14 Bolt rear

Before everyone goes crazy, I did search for answers =0. My question is this- to the people who have done this and used a truck 14 bolt, does the axle look too narrow? I'm wondering if I should or need to get a van 14 bolt (72" WMS/WMS), or live with the more narrow truck 14 bolt. I know I can find a 4.56 truck end, but looking for a van w/ 4.56 gears has been fruitless. I will have to pay to get the gears swapped in the van axle.
I know the truck ends have been disced out or the ubolts/springs are super close, and I have got the calipers already. I just want to know before I buy a truck or van axle what the general consensus is.
I don't think the backspacing question asked about 4 monthes ago was answered, and I want to ask "if you had to do it over" type of questions. thanks guys- gonz

I tried a 14 bolt from a p/u & it was too narrow.
I bought a 14 bolt from a van & it bolted right in.
I didnt even have to change the spring mounts.
Yes the down side to it was having to do a gear swap.
I havent finished the truck yet (newer dana 60 frt).
I will be running 38's & I think 8in wide wheels with 3 in of backspacing.
It will bring the tire out even with the fenders.

Hope this helps & maybe someone else will chime in.

Sweet!!! Thanks for the reply on the axle and backspacing. That really helps me out- gonz

If you are planning on using disc brakes then I would consider going with the truck axle. You can get one from a cucv that has 4.56 gears and a detroit already in it. The truck axle will work with the discs. Dave

I guess that's why I wanted to hear from people who have done this to see if they thought the rear end looked too narrow, or goofy looking with the truck 14 bolt. I am assuming that the wheel mating surface distance would remain the same regardless if the truck axle had drums or disc setup. I would love to just put in the cucv rear axle (I already have a D60 from one for the front), but was wanting to hear from others first so I don't have an expensive experiment lying in the garage- gonz

left rear CUCV 14 bolt/right rear CUCV 14 bolt with discs
im running 16x7 3 in BS rims
http://homepage.mac.com/ltalessi/.Pi...35298811D8.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/ltalessi/.Pi...30298811D8.jpg

thanks for the photos! I'm going to see how they compare to my truck and I can decide for myself if I think it will be too close or not. So are these accident repair pics, or the original restore pics- either way your truck is 50 times cleaner than mine!!! Hope the repair is going well- gonz

why did you put the calipers on the bottom?
k

How you going to bleed them bad boys?? upside down?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by krob725

why did you put the calipers on the bottom?
k

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I went with the van axle & still have that problem.
He put the calipers down below because there is not enough room between the spring & the axle.

So j20m715: how much more room do you have than mcinfantry's axle? It sounds like not a lot more if you had to mount the calipers upsidedown, too. Would you be able to shoot a photo of your setup and post it? Or possibly measure the space from spring to disc?
j20m715 and mcinfantry: What calipers did you guys use: ford; chevy; cadillac? Just trying to work out all the variables. Also, how much of a pain in the @ss is is to bleed those brakes like that? Thanks for the great info!! gonz

I will try & get pics & measurements this weekend. I have the axle mounted but I do not want to run the calipers like that. I have room for the calipers but not enough to get the pins out (springs in the way). Hard to explain, pics will show what im talking about.

Brackets I bought from a guy on the net.
The calipers are from the frt of a chevy 4x4 3/4 ton like 73-85.

mine are on the bottom because of the springs. i bled them with a vac bleeder and they work great. remember, i stayed spring under/stock height

its chevy 1978 4x4 3/4 ton front rotors and calipers. caddilac calipers have parking brake levers.
unless you put blocks under the springs how else can you run them? im all ears.... im having no probs with them that way...

mcinfantry and j20m715: Thanks for the replys and happy to know some of the problems/solutions before I get started!