[JBorras]

Is there any preference as to using the GM 14 bolt rear verses the Dana 60 out of a ford?

[TCMach]

14 bolt is usually cheaper and easier to find. Put a shave kit on it and you have similar or better clearance depending on how aggressive you get. Only drawback is limited gear ratios but you can still get a 5.13 or 5.38 nowadays. Pinion straddle bearing, 1.5" axle shafts stock, lockers are cheaper. Unless you have a d60 rear laying around I don't know why you would start with one. Now a d70 would be a different story...

[JBorras]

Originally Posted by TCMach

14 bolt is usually cheaper and easier to find. Put a shave kit on it and you have similar or better clearance depending on how aggressive you get. Only drawback is limited gear ratios but you can still get a 5.13 or 5.38 nowadays. Pinion straddle bearing, 1.5" axle shafts stock, lockers are cheaper. Unless you have a d60 rear laying around I don't know why you would start with one. Now a d70 would be a different story...

Why do you say that about the D70?

[TCMach]

Originally Posted by JBorras

Why do you say that about the D70?

More of a direct comparison in my eyes but they're harder to get on the cheap. D70 has the same 1.5" axle shafts but they're 35 spline vs 30 in the 14 bolt. Axle tubes are 1/2" thick all the way where the 14 bolt necks down. Full gear ratio selection just like a D60. No real need to shave it. But just like the D60 the lockers are more expensive.

There are like a million variants of the D60 and D70 so there are outliers to the points I've made (ie not all Dana 70s have 35 spline axles depending on year)

Some good reads:
Dana 70 Bible
14 Bolt Bible
D60 Bible

[JBorras]

Originally Posted by TCMach

More of a direct comparison in my eyes but they're harder to get on the cheap. D70 has the same 1.5" axle shafts but they're 35 spline vs 30 in the 14 bolt. Axle tubes are 1/2" thick all the way where the 14 bolt necks down. Full gear ratio selection just like a D60. No real need to shave it. But just like the D60 the lockers are more expensive.

There are like a million variants of the D60 and D70 so there are outliers to the points I've made (ie not all Dana 70s have 35 spline axles depending on year)

Some good reads:
Dana 70 Bible
14 Bolt Bible
D60 Bible

I found a D70 local to me for only like 400. Is there something specific I should be looking for when I go to check it out?

[TCMach]

Originally Posted by JBorras

I found a D70 local to me for only like 400. Is there something specific I should be looking for when I go to check it out?

Before hand you could try to get the BOM number from the seller and look it up on this website Dana Expert It will tell you everything about the axle. As long as it has 35 spline axles and is in good shape you should be golden. If you're looking for a certain width ask about that too. They came in a lot of different widths for different vehicle applications. You could always just pull an axle shaft to check the splines when you get there too.

[JBorras]

Originally Posted by TCMach

Before hand you could try to get the BOM number from the seller and look it up on this website Dana Expert It will tell you everything about the axle. As long as it has 35 spline axles and is in good shape you should be golden. If you're looking for a certain width ask about that too. They came in a lot of different widths for different vehicle applications. You could always just pull an axle shaft to check the splines when you get there too.

Where would the BOM be located he has sent me the tag info that was on the tube.

Updated NVM I found it

[D'arce]

I have a 1 ton van with a d70 under it. That axle is HUGE. I can't visualize that monster under a 4runner. If your looking for a 1 ton rear you could also check out the Sterling 10.5 from the Ford super duty. I recently built a Sterling for the van. Nice axle. Bonus for me was it has disc brakes vs my d70's drums.

[JBorras]

Originally Posted by D'arce

I have a 1 ton van with a d70 under it. That axle is HUGE. I can't visualize that monster under a 4runner. If your looking for a 1 ton rear you could also check out the Sterling 10.5 from the Ford super duty. I recently built a Sterling for the van. Nice axle. Bonus for me was it has disc brakes vs my d70's drums.

The D70S I am looking at had Disc brakes already so I don't have to do a conversion. When you say its a monster are you referring to width or just thickness of the tubes?

[D'arce]

The whole thing is just big.
What size tire are you wanting to run?