Hey I have a 81 F250LD 2wd with the dana 61. I was looking for gears and a locker but cannot find much. are parts interchangeble? or do I need to swap rear ends?

 

I don't believe they are interchangeable. The 61 is a semi-floating axle with c-clips while the 60, which every locker I've seen is for, is full floating. I know a guy who tore apart his 61 just to find out the locker he ordered for a 60 wouldn't fit.

 

The D60 can be semi or full floating
The D61 can be semi or full floating also
Ford did not put a full floating D60 axle in a Ford Pick-up after 1979
If it's 1980 or newer full floater, it's a D61, D70 and aft. 85.5, it,s a Sterling rear
If you are set on a gear change and a traction aiding differential, your best bet would be a full floater D60 from a late 70's 3/4 ton Ford truck
What ratio and locker are you contemplating?
Steve G.

 

Stang,
You are exactly right about the lack of parts. I got a detroit locker for a 61 off ebay last year by accident, but haven't seen one since. The guy didn't know it wasn't for a 60, then wouldn't take it back. I still have it in my shed. PM me if you're going to stay with the 61.
I do think that the gear diameters and bolt patterns are the same for both axles. I don't know about the pinion diameter and seating depth. You could check those dimensions on the Dana Spicer website, or call the tech line at Driveline or Randy's R&P. Good luck, and follow up to let us know whether the gear sets are interchangeable.

 

Hey thanks for the info. 8 Lugs I not really sure what gearsI want yet but i do want a locker. I may look into doing a sterling swap. the dana's are not cheap! This truck won't see that much heavy duty use.

 

Don't even bother with the 61, i would get either a dana 60 FF(i believe these were avaible in the 80-85 years, as the 70's weren't widely used and i haven't seen many 61's FF as well), dana 70FF or a 10.25 FF. And no the gears are not interchangable-the carier's are different, as the danaa 61 allows for gear ratios faster (like 3.28) than 3.50's, and to my knowledge the dana 60 does not.

 

What gears are in it now?
Later Willis