14 bolt in a 68 longhorn?

[twich3136]

I found a 14 bolt from a 99 silverado for 300 bucks. I can't seem to located any useful information about dimensions. The truck is leaf with an ho52. I know the 14 bolt will be wider but by how much is what I'm wondering. I know The perches will have to be moved and it's heavier. Any ideas what issues I might find?
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[argonaut]

I'm guessing here, but the late model 14 bolt is probably around 3 inches wider. You'll have to find someone who has one who can measure the hub surface-hub surface width.

You'll most likely need to cut off and weld on new spring pads and new shock mounts.

I'm not sure how heavy the HO52 is but I do know that the GM corp 14 bolt is on heavy SOB! I can lift a fully dressed 12 bolt into the bed of my truck by myself, and I can barely lift of side of the 14 bolt!

I'm wondering why you want to remove the HO52? If it is mechanically sound I'd run it. Unless it is a semi-floater. I hate semi-floating axles, such a poor design.

[twich3136]

Mostly I'm trying to go to 4 wheel discs. This 14 bolt has factory discs. Later down the road it'll get a 4wd conversion. That'll be the fun tricky part. I like my ho52 and ill probably rebuild it for a different truck later because it has the original posi but for this truck it's about modernizing. The ho52 is frustrating because there is so little aftermarket.

I think this 14 is a full float. I really don't know if my ho52 is ff or sf. 3 inches wouldn't be too bad. Brakes might be a bit tricky to hook up I imagine.
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[twich3136]

This is the axle. I'm still waiting to hear back from him. It doesn't come with the springs which save me the trouble of relocating the hangars. Although I have a sneaking suspicion my springs won't match the perches
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[argonaut]

The axle in the photo looks to be a semi-floater to me. Not sure if that matters to you or not. Springs or no, I'm betting the spring-to-spring width on the newer axle is different from the old on, but i could be wrong.

You can easily adapt disk brakes to the HO axle http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...g/EHO5272.html
But the trick is getting a small bore master cylinder for the rear. These brackets fit GM "D52" type calipers. but you'll need a small bore, smaller than the fronts. 78-79 Eldorado calipers and wilwood calipers will work if i remember correctly.

The newer axle is probably a safer route if you don't mind the fab work and welding.

[twich3136]

I have found some options for converting to disc on the 52 but I worry about replacement parts when it finally goes out. Also part of my reasoning to go newer. It took me an hour to get a diff cover seal from napa because he thought I was crazy. I guess he's not very familiar with old Chevys. After fabing some Chevy axles to a yota I'm not too concerned about the fab work on the Chevy.

I feel like I read somewhere that the newer springs are a tad wider than mine. If that's the case ill just convert the newer springs to work.

What are the pros and cos for ff vs sf?
I'm definitely saving that link
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[argonaut]

FF is just like a front axle. There is an axle hub, that rides on a hollow spindle. The spindle bears the load of the truck and the axles can slide right in and out. if you ever have an axle failure, or a differential failure, you're axles and wheels won't slide right out like on a SF.
Thats why I like full floating axles, but they are physically heavier.

Looks likey the 99 springs should be 2-1/2" wide. http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index....oducts_id=7367
if I were you I'd try to get the springs with the axle. You may be able to make the later model springs work with some poly bushings for the wider hangers. Are your 68 springs 3" wide? Do they get skinnier or wider at the ends? The 99 springs are going to be longer, but you could relocate the spring hangers as well...

[twich3136]

My springs are somewhere around 58" so I'd have to relocate the hangers but I've been wanting newer springs anyway. Mine are rock hard. I can't say off the top of my head how wide my springs are but I know they aren't wider than 21/2" I should just get the springs too and do it all at once. Save me some trouble later.
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[in deep 72]

I swapped in a 14 bolt into my '69 GMC (a long time ago so hopefully my memnory is still good). It was older than the one your using and it was a FF. I had to change the spacing between the springs by 2". Rather than cut the pearches off, I cut the fivits off the hangers and made 1" spacers to between them and the frame. It wasn't that bad of a job.

Going to a newer axle, especially if it already has disk brakes is a good upgrade. Although I'm more a fan of the FF. Here's a good link to 14 bolt info. Been a while since I've looked at it so not sure if there's much for SF info, but take a look. Might be helpful.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/14b_bible/

[Mr. 250r]

Looks like a semi floater you can tell from the end of the axle and the pumpkin and yes they should be wider as mine was right at 3in wide/1.5in on each side although i had a full floater from an... 05 i believe

[twich3136]

The ff axles make sense and I kind of wish I could find a decent one but I don't plan on wheeling it. It's just needed for towing the quads to the dunes and a little sand or dirt roads. I think the sf will work fine for my applications and budget. Now if only I can locate an 8 lug front axle to get the 4wd coversion started
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[twich3136]

The axle came with a surprise.
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[twich3136]

Alright so next question. Master cylinder. I imagine with my 68 master cylinder it's going to push too much pressure to the discs and not enough to the front drums.. Probably causing the rear to lock up every time I hit the brake. Since I plan on putting discs up front could I use a 99 master with the 72 disc brakes or do I need to get a newer style caliper as well?
Or is there a company out there that thought of this already?
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[twich3136]

I found this. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68&postcount=4 I might look into it for the front.
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[kenbob87]

that looks like the factory gm gov lock.... be careful with that thing try not to hammer on that rearend too much they do NOT like abuse. i myself have destroyed three of them 2 in ten bolts and one in a 14 bolt... but then again i am a very "spirited" driver lol

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by twich3136

The axle came with a surprise.
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Oh look! A Gov-Bomb!

[twich3136]

The gov bomb already went off lol. I could convert it to an open diff or get a truetrac. Anyone have one of those?
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[LONGHAIR]

Trutracs are great. I ran one in the front of a 4x4 with a very healthy bigblock and 40" tires. I did break an axle one time, but the differential was fine, and that is way over what they are recommended to take.

[argonaut]

twich,
are you sure that is a 14 bolt? Now that I look more closely the housing and carrier really don't look like my 14 bolt...

I'm doing some reading and maybe yours is the smaller 9.5" SF 14 bolt?

[twich3136]

Yea your right it is a sf 14 bolt. I'm nowhere near it. Lol my brother has been doing all the work for me. I would like the 10.5 but the 9.5 will do just fine. It's been fun trying to coordinate from the other side of the planet ha ha
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