Has anyone narrowed a Dana 61 rear axle to put under a pre 1972 ford truck. I want to be able to run 3.07 gears in my 1966 F250. The truck has a 460 engine and its power band really matches higher gears. I have gotten a quote from a local speed shop to have the procedure done but I just wondered if the drive shaft u joint would have to be changed or swapped or any other unforseen issues will have to be dealt with. I know the rear break lines will have to be fabricated also. I have never had a axle narrowed before and would appreciate any information and / or advice from people who have. Thanks guys!

 

3.07 gearing wow what kind of 460 and trans setup are you running that you need that? A d61 would get you the gears your looking for. how much wider is that axle then your current d60? in your truck I'm guessing? See that it's a f250 so you probably have 8 lugs so a 9" won't work since they are typically 5 lugs. Not sure if anyone has narrowed one and put it in there slick or not but it's just the same as any axle narrowing. It's not cheap if you have to get a shop to do it. Your u joint may change depending what yoke your using on the d61. What did the shop quote you for doing the narrowing for you? Depending how much it is a gear vendors unit might be the better way to go.

 

The speed shop quoted $500.00 to narrow the Dana 61 axle and the axles and move the spring perches and shock mounts. The truck has a Dana 60 currently under it so it has the same hubs and drums. I have a C6 transmission with a US Gear overdrive on it currently also with a Hughes fuel miser torque converter. The higher the gears get the better the 460 runs. In towing applications I simply use the low side of the overdrive unit. I'm running 3.54 gears in the Dana 60 now. 3.07 gears would match the 460 power band pretty well if I can get the Dana 61 to work. Should push my MPG to 15 also. Just not sure how this axle narrowing works. Thanks!

 

I started out with 4.10 gears with a C6 with stock torque converter on the 460 engine. Since moving to higher 3.54 gears, the fuel miser torque converter and the us gear overdrive unit the 460 runs much better and cooler and MPG has gone from 8 MPG to 13 MPG. The 460 seems to still have a LOT more torque to use in the power band and the 3.07 gears would finally get the 460 engine to its optimal operating capacity I believe. Just hope this Dana 61 axle narrowing / swap will work ok.

 

I can't believe it really shines that much and will pull hard with 3.07 gearing. Sounds like the c6 and the overdrive are a good combo. The price quoted for the narrowing and pretty much whole install since they will do the spring perches and shock tabs to is really good. I was thinking they'd be asking more. The d61 is a good axle I think it has thicker axle tubes and more webbing for strength if I remember right. But if you don't research or know much about them setting up and getting the right gears can be a challenge since the pinion is offset to allow the 3.07 gearing. I'd say go for it let the shop do it as it seems like a fair price and will give you what you want.

 

Thanks! I think I will give it a try. Just hope I dont run into any major surprises with this swap. Appreciate your advice!