, even motor homes. as i have said just because you are looking at a dually flatbed or any of the others i have listed does not mean it is the narrow version. take a tape measure and check. a way i can identify them is just by looking at the hubs. the narrow version's hubs stick out alot further than the standard version. the axles shafts are the same between the two . i could take a shaft from a single rear wheel 14bolt and it would bolt right into my rearend. the width difference is made up in the wheel hub. the actual wheel mounting surface/ring on the hub is inset more on the cab and chassis dually version. the housings are also a bit different but i havn't personnally had them side by side so i couldn't say what they are. i know another guy running the same rear and he is the one who had the two housings and compared them. as far as how common they are i'm not sure. i see alot of them around here (tx) but the bad thing is i havn't found many in j/yards. i ended up finding one out of a flatbed that a guy was parting out.

 

[RockJeep]

I'm pretty sure TPIjeep on this board has a narrowed 14 bolt, and www.wagonermachine.com makes custom 14 bolt fronts so i'm thinking a shaft can be either made or made to work.
good luck,
Bob

 

[elusiv]

i looked all around for a good way to narrow a 14 bolt... and then just pulled a dually axle out of a motorhome... 63" perfect...cheap too...
14 bolts axleshafts neck down at the splines. d-70 shafts do too. the spindles on a 14 bolt will never ever be straight again without hours of work by a good shop.....did i mention cheap for the narrow 14 bolt?///

 

[High5]

wheelinjp, go to H8mondays post on "need 14bolt info". he show a pic of the one he just got. notice how far the wheel hubs stick out past the wheel mounting surface. the standard 14bolt rear wheel hub only sticks out less than half that far. hope this helps.

 

[Cliffy [JD]]

well since I already have the standard FF14 bolt and it was FREE <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> I think the added cost of narrowing it will be well worth it.

Especially since I intend to do the axle narrowing myself, and have the shafts made then (since it appears that they narrow down towards the outside. )

 

[Old Scout]

The d70 shafts in my shed don't narrow at all!


<IMG width=474 height=656 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/d70_shaft.jpg">

 

[Leader]

Take a caliper and measure the splines, then measure behind them!! In the pic it looks like it narrows somwhat! If the splines are cut into the shaft after shortening it the shaft will woller in the side gears...Rolled splines may put the splines up to where they are now...Least thats what I see in the pic!!

 

[randii]

Look again... the splines are definitely of a larger diameter than the majority of the axle....

<IMG width=474 height=656 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/NO_d70_shaft.jpg">

I added a reference line for easier comparison....

Randii

 

[Cliffy [JD]]

Soo if we're talking even .003" it could make a difference in weather you can just cut and respline vs. custom shaft.

 

[The Rockslut]

It still would be easier to just find a dually 14 bolt. No cutting just regear(if needed) and lock.