This summer I swapped out the dinky 10 bolt for a 9.5" 14 bolt (semi float). It was somewhat of a wild task given what I started with and what I needed.

I started with a OBS 2WD 8 lug 14 bolt ... ended with a 4WD 6 lug 14 bolt. Here's how:

First I had to get the axle tubes lengthened since the 2WD rears are narrower. Had to cut the tubes and weld in about 1 5/16" of extra tube per side. Now I was at the 4WD width.

Had to get new axles to make it 6 lug. Went with some Superior aftermarket ones.

Then I swapped the NBS disc brakes onto the 14 bolt axle. For this I had to make some spacers to effectively move the mounting flanges out towards the ends of the axle tubes. The old drum brakes swallow more of the axle tube.

For donor parts, I just grabbed a rear end out of a junked 03 RCLB so that I could piece everything together without having my truck on jackstands for a week.

When you are gathering parts, unless you are doing a 14 bolt swap like I did (where the original parts are there for your use), make sure to get a rear end out of a truck with a matching bed length. The LB parking brake cables were way too long for a SB truck.

Swapping the brakes on there was no problem... starting with a 2WD 8 lug and converting it to a 4WD 6 lug was the interesting part. But I still did it! Overall, I am very happy with the end result. It is one tough unit back there now, and I have no worries about it. I just gotta paint it now lol.

Here's a pic of one of the spacers I made:


What it do:


Assembled:


Detroit TruTrac:


This shows the difference between the stock 10 bolt axles and my new Superior ones:

 

That is a sweet conversion there! I think its safe to say the rearend will never be the weak link in your setup. Just curious though, what kinda power are you throwing at that thing to need that hog in the rear? Again, great swap and thank you for the details.

 

Thanks for the compliments! Currently, power isn't as much of a concern as inertia is (see bleow) It's a Radix'd 5.3 with a FLT 4L65E, 4.56 gears, and an appetite for expensive 35" tires.

But since a LQ9 which will be adorned by the Radix as well is in the works, I'm confident it will be good insurance in the future

Here's a pic with the 14 bolt under it:

 

You're way outta control! But thast's a beautiful thing, and so is your rear..............

 

That thing is sweet! Way to ditch the 10 bolt!

 

Im doing the same thing Im narrowing my rearend, what I was planning is having them weld the ends of my 10bolt tubes onto my 14bolt. Plus Im gonna have a detroit locker hehe

 

10 bolt tubes are different diameter then 14bolt tubes

 

i thought they were both 3" and werent you the one that gave me that idea in the first place?

 

the end plates are same. and i might of theres and slight difference in diameter
when i went to transfer my brake lines over from one rear to the other. i had to reuse the ones from the 14bolt. im talking about the black C straps. i tried the 10 bolt ones and they were to small.

 

oo so Im having them use my end plates gotcha, I hope theyre not much bigger dia. I bought my axle brackets for the 4link 3" Im sure I could exhchange tho.