12 bolt front axle

[N8-7]

Anyone ever see this before? What axle is this? 12 bolt off a 74

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[crazy4offroad]

Looks like a Dana 60 with fulltime 4wd hub slugs installed. Re-count the cover bolts though, should be irregular pattern 10. Could also be a D44 but if it just says "GM12 in the casting with a round 10 bolt cover it's a corporate 10 bolt 3/4 ton.

 

[Boonie]

that looks exactly like the d44hd in my 74

 

[Charlie]

 

[highdesertrange]

yep Dana 44 heavy duty with full time 4wd. highdesertranger

 

[N8-7]

90 percent sure I counted 12 bolts that hold the front cover on...could be wrong I’ll have to check again, is it worth anything or should I hang in to them?

 

[crazy4offroad]

There's not a lot of difference between the D44 and the corporate 10 bolt but many people believe the D44 to be far superior.

 

[hatzie]

90 percent sure I counted 12 bolts that hold the front cover on...could be wrong I’ll have to check again, is it worth anything or should I hang in to them?

No such thing as a 12 bolt front axle.
In 1974 it's a K20 with a Dana 44 HD. Prior to 1977 the Full ton chassis was only 2wd. GM didn't start offering a K30 with the Dana 60 til 1977.
That axle still has the slugs for full-time 4wd using the NP203 full-time 4wd transfer case.

In answer to your question. I'd hang onto that axle.

 

[bucket]

If you don't want to hang into it, you can just drop it off at my place

 

[N8-7]

Ok thanks for all the info!!

 

[Rusty Nail]

Them 12 bolt fronts are hard to find but i'm still looking!

 

[rpcraft]

yep Dana 44 heavy duty with full time 4wd. highdesertranger

LOL @ Dana 44 HD. What you man is just a Dana 44. I like how everyone tries to paint a rosy picture of the Dana 44. Surprise you to know it was just as good as a GM 10 bolt or vice versa.

 

[highdesertrange]

no it's a heavy duty it's not "just a Dana 44". you can tell by the way the hub bolts on. highdesertranger

 

[rpcraft]

no it's a heavy duty it's not "just a Dana 44". you can tell by the way the hub bolts on. highdesertranger

No that is just how they did 4wd hubs setups before 1973. It's not a indicator of the strength of the Dana 44, although the drive flange hub is inherently stronger "itself" because there is really nothing too break or go wrong like there were with the unlocking hubs. At that time most of the trucks came stock with the drive flange (what you see in the picture) and you could add the part time hubs if you wanted but after a certain point dealerships just pretty much always had the part time hubs on the trucks because it was one of those items they could charge you extra for (kind of like pinstriping and undercoating). I also don't believe they had full time 4wd prior to 1973 as well so the hub items were not going to depend on the drive train.

 

[75gmck25]

My understanding of the Dana 44 HD is that the axle and differential are internally the same as the Dana 44 on the 1/2 tons, but the hub and other external parts are heavier duty, and it uses 8 bolt wheels. It is definitely has a few different parts, but the axle and differential won't take abuse any better than a 1/2 ton Dana 44.

Bruce