Dana 61 that is the question!

[hammond472]

I have a Dana 61 axle with 3.54 gears in it. they are highest gears you can get but it can be convert it to take Dana 60 gears with ring gear Shim/s and possible carrier swap depending on gear ratio needed. Should I keep it or toss it? It more than likely has 30 spline axles which would need to be upgraded as they are the weak point but has a slim chance it could have 35s. So is it worth chopping it down and building it? I remember they were not popular with 4x4 guys because of the gear issue. I wonder if it would work in a car. I don't know what parts are made for these or if If the ring gear spacer would compromise its strength. If found with the right gears could it be a good strong budget rearend with more highway friendly gear options than the Dana 60?

 

[bm02tj]

I understand they have poor after market support so if it is not what you want
spend your money on an other one that has support and what you want

 

[dvw]

Get a Dana 60, cheap at the bone yard. I just cut one down from a Ford dually. Added a spool and axles. Reused the ring and pinion and bearings.
Doug

 

[Cranky]

From the Dana wiki.....

A variation of the Dana 60 known as a Dana 61 was made to accommodate gear ratios that allowed for better fuel mileage. This was done as a direct result of the 1973 oil crisis. A 3.07:1 gear ratio was common for these axles and unachievable in a regular Dana 60. To allow for the different gearing, the Dana 61 had a greater pinion offset. This offset meant that a different carrier and a different ring and pinion had to be used. The Dana 61 was made in semi-float and full-float axles for select 4×2 and 4x4 Ford 3⁄4-ton and 1 Ton Pickups and Vans from 1974 to 1987. A Dana 61 front axle was selectively used in Dodge 4×4 3⁄4-ton and 1 Ton pickups from 1987 to 1993. Although 3.07:1 and 3.31:1gear sets are common for a Dana 61, lower gear sets deeper than (4.10:1 on down) are not. Some Dana 61's shared a common carrier with the Dana 60-Dana part #706040x (3.07-4.10)will interchange between the two. Dana part #706400 (3.07-3.54) shows in Dana's parts catalog to be Dana 61 only.