Best Locker for 14Bolt FF in 85 K30

[SquareRoot]

My main issue with the Detroit was on pavement or hard pack. Just pulling out of the driveway and any amount of turning would send shockwaves thru the drivetrain to the point it affected shifting into gear. Again, this was never noticeable when it had the automatic transmission. It was very noticeable after the 4500 swap.

 

[HotRodPC]

My main issue with the Detroit was on pavement or hard pack. Just pulling out of the driveway and any amount of turning would send shockwaves thru the drivetrain to the point it affected shifting into gear. Again, this was never noticeable when it had the automatic transmission. It was very noticeable after the 4500 swap.

It'll sure do that, especially if it's working real good. It's worse in some vehicles than others too. I'd imagine you probably had some real good tires that were either big or gripped the ground real good. You mention even hard pack, so I'm thinking wide tires. Soft rubber or smaller tires that don't grip that ground as good you won't notice the shock through the powertrain near as bad as you mention since the tires are more forgiving. You just had some good tires so you felt every bit of it.

 

[Vbb199]

I dunno, the gov-bomb in my 14bff help up great to tractor tire like 39x18" treads in mud and rocks

 

[HotRodPC]

I dunno, the gov-bomb in my 14bff help up great to tractor tire like 39x18" treads in mud and rocks

They can, they're for sure stronger in the Full Floater by design. And when they do fail, they don't explode like they do in the 10 and 12 bolts. They'll either strip the teeth off the governor ring or break the spring loaded governor itself. The good thing there too is, since it don't explode, it won't leave you stranded. It just won't lock up anymore is all. So many times, people will claim it's great and there's is holding up and they don't realize it's not working since they're able to drive and it's not making any strange noises.

 

[bucket]

It's not near as bad as it is in the 10 bolts, but it's not what I'd call great either. The Gov Lock only stays locked til about 20mph then it's unlocked again. This is why I'll say it's good for pulling a boat up a slippery boat ramp. If you're in mud and trying to spin your way through it, you'll just be peg legging it. But, you're correct. It is stronger in the Full Floater than the other smaller axles.

Here's the beauty of the design though, while they won't lock up at higher speeds (varies by tire size), they do stay locked up at higher speeds if they are already locked. They are designed to lock up and stay locked up, no matter the speed, until it senses that both wheels are under a similar load. The benefit is a locked rear when traction is needed, but then the benefit of a one legger while driving at speed down a a snowy or icy road.

I accidentally tested this theory of operation once on my '78 shorty van. I put a spare tire on the rear that was a different size than the other side and when I tried to drive it, it started pulling really hard to one side. Trying to go 50mph or so, it was still locked up and pulling extremely hard to one side.

 

[HotRodPC]

Here's the beauty of the design though, while they won't lock up at higher speeds (varies by tire size), they do stay locked up at higher speeds if they are already locked. They are designed to lock up and stay locked up, no matter the speed, until it senses that both wheels are under a similar load. The benefit is a locked rear when traction is needed, but then the benefit of a one legger while driving at speed down a a snowy or icy road.

I accidentally tested this theory of operation once on my '78 shorty van. I put a spare tire on the rear that was a different size than the other side and when I tried to drive it, it started pulling really hard to one side. Trying to go 50mph or so, it was still locked up and pulling extremely hard to one side.

That sorta makes sense, but that's not the way Eaton describes it. They claim it locks up at speeds up to I beleive it was 20mph and never said anything about it staying locked up. It does seem to be a good system on paper and by design. Just to bad it doesn't hold up to abuse, though the 14b FF does certainly put up with some BS. I had one and didn't know that's what it was. It was quite old and still working properly when I realized I had a locker. I had abused the hell out of it and it's age, I'm sure previous owners had their chance to abuse it also. But I can say the same for a 12 bolt. That 80GMC I had a Gov Loc and it worked exactly as described as it should in about 2012, so that's 32 years old. Although it was owned by an old man and was the old junky gutless Olds Diesel, then converted to Olds 350 gas.

 

[bucket]

That sorta makes sense, but that's not the way Eaton describes it. They claim it locks up at speeds up to I beleive it was 20mph and never said anything about it staying locked up. It does seem to be a good system on paper and by design. Just to bad it doesn't hold up to abuse, though the 14b FF does certainly put up with some BS. I had one and didn't know that's what it was. It was quite old and still working properly when I realized I had a locker. I had abused the hell out of it and it's age, I'm sure previous owners had their chance to abuse it also. But I can say the same for a 12 bolt. That 80GMC I had a Gov Loc and it worked exactly as described as it should in about 2012, so that's 32 years old. Although it was owned by an old man and was the old junky gutless Olds Diesel, then converted to Olds 350 gas.

Years ago I came across a really good video that showed how it worked and how it was designed to function in different conditions. But it's definitely supposed to stay locked, if needed, past a certain road speed.

I could see where there would be occasions were it didn't work as intended. Like spinning through a bunch of sloppy, soupy mud. The govloc could probably see that as both wheels spinning the same speed, with the same load... as if it was a nice paved road.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

My 14ff has had a grizzly lunchbox locker in for several years. I live 21 miles (thankfully) from the nearest town, so mostly rural driving. I live in the foothills of the cascades and we get a fair amt of snow. I have no complaints with this system, works flawlessly, quiet, cannot tell anything different on the road, or in a paved parking lot. When I put my foot in it, smokes both tires evenly. here is the instillation series I posted :https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/1973-k20-350-to-454-swap.29840/page-3.

 

[HotRodPC]

Years ago I came across a really good video that showed how it worked and how it was designed to function in different conditions. But it's definitely supposed to stay locked, if needed, past a certain road speed.

I could see where there would be occasions were it didn't work as intended. Like spinning through a bunch of sloppy, soupy mud. The govloc could probably see that as both wheels spinning the same speed, with the same load... as if it was a nice paved road.

Here's a video from Eaton.

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On how it operates. Not the one I was looking for, but it works too. There is a better one somewhere.

 

[HotRodPC]

OK, so GM must have a new system other than the Gov Loc, they are calling that the Mlocker. And it is a bit different than the Gov Loc isin't it??? I wasn't aware and never heard of the Mlocker til now. hmmm, I'm behind times. I need to find that Gov Loc video. It's a good one on how the Gov Loc works, but I see that Mlocker still has that governor that is notorious for breaking i the weaker axles.

 

[HotRodPC]

Or maybe they just changed the name of the Gov Loc to M locker?

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I dunno, but this sure looks like that Mlocker system too.

 

[HotRodPC]

Here you go, this one looks pretty good as far as explanation and demo of the Gov Loc.

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[bucket]

Yeah, apparently they went from calling it Gov Lock, to calling it G80 (which is misleading because other GM cars with a limited slip differential also got the G80 RPO) to calling it the M Locker.

The one G80 video only states that it won't engage at high speeds and the M Locker video simply states that it automatically unlocks when it's no longer needed. But you can see by the design of the flyweight and pawl mechanism, that once it locks, it won't let go until it's not needed, regardless of speed.

And for whatever reason, I never ever have realized that they use clutch packs in those damn things. Or if I did, I forgot long ago. But I guess they don't need limited slip lube because they are only used when locking up, rather than getting used every time you make a turn.

 

[HotRodPC]

Yeah, apparently they went from calling it Gov Lock, to calling it G80 (which is misleading because other GM cars with a limited slip differential also got the G80 RPO) to calling it the M Locker.

The one G80 video only states that it won't engage at high speeds and the M Locker video simply states that it automatically unlocks when it's no longer needed. But you can see by the design of the flyweight and pawl mechanism, that once it locks, it won't let go until it's not needed, regardless of speed.

And for whatever reason, I never ever have realized that they use clutch packs in those damn things. Or if I did, I forgot long ago. But I guess they don't need limited slip lube because they are only used when locking up, rather than getting used every time you make a turn.

Yes, I see that. So like, if all the you did was lift off the skinny pedal for half of second, then it would unlock and when your buried your foot back in it, it would be unlocked unless it slipped again, but then again maybe not if you're going to fast to engage it.