what abuse can a 12-bolt handle?

[rusmannx]

i'm helping a friend build up an old 77gm half-ton.
are these 12 bolts pretty decent for 35's or so?
what about welding the spiders in the rear? should it hold up decently?
he's pretty much stock everything with a tired 350
(hopefully rebuilding that soon).

 

[woody]

front 12-bolt? IMO, POOR choice, especially since junkyard parts are not common when you break...guy I wheeled with in Attica a few weeks back had no problem busting his with 36" SX's on his Jeep...

 

[rusmannx]

12bolt rear, didn't think to look in the front (assumed it was the same)

 

[Eskimo]

would be a 10-bolt front... about the same as a 44.

 

[TJDIV]

[quote author=Eskimo link=board=1;threadid=15095;start=msg143215#msg143215 date=1082602453]
would be a 10-bolt front... about the same as a 44.
[/quote]

yup. I put in a 12 bolt rear. Set the pinion like hell, but put it in.

Having seen the pics, I understand where Woody's coming from, but for me and 99.999% of any wheeling I'll ever do, this thing is plenty, plenty strong.

Parts aren't too hard to come-by here.

 

[hammerhead]

12 bolts don't have a good batting average down here in southern Utah. We have a local run caled Devils Hole that kills 2 out of 3 Blazers and 1/2 ton P/Us. The 12s explode on the same obstacle every time. There is a stain on the rock face from 10 and 12 bolts barfing their guts out. I'm not sure what it is about that particular spot because we cruise right up it effortlessly.

 

[rusmannx]

I'm not sure what it is about that particular spot because we cruise right up it effortlessly.

i believe "cruise" is the key word.

 

[hammerhead]

..glad someone caught that... 8)

 

[hammerhead]

Here is some irony for you...
Had two customers in two days with blown 12s. One was in a Blazer and the other a Suburban. I had to laugh after we had just discussed it here...

 

[hammerhead]

...now we can laugh some more...
...the customer with the blazer is back today with a blown short side in the front ten bolt. sheeesh. 8)