Dana 60 questions

[rp23g7]

Hey guys, wondering how much difference there is between a truck Dana and a car Dana, besides gears.

I have a 84 Ram Charger with a Dana 60 rear, I was thinking of getting a after market housing, and changing gears and putting it on my 68 for the 500 I am making for it

Are the axles the same, or are a trucks a different length? Same bearings?

Thanks

 

[Cranky]

First off, an RC shouldn't have a 60 in it. Are you sure it's not a 9 1/4?

 

[Meep-Meep]

I agree you probably have a 9 1/4" Danas out of trucks are mostly floating hub type 3/4 - 1 ton stuff.

 

[BeastlyBirdie]

If you had a truck Dana 60, the spring perches have to be flipped, you need to cut the tubes and change axles. The other things to bear in mind is the trucks don't have pinion snubbers, and there are heavier housings depending on axle tube thickness. Its a lot of careful cutting and welding, but it can be done.

 

[Cranky]

It also depends on what truck the 60 came from. Back in 66, Ford offered it in a 'heavy duty' 1/2 ton pickup without floating axles but the backing plate flanges were Ford type and are different than a Mopar's. Also, in more recent times, you could also get the 60 in a Ford pickup that was a lighter duty 3/4 ton and it too have semi floating axles (like the 8 3/4) and is known as the 501 housing. Even Dodge did that. The 60 comes in all kinds of configurations and all of the big 3 used them. Now all we need to do is make sure what's under yours. If it's a Dana 60 for sure, mom didn't install it....and as far as the gears go, Dana 60 gears are Dana 60 gears but axles vary widely across the board and so do axle spline counts.

 

[wedge69]

It also depends on what truck the 60 came from. Back in 66, Ford offered it in a 'heavy duty' 1/2 ton pickup without floating axles but the backing plate flanges were Ford type and are different than a Mopar's. Also, in more recent times, you could also get the 60 in a Ford pickup that was a lighter duty 3/4 ton and it too have semi floating axles (like the 8 3/4) and is known as the 501 housing. Even Dodge did that. The 60 comes in all kinds of configurations and all of the big 3 used them. Now all we need to do is make sure what's under yours. If it's a Dana 60 for sure, mom didn't install it....and as far as the gears go, Dana 60 gears are Dana 60 gears but axles vary widely across the board and so do axle spline counts.

YEP X2 !
Also there are dodge rears like in heavy duty vans that are know as a SUPER 60. I have one at the shop. It has double the webbing and the tubes are VERY thick !!
When I did some for pro street cars I used the early ford housings. There very close to the same configueration but still had no Pinoin shubber mount. Do the home work as it will save you $$

 

[Cranky]

YEP X2 !
Also there are dodge rears like in heavy duty vans that are know as a SUPER 60. I have one at the shop. It has double the webbing and the tubes are VERY thick !!
When I did some for pro street cars I used the early ford housings. There very close to the same configueration but still had no Pinoin shubber mount. Do the home work as it will save you $$

Forgot about that one....my 79 D300 single wheel had one but I always heard it called the 'modified' or the extra heavy duty 60

 

[Moparmatt72]

I pulled mine out of a truck and had new axle tubs put on and new ends pkus the new perches for the leaf springs. I believe I spent around $1100 but I also bought new gears and rwar disc brakes all through strange but if all your doing is new tubs and ends and keeping the gears you won't need a rebuild kit like I also bought. If you get new tubs just make sure they weld the tub all around and on the hole to help keep it inplace.