Dana 60 front swap?

[CaddyStrophic]

I have a Dana 44 sitting in my garage for a swap on my 08 alpha, but the more research I do, the more it points to a Dana 60 instead.

I want to possibly just buy a junk truck with a Dana 60 passenger drop, since so many people want top dollar for just the axle these days.

Anyone know what year Chevy or Dodge I should he looking for as donor axles?

My research online was suggesting early 80s Chevy, but I just want to make sure.


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[4speedfunk]

Any CUCV chevy truck would work...lots of them around here. These trucks all came with 4.56 gears and full time flanges. They are also all single rear wheel trucks, so you don't need to track down SRW front hubs. You can also use a civilian model Chevy 3500 but most have dual rear wheels. You can swap the hubs to SRW versions to reduce the width. Civilian gearing varies 3.42-4.56. Most GM D60s use kingpins. Width is perhaps your biggest issue...they are 69" wide. If you keep the stock rear axle, you can use 6 to 8-lug adapters to gain the extra width and also match the lug pattern.

The CUCV Blazer uses a 10-bolt front axle so, limit your search to the trucks.

On the Dodge version...I'm not as informed. I believe they may be slightly narrower, and I think most used ball joints instead of kingpins. Stay away from early drum brake and closed knuckle stuff.

At some point it makes sense to build your own housing. If you go this route...use a Ford hi-pin pumpkin and GM outers. That seems to be the "go-to" setup for most off-roaders.

 

[06 H3]

Yep, also know when doing a 60 it gets tight! Fitting a coil bucket, link mount, shock mount and track bar is difficult. It's not impossible but it does require creativity. Switching to coilovers may make it a tad easier but it's still very tight and requires some additional thought and time to execute.

What's the max size tire you will run? Is it all rockcrawling? People throw around how you need a 60 like it's going out of style...

 

[CaddyStrophic]

I haven't decided on tire size, yet. But it would be nice to run 37-40" tires.i have the 5.3 and I might even do a 6.2 swap in the future.

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[Happy Hummer]

Checked wiki this what they show.....


Front axle

International Harvester

1975 1300 Camper Special <-- A Dana BOM number series was created but no record of any Dana 60 front axles being used by International has been proven.
Chevrolet

1977–1991 1Ton (K30/V30)
1984–1988 Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle
Dodge

1975–2002  3⁄4-ton (D-600/W-250/2500)
1975–2002 1 Ton (D-700/W-300/W-350/W-400/3500)
Ford

1974–1979 F-250 (optional)
1999–2011 F-250 (optional)
1979–2011 F-350 (optional)
2000–2004 F-450/F-550

 

[4speedfunk]

Scratch the Ford stuff unless you want to chop & weld it. Those will all be drivers side drop. You'll want to stick with a GM or early Dodge version. Not sure what year Dodge switched to drivers side drop but, the late 70s stuff should work. Remember a cheesey tv show called "Simon & Simon"? The main character drove a big ugly Power-wagon...that's the axle you want.


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[Happy Hummer]

Sad, lol I remember that show. It seemed so much cooler than.

 

[4speedfunk]

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[Happy Hummer]

Lol! Im older now chronologically than that old guy character in the blue jean outfit. God!!! That is just depressing haha. I've got em beat by quite a bit of course back when he was playing the character I was just a kid.
And I remember riding in old 1930-70 area trucks and cars that had no radio or am or heaven forbid atrack.

 

[Happy Hummer]

Thanks 4speed I now feel every day acutely..... He was 33 when he played that character. I'm pushing 47... Ugh!
But of course I drive a much cooler vehicle....