Help ID Dana 60

[Stumper]

Always assumed that the Dana under my car was an actual Dana manufacture. Tonight as I was looking it over I noticed that there were no numbers on the axle tube. I got looking through my references and from what I understand all Dana 60 housings - made by Dana, had a date code and a bill of material code on the passenger side axle tube. The BOM code identified what vehicle it was made for. My housing has no numbers on the tube. How do I determine what make it is??:3gears:

 

[Deleted member 214]

Posting some pics might help.

 

[Cranky]

Not exact but should help ID it. Also on one of the gussets it should have a 60 cast onto it...should be on the right side near the tube.

 

[Stumper]

Mine is definitely a Dana 60, that I have no doubt of. It was in the car in it's current configuration when I bought the car. I have assumed it was a true Dana (not Strange or Currie, etc. ) until now. It occurred to me yesterday while I was underneath the car that there were no codes on the passenger side axle tube as I have seen on so many over the years. Going through my references I came across something that said if it was a true Dana manufacture - and not an aftermarket, it would have the date code and the BOM code on the tube. Mine does not have the codes on the axle tube. It does have other numbers on the housing (top right webing next to the pig has C3(or 8)9230 with a diamond under it and the 60 on the bottom right webing. On the flat face of the pig it also has 0D257AR.

 

[Cranky]

Whenever I run across an original 60 and I'm wanting to build one for race apps, I will try and sell it to someone that is looking for one to restore a car with and then go out and find one from a truck to cut up. Does your housing have a mounting boss for a pinion snubber?

 

[sst3193]

Looks to be a later model truck piece and thats OK. I've got one on the shelf(and it's a strong shelf) for my next racecar.

 

[Dennis H]

Not exact but should help ID it. Also on one of the gussets it should have a 60 cast onto it...should be on the right side near the tube.

Thanks for the spotters guide. I made a hard-copy for the glove box. This subject comes up a car shows.

 

[Stumper]

Whenever I run across an original 60 and I'm wanting to build one for race apps, I will try and sell it to someone that is looking for one to restore a car with and then go out and find one from a truck to cut up. Does your housing have a mounting boss for a pinion snubber?

No, no boss or anything for a snubber. Likely not an original car rear end for sure. Have you ever seen a true Dana 60 rear end that did not have the date code and bill of material code on the tube??

 

[Deleted member 214]

I think the diamond is the Dana logo. If no pinion snubber, I agree with sst3193 -probably a real Dana but out of a truck.

 

[Cranky]

No, no boss or anything for a snubber. Likely not an original car rear end for sure. Have you ever seen a true Dana 60 rear end that did not have the date code and bill of material code on the tube??

Can't say that I have. Kinda curious....does it have a '501' cast on the top near where a snubber would be?

 

[Stumper]

Off hand I don't know. I'd have to put the car up in the air and check for it. What does the 501 signify?

 

[Cranky]

From what I understand, the 501's are from Ford light duty 3/4 ton pickups. I've also heard that the housings were used for a large scale lubrication tests and were sold off to scrap dealers after it was over but many ended up out on the open market. I ended up with over 25 of these things and could find no reason not to used them except for they have 2 3/4" axle tubes. That's not a big deal either when it comes to welding ladder bar brackets, spring perches or bearing ends to them....

 

[Stumper]

These are 3" tubes so likely not the same. They actually mic out to just over 3" but I figure that's 0.035" of paint on the tubes