Rear Dana 61 housing used as a front dana 60 housing>\???

[YotaT10095]

I have a ford rear dana 60 housing. Can I use this housing as the start of my front dana 60 axle build? I know i need a spacer so the housing can hold a dana 60 carrier and gears. Is there anything I should know???? thanks

[Scuba]

You should probably know that it doesnt have steering knuckles on it...
and that its pumpkin is in the middle, rather then pass/driver side drop.
Other then that, have fun trying

[YotaT10095]

LOLyes i know i plan on getting deadinbear inner c's and king pin knuckles used for a dana 60 front end. I just want the center section. I will get tubes from a local shop and i will make it a passanger side drop. My question is can a 61 center section be used as a passanger drop D60 center section?

imagaine a normal 1981 K30 front Dana 60. But with a rear 61 housing? Im just trying to save myself 800 dollars by not having to buy a teraflex 60 or pro rock 60 center section. thats all.

[Seanz0rz]

while we are an awesome forum here, and someone might have a very specific answer to your question, you should really try looking over at pirate. they really know much more about dana axles than we would. www.pirate4x4.com

[YotaT10095]

i went to all 4 pirate threads on the dana 61 and 60 comparisons. They are very vague on details. They say you need a spacer to run a dana 60 carrier in a 61. Then they say its the same fromt he knuvkles out. Then one guy says its exactly the same except for the pinion size just trying to find some goon info, and i figured i might get lucky and run into someone in here than knows about what im trying to do. Im leaning towards just buying a Tera 60R and everything else is easy to build. But i would like to save the 800 dollars thats all. MAYBE SOMEONE HAS A PLACE I CAN GET STOCK PARTS FROM DANA, LIKE A HOUSING AND TUBING THAT DOESNT COST 800 DOLLARS.
thanks

[4runnerchevy]

I think you should just find a donor with the axles on it. Don't be hasty, you can find 1 ton for about 1500 and sell the rest for about that. Junkies sell them for dollers cause people are looking for them. Find 2 14 bolts, shave them and buy the 14 bolt conversion for the front, never look back.

[YotaT10095]

I can get a chevy dana 60 front axle here from the junk yard for 600 becuas i know the people that own it. I would completely dissmantle it and bring it to a shope to get powder coated. Then I would start shopping and putting it together. I just dont want to spend 600 when im going to buy new axles and disk brake kit.
I woulnt mind doing it if i felt comfortable sellig all the other parts. There is no market were i live. I cant even sell my dana 44 front axle which is painted and textured and complete. All i want is 200 dollars you cant even get a junker at the junk yard for that much.
I just have this thought in my head that why ny not go with a 60 if i can?
There is no reason not to. Its stronger and has more off road capabilities than a 44.
Just wish I could find a 60 housing thats rusty and old from a ford front end, since they are HP.

[CJM]

I do recall a waggy axle (aka jeep wagoneer/fullsize cherokee/J10/20) works much better.

[4x4mike]

I think it'll work and with the spacers you can run traction devices for the 60 application. Are you re tubing the housing yourself? If not and you're paying someone I'd use the money and find a junkyard 60 or even buy a whole truck and take the axle. A HP 60 will fetch quite a bit of money anywhere so you've got to be creative as I see you are. Search the pirate classifieds and I'm sure you'll find something. Something you won't have to retube, weld inner c's to, oils properly and has parts readily available. What about a built D44? You'll be able to find those for less money than a 60 and it might hold up. What tires are you running? Locker? What are you going to be doing with your truck? Rocks, mud, DD?

[YotaT10095]

[quote What about a built D44?
[/quote]

I have a dana 44 I was planning on using for my sas. But.........I got to thinking...........why would you get a 44 if you could have a 60? 60's arew stronger, give you a bigger tire selection and are able to handle Rock Crawling or just a day on the beach.
I have a 44 that has been painted and textureed. I have 5.29 Yukon gears and some Yukon axles to put in it. I also have a master install kit. I was going to drop the axle off at a local shop and have them put it all together for me, but I realized why not go to a 60? I like big tires and I have no idea what I am going to get into with my truck...........I have never done any hard core wheelin but i might.................I also might just park the truck when im done ho knows. I just want to be able to do whatever I feel like doing with my truck,l whatever that is.

I started lookng at front 60's from the local junk yard and i can get one for 600 complete. I know this is a good deal, but I am going to rip the axle apart and buy new everything for it. All I really want is a housing...............I realized after looking at Tera 60R housings or Pro Rock or Dynatrac that its around 700 to 800 dollars for a bare housing with no tubes.
I can get all the tubing i want locally for next to nothing, so im good there. I want to get dednanbear C's and Knuckles as well as a after market axle assymbly.

I was planning on ordering all my parts as if I was buying them for a 1982 K30 crew cab, since they had D60 in front with a passanger side diff. Also the chevy front axles have perches that are 31.5 inches apart center hole to center hole and that is exactly what my T100 frame is.

All in all i just want to build an axle from scratch and save 2000 dollars.......other option would be buy a new complete front 60 axle for around 5000, this 5000 option isnt going to happen, its murder and i wish i had my own shop so i could underball all these offroad companies that overcharge everything!!!!
The one other thing I am very tempted in doing is, making my 44 use 1 1/2 inch 35 spline axles. I would then have to use 60 C's and outer knuckles and brakes and all that good stuff. But.......I would be able to keep my 44 housing......I would have more clearance than a 60.....and most of all it will be way cheaper!! I think i might look into fitting 35 spline axles in a 44 housing. Maybe ARB will have something idk!!!

Anyways........

I could always use my front 44 I allready have and i know it would be cheaper and work just fine for whatever i want to do with my truck most likely. But like i mentioned earlier why not put a 60 in the front if i can.
Maybe I should post my life moto on here "Go big or go home" thats me in a nutshell.

One more thning is i live in Humboldt County and there is absolutely no market for truck fab stuff and axles i have been trying to sell my 44 200 with new gears. I even said I would throw in BRAND NEW Axles and master install kit and some dedinbear C's for 500. Still knowone wants it!! The parts I listed alone are much more than 500.

Sorry for the long thread hopefully this clears some stuff up. Thanks :banana:

[CJM]

The 44 should more than suffice tho in reality unless you get into really big rocking in which case you dont have a truck anymore but a tube buggy.

I think the d44 which is found in waggys is your best bet, a D60 imho is to much overkill and tohard to work up.

Also have you thought about pinion angles and drivelines binding and causing bad axle wrap yet, if not I think you should really look into it, as the lift your looking to accomplish will rotate the pinion to much and cause binding and u joint failure among other things.

[Scuba]

I thought you said you dont wanna rock climb in that thing...? :bling:

[neliconcept]

if you are going to waste your time cutting out the center section and welding in tubes/knuckles from a d60 then why not look at a d70 flat bottom rear end? seen it done more then once.

[YotaT10095]

I went wheelin for the first time a week ago. I went in my truck and seriously had some fun. I never thought it would be fun but it was. Then I saw some buggy type machines and some 1/2 ton trucks playing on some crazy things. I want to be able to do the crazy stuff if it comes up. I rather have it and not need it, than the other way around.

I have thought about caster angles............I plan on rotating the knuckle on whatever axle i decide to build.... I have a 44 complete......and i have a rear 61 complete. I have looked into getting 35 spline axles from a 60 in a 44 and it can be done, but isnt cost effective.

I am at the point were i havnt begun cutting the IFS out yet so I can still think about what i really want. I have spent a lot of money on stuff but most of it is returnable.
A dana 60 is just a beefed up 44 to me... same angles same perches and all that stuff. I want to build my own axle!!!! from the housing. Im going to replace everything else on my truck so i might as well sped the 20,000 on my truck instead of buying a new one.............I dont want any other truck in the world, i want my 95 T.

I just finished the bobbing of my bed........that was my first project and i got my feet wet. Next is the front and rear axle swap and drivelines.............. while im doing the swaps, i will coat and paint the whole frame and undercoat the truck......... Then I will start the cosmetics and engine.

But for now the sas.......the rear end I think i have under control. I can get a chevy D60 for 50 bucks from the junk yard......i can paint and texture it and get axles and brakes and all those good things.
Font though im haveing a hard time decided................

[YotaT10095]

if you are going to waste your time cutting out the center section and welding in tubes/knuckles from a d60 then why not look at a d70 flat bottom rear end? seen it done more then once.



I never heard of that................do you know any more info on it?

[neliconcept]

search pirate for it, i dont have any myself but ive seen one for sale before

[YotaT10095]

Ya I have searched Dana 61 and 60 axles, but ill try and look into 70.
thanks

[4runnerchevy]

Ok just get a D60 Chevy 1982 K30 Crew Cab front axle, shave it. You wont blow it up ! Don't bother with moding housings unless your a machinist/welder/fabricator. That D60 is a passenger drop. Otherwise there are pleny of Dodge and Ford websites, that have loads of info on the subject. Poke your head into thier sites and see if you can drum up some info. Let us know cause I am extremely interested in what your doing.

[YotaT10095]

The more I look into axles and there pros and cons I always come back to a 80's K30 it always seems the best overall. I just dont want to spend 600 dollars for an axle that im going to only use the tubes and housing, seems lke a waste of money to me. I guess I could buy the axle and just buy new axles and u-joints. I dont need aftermarket c's and knuckles stock ones would be plenty strong once i refurbish them. Im so confused, its not supposed to be this hard!!! :confused:
Does anyone know of anyone using a D60 in the front and rear of a T100? Or any toyota for that matter??????

[4runnerchevy]

There are hundred if not thousands of D60's on Toyota's. Most of the guys lurk on Pirate4x4.com.

[YotaT10095]

I see a lot of D44's...............I saw some 60's but those guys are extremely hard to get a hold of.
Im just going o buy a chevy front and rear 60 from the junk yard and sandblast the heck out of them. Then just buy axles, install kit and gears for each one. stock form should be plenty.

I just called the owners of the junk ard and i can get both axles for 500 because they have 100 of them and need to sell them.

I can wait and see how the stock axles do and then buy parts and add them as needed.

[neliconcept]

what engine do you have in the t100? gears in transfercase and what size tires you plan on running should give you a better idea of strenght issues

[YotaT10095]

I have a 3.4 in my T100. Its a manual. I am going with 5.13 or 5.29 gears since i want to run tires up to 40 inches. My favoriet tire is a 42 inch Pitt Bull Rocker. But i think they make a 37 inch ize as well that is more realistic. I have really old Mickey Thompson Baja claws and they were 35's when i got them, They are more like 32's since they are 5 years old. I am going to use my 8 inch skyjacker springs I have. And i think ill get 2 more inches from my shackels. I will end up buying a smaller lift spring down the road most likely, but i have the 8 inch skyjackers and they are past the return date even though they have never made it out of the box.

I have no idea what gears are in my transfer case???


The more I read a dana 60 is solid and can do anything that needs to be done offroad. And I sure as hell dont want to get all into offroad driving and wish i had D60's front and rear. Price is basically the same for me to put a dana 44 or 60 in. chevy 60 rear end I can get for 100 dollars complete. And my friend and the pick and pull said he can hook me up with a complete chebvy d60 for 400 which is a ridiculous deal.
500 then ill have to sandblast the hell out of them and put the gears and axles in and a insytall kit. Then Im good to go once i get the small stuff done like painting the axles and stuff. I think i mentioned earlier I hae a set of 42 inch pitt bull rockers i got for 150 each from a tire center that went out of business. they are brand new. They are my favorite and i would like to find a way to use them. I assume 5.13 or 5.29 gears are a good choice.



Im reading nto a SB 350 for a T100. The engine stuff is down the road though.

[neliconcept]

i didnt know if you swapped in a v8 or not

60 is going to be enough even stock with 37s for your needs at the current moment

you can beef up the 60 and it can handle 40s, 42s might be a stretch but that depends on other factors as well

[YotaT10095]

I want to put a V8 in it someday.

But you think i can put my 42's on my truck with 60's if i dont wheel it to hard?

[4runnerchevy]

Get out and wheel ! Yes 42's should be alright for a 60, when you start upgrading the motor and gears then stick chromos in the 60 and never look back.

[YotaT10095]

Sweet!!!!! Im glad you said that. IT was exactly what i was thinking.
My poor engine though........If it blows up, i guess thats just an excuse for some sort of swap.

Im trying to find a place to wheel were I live or atleast people that do it. I dont know any!!

[corax]

The more I look into axles and there pros and cons I always come back to a 80's K30 it always seems the best overall. I just dont want to spend 600 dollars

would one of these work for you? (http://store.colemans.com/cart/front-axle-assembly-chevygmc-us-gi-p-849.html?zenid=62746132fe5c033f3f6fc966bd8f73e9) <- click me
http://store.colemans.com/cart/bmz_cache/0/0043b3bfa6701ec4e47f08ac21244f0c.image.225x91.gif
Front Axle Assembly, Chevy/GMC, U.S. G.I.
$295.00

"Chevy front axle with rotors and calipers. 6 lug. 3:08 ratio. Differential is on the passengers side (right side). Spring pad center to spring pad center measures 32 in. Lok out to lok out is 78 in. Lug to lug is 67½ in. These axle assemblies fit 73-91 4x4 Blazer, 73-87 4x4 Chevy and GMC Truck, and 73-88 4x4 Chevy and GMC Suburban 10 Series. Unused in crate. Ships at 528 lb weight."

the only thing that might be a deal breaker is that they're in Central PA, could still call for shipping though . . .

they also have rear axles to match - I was just there today, this place is friggin huge and they have just about anything you can think of - 3/4ton mil dump trailer for $500 - 1.5ton mil trailers for $595

[4runnerchevy]

Nice find, too bad on the shipping thing. It would cost about 600 bucks just to ship one. Next time you drive out to Cali, throw a front and rear in the runner for me. The other deal breaker, is the gear change, cause I would want a little better than 3:08.

[CJM]

42s will kill the motor and trans imho..to much to push stock stuff.

If anything I would set it up for 36's. 36's make a very capable rig imho.. Remember what I said on 4x4 wire about going to much and to high.

You can always do bigger than 36's later when you swap in say a chevy 350-wait till then tho.

[4runnerchevy]

I think the weak link here is the tranny. The motor may be underpowered, but its still just a motor (and may wear out quicker).

Go BIG :D

[CJM]

Well the trans will probably go with such large meats and trying to push the, The engine working harder will also kill it eventually.

Ex: Try towing a ford f350 dually with a honda civic-do you really think thats gonna hold up? Im sure you could tow it, but for how long?

[Tankota]

Well if you gear it right there shouldnt really be excessively more stress on the trans and engine.
And maybe the engine will wear prematurely. Ok so you only get 120,000 miles out of it rather that 220,000. Guaranty a chevy engine isnt gonna last that long.

[randver]

i don't remember what all he did but blacksheep runs 40s with his 3.4 tacoma. he does not check the board every often but you should try PMing him.

[CJM]

Yea, should push them..

But man once you get past 35's the truck just becomes to high and worthless for on road. There is a guy in the neighboring town I seen with a dodge dually truck that has such large tires and lift the thing needs a 6ft ladder to get into. I think they are ag tires..dunno for sure. But his custom mudflaps are like 4ft long and 2 feet wide.