Does anybody know if a dana 60 truck rear axle can be modified to work in a car? Of course I take width and spring perches changing as a given, but what of the rest like 6 lug axles, backing plates and drums, etc> They are all over around here pretty cheap ( 200 ish) and I am just wondering. Zinky
If axles cannot be redrilled to your pattern ( I think they could be) there’s many places that will make axles for you, Strange, etc. you tell them what you want and they make it
6-lug Dana 60 rears are not all that common. Some may say rare. Are you certain that is what you are looking at? They all can be modified to work in a car, it just depends on how far you want to go. I have converted 8-lug full-float 60s to 6-lug, by machining, and by chopping off the ends, and making them single float, with custom axle shafts. There is no reason why you could not do 5-lug, depending on the wheel blot circle. Get to know the other adjacent axles. There is a Dana 61. It is not a 60. It is similar, but has some characteristics that you likely won't want (and a whole lot less aftermarket support). Also, the cover of a 44 looks like a 60, but smaller. It should say on a reinforcement web the axle series. 44s are a bit more common in 6-lug.
Done a LOT in the 70's. Especially in drag race cars. You can redrill the axle flanges or have new axles made with whatever lug pattern(s) in the flange that you want. Plenty of rear end companies to do that for you. It's HEAVY... There are much better choices. That's probably why it's only $200...it weighs a proverbial ton. Mike
Take a close look a the rear you're thinking of using...there were some 6 lug half ton pickup truck Dana 60s with small axle tubes (less than 3" diameter).
I'm still trying to figure out what Dana 60 you have that has a 6 lug bolt pattern. That info would be a good start for someone to help you figure out a solution.
Thanks, I'll have to research that a bit just out of curiosity. I did some searching and several sources say that the Wagoneer 6 lug 74/92 rear axle was either a Dana 44 or an AMC 20 that has an oval cover. I'd be checking that rear to make sure it wasn't a Dana 44.
Depends on what kind of car and what type of suspension you have. The truck axles do not have the provisions for the pinion snubber. So, if you are using leaf springs, you won't have anything to control axle windup.
I'm in the process of putting one together, or buying the parts, for my Studebaker Champion Starlight coupe build. Started with a early 60's GMC 1/2 ton Dana 60 6lug with a 5 disk power locker ,and yes its got the smaller tubes. I'm using truck arms and coilovers, so no need for a pinion snubber. The housing is being narrowed, and having Ford tube ends ,torino newer type, put on . It will be getting new custom 35 spline racing axles , 4:11 gears and a spool... Be prepared to spend a bit more cash if your going dana 60....I'm into mine about $2000 and my uncle is doing the narrowing of the housing and setting it up for...I think for fffrrree??? I better check on that. I also have another dana 60 w/powerlocker in a GMC ,yard truck, but its a 3/4 ton 8 lug. Sent from my SM-T387V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
mid 60s GMCs did have the 6 lug dana 60 available, although they also used a 44. I have one of the 60s in my 59 chevy truck, and I had a 63 GMC truck for a short time, that also had one. And Ford used the 60 in some half ton trucks in the mid 60s, I have a couple, one with small tubes, one with large tubes. They are 5.5" five lug.
yeah on closer inspection they are 8 lug. Theres three from various year (66, 72,74) dodge trucks. The thing about the pinion snubber is a drag. I just thought for 200 bucks it might be goood to squirrel away for my someday maybe henry j idea. And then even if u got the axles squared away, theres still brakes to figure out. Just been intrigued by these since i know they were standard under mopar hemi cars.
Ford also put a Five lug semi floating Dana 60 under their pickups in the sixties. I have one 3:54 gear locker five on five and a half. Scarce, but not rare. It is somewhat narrow, since Ford pickups in the late sixties had narrower rear ends than later years. Bones
1960's F100's with HD suspension came with Spicer/Dana 60's with a lsd and a 5 or 5.5 bolt pattern. Redrill for what ever pattern you want. I have a 1969 F100 with a 4:10 lsd Dana 60 under the back. I remember that Hot Rod published an article in early 70's where they took a late 60's Dana 60 from an F100 and swapped it into a 1957 Chev sedan. I also bought a 1980's Dana 60 that had been an 8 lug full floater. Guy I bought it from narrowed it and welded on different axle tube ends with light duty bearings (forget proper term) and installed 5 bolt axles. Should be YouTube videos on how to do that. I believe the axle tube ends are big bearings FORD 9" but I haven't checked it yet. The.axle is just sitti g in my parts storage for now. I can provide photos if anyone is interested.
I've done several for street/strip cars, starting with full floating hub Dana 60's. Chop off floating hub crap, narrow and add Big Bearing 9" Ford ends and Moser axles 35 spline and 5 bolt pattern, with any bolt pattern you want. Finishes up about $500 cheaper than a full tilt 9" Ford. Weight isn't all that different than braced and nodular center 9"....about 15 lbs more. You can spot the unwanted Dana 61 by the thickness of the rear cover flange that looks like it is 1-1/2" thick. The Dana 61 has a different ring gear height on the carrier to allow gearing lower than 3.54, for better economy. Many have 3.08 gears. for that reason posi diff's, spools, and other gear ratio's are hard to find or non-existent. Common to find them from 3/4 ton-up 1980's Ford trucks.)
As long as you are cutting the tubes down and welding new ends on, 60s are on the front of most newer 1 ton Fords as well.
Back in the old days (80's-early 90's) we did a few at the shop for putting under old mopars with built 440's in them, a couple were mopar drag cars with Trans brake auto's. Don't remember how expensive it was but we just built the housings like the old factory hemi Dana 60's. They are heavy but we used to laugh and tell them it helped plant the rear tires... ..
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