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TECH: 6 Lug 14 Bolt SF into an Avalanche

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Old 07-14-2008, 10:41 PM
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Originally Posted by axisT6
Wha?? You have a 6 lug D44 rear? Is that custom? Sure it is not a 10 bolt?
I'm positive. It's a Dana Spicer 44 rear end, 6x5.5" (6x139.7mm) bolt pattern, 8.5" ring gear, 30 spline axle shafts....your typical D44.

Here's a few pics when I brought it home. It's currently in the rear of my truck geared with 4.30's and a rebuilt Power-Lok differential much like GM's "G80" Gov-Lock or Ford's Traction-Lok . It's a good little axle but I fear for it now looking at the specs of my motor swap. Iron block 5.3L bored to 5.7L, conservatively guessing the output to be no less than 350hp and 375lb-ft of torque with a 4L60E and NP241 t-case with 2.73:1 4LO. 325/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler tires for the street and winter and 35" BFGoodrich KM2 Mud Terrain's for the trails. If the rear Dana 44 takes a **** on me I'll either replace the shafts with forged pieces, or do the SF 14b 6 lug swap like you are. BTW, the front is also a Dana 44, 6 lug, all the same as the rear so I can still rotate tires. Nothing custom or one-off, I took these axles from vehicles in the junkyard and there are plenty more.

Pics of the rear D44's as I brought them home.




And the front:


Bolt pattern pic of the front:


And the axles went into this:
Old 07-15-2008, 06:25 AM
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Originally Posted by InchUp
I'm positive. It's a Dana Spicer 44 rear end, 6x5.5" (6x139.7mm) bolt pattern, 8.5" ring gear, 30 spline axle shafts....your typical D44.

Here's a few pics when I brought it home. It's currently in the rear of my truck geared with 4.30's and a rebuilt Power-Lok differential much like GM's "G80" Gov-Lock or Ford's Traction-Lok . It's a good little axle but I fear for it now looking at the specs of my motor swap. Iron block 5.3L bored to 5.7L, conservatively guessing the output to be no less than 350hp and 375lb-ft of torque with a 4L60E and NP241 t-case with 2.73:1 4LO. 325/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler tires for the street and winter and 35" BFGoodrich KM2 Mud Terrain's for the trails. If the rear Dana 44 takes a **** on me I'll either replace the shafts with forged pieces, or do the SF 14b 6 lug swap like you are. BTW, the front is also a Dana 44, 6 lug, all the same as the rear so I can still rotate tires. Nothing custom or one-off, I took these axles from vehicles in the junkyard and there are plenty more.

Pics of the rear D44's as I brought them home.




And the front:


Bolt pattern pic of the front:


And the axles went into this:

That is a clean truck man.
Old 07-15-2008, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by axisT6
That is a clean truck man.
Not for long.

Thanks though. I'll stop hijacking your thread now.
Old 07-15-2008, 11:22 AM
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Originally Posted by InchUp
Not for long.

Thanks though. I'll stop hijacking your thread now.
What did those axles come out of?


UPDATE: The rebuild parts have been ordered for the 14 bolt, and the plan is to get an avalanche housing to my fabricator so he can build a jig, and I will be assembling the differential.
Old 07-15-2008, 11:12 PM
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Originally Posted by axisT6
What did those axles come out of?
PM sent.
Old 07-17-2008, 03:17 PM
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I learned something today. Never seen a 6 lug 14 bolt. I have seen a 8 lug avalance with 14 bolt.
Old 07-18-2008, 03:52 PM
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The 1500 Avalanche has always used the 10 Bolt axle and 5 link suspension, as far as I know even the new ones still use the 10 bolt and 5 link. The 2500 Avalanches (while they were made) had the 14 Bolt but, it was hung on leafs springs and was never available with the 5 link.

Now, the Avalanche's Paris Hilton wanna be sister the Cadilac Excalade DOES use the 14 Bolt SF hung on the 5 link suspension with the 6.0L Motor option.
Old 07-19-2008, 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Lord Aries
The 1500 Avalanche has always used the 10 Bolt axle and 5 link suspension, as far as I know even the new ones still use the 10 bolt and 5 link. The 2500 Avalanches (while they were made) had the 14 Bolt but, it was hung on leafs springs and was never available with the 5 link.

Now, the Avalanche's Paris Hilton wanna be sister the Cadilac Excalade DOES use the 14 Bolt SF hung on the 5 link suspension with the 6.0L Motor option.
The new one's with the 5.3L get the 10 bolt, but the 6.0L Av's get the 14 bolt 9.5" diff. The older 2500 series were all 8.1L's with 10.5" 14 bolts.
Old 07-19-2008, 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by zippy
The new one's with the 5.3L get the 10 bolt, but the 6.0L Av's get the 14 bolt 9.5" diff. The older 2500 series were all 8.1L's with 10.5" 14 bolts.
Are they interchangeable with the older 10 bolt AV setup? i.e. identical suspension/bracketry? Haven't seen a 6.0L on any lot up here. I don't think anything with any V8 is too popular here right now.
Old 07-21-2008, 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by DrX
Are they interchangeable with the older 10 bolt AV setup? i.e. identical suspension/bracketry? Haven't seen a 6.0L on any lot up here. I don't think anything with any V8 is too popular here right now.
Given the beauty of GM Interchangeability, I would say it would be a direct swap.


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