1968 K20 New Project

[JEverettSimonson]

1968 K20 project kick off.
Planning on keeping this a standard 4x4 but adding a 4" lift and swapping out the tired 350 with a 12V Cummins.
I love the Dana closed knuckle front axle and want to keep it under the truck.

I would appreciate any comments on the pro's and con's of this front axle. Too easy to swap it out for a newer unit, but I want the outside appearance of the truck to stay 1968 4x4 brute.

[LockDoc]

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Welcome to the board. Sounds like you have a great project going on there. Keep us posted on the progress. Sorry I can't be any help on the front axle question.

We also have a 4x4 forum on here and a Diesel conversions forum. You might check those out as well. If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you will see a "Forum Jump" box. Click on the little down arrow on the right side of the box and you can scroll through all of the different forums. If you see one you want to visit just click on it and you will automatically be taken there.

LockDoc

[flashed]

Welcome , Im in to see this project .

[Ol Blue K20]

Welcome, I'm in to watch. Now let's see some pics please...

[HO455]

Welcome aboard. You don't realize it yet, but I'm pretty sure Dieselwrencher is your new best friend. Take some time and look at his build thread. I had the same feelings about the closed knuckle axle on a project of mine but when the measurements were all done to shorten it was quite a bit more expensive (Custom axles). Plus I was told that not all parts are still available for the closed knuckle axles. But on the up side I have a smaller turning radius and disk brakes now to go with my wimpy looking hubs.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=310493

P.S. Photos will keep the crowds at bay.

[Jsfucttruck]

For a stock truck, no oversized tires or hp. That front end is... ok.


I would recommend simply to pull the whole unit and replace it with a 10 bolt or Dana 44 front end with factory disc's. Get a small hub version for cheaper hub parts. With a 12 valve I would recommend running a Dana 60 front from a 77-91 Won Ton.

The drum brakes in the stock closed knuckle front end will not be up to the task with the heavy Cummins in it. If you do plan on pulling that t-case lever into 4x4, the 10 bolt/Dana 44 axle will not hold up.

Just find a Dana 60 if you really plan on putting a cummins in.
It will bolt in. You might want to change your brake master cylinder and proportion block. And swap out the Eaton rear diff for a more common 14bff.


I will finish mine some day.

[Dieselwrencher]

Welcome to the forum! As Jsfucttruck stated, the closed knuckle D44 is a poor choice under a Cummins. If you wanted to retain an old school look, you could use a late 60's/early 70's Dodge D70. They have closed knuckles and the weird weak axle joint/shafts but might hold up to a stock 12v. Another option would be to find someone parting out a napco conversion and get the rockwell style front axle. One thing that would be even cooler, is if you had some one build you a housing for a HO52 front diff. I've only ever seen one other done, but that would be super cool. It sure wouldn't be cheap though. The king pin D60 is the best bet. The way I look at it, if you're trying to leave the truck looking stock, a 12v isn't stock for these. So just build it and make it appear like that 12v could have been an option from the factory with supporting suspension etc. That's what I did with mine.