Tried some searching, but I haven't seen anything on this board detailing how to do it, or where to get plates from? Or is it 100% DIY fab If its not, are kits available?

Thanks

 

I'ver personaly never dealt with 60's, what do you mean by u bolt flip? I'm trying to picture it...

 

Dana 60 has cast u-bolt plates with squarish u-bolts that face down and especially on the passenger tube looks like it could snag something fierce off-road. A flip (the best term I could come up with) puts regular u-bolts and u-bolt plates on like you would have on a rear axle. The passenger side is easy, thats just standard plate and u-bolts for a dana 60 rear, but the drivers side has to have a custom ubolt plate and larger u-bolt to wrap the dana 60 housing. . .I need to know if there is a kit that has the correct plate and u-bolt or if I have to make one. . .And I'm kinda of tired of fabbing right now

 

not any kits as far as i know, but i have been known to be wrong once or twice! lol

its actually not too bad. the pass side is just like any other axle. however the driver side is tricky b/c of the cast perch in the housing. you need to grind the webbing that connects the straight portion of your axle tube to the diff housing all the way down to level off with the corresponding u-bolt contact area. basiacally need to cut a notch out of the webbing (dont cut into the axle tube housing part!) and you'll have to get larger u-bolts than the pass side and make a plate out of 1/4" or heavier. not too hard and it'd be worth it. i may attempt this in the next couple of weeks as i plan to do it myself! if you havent done it by then i will post up with an article!

-cutts-

 

Try Rubicon Express. They make a lift kit for the super duty that flips the front u-bolts. You can purchase all these parts seperately on thier web site.

 

Give Blue Torch a call

im 95% sure this is a flip kit

http://www.bluetorchfab.com/store/pr...roducts_id=452

 

I flipped the u-bolts on my Dana 60. I made top plates from 3/8" steel and then welded on shock tabs for extra strength. I think the u-bolt that goes around the diff web is 3-3/4" I was able to mount the axle on a mill, so I just put a hole through the web instead of a notch. The only problem with that is I had to bend the u-bolt outward slightly to install it, then weld up a clamp to bend it back. The only tedious thing about doing the "flip" was grinding off that huge trackbar/steering dampener bracket on the passenger's side.

~Dave

 

I was wondering this for my 79's 44. My drivers side u-bolts are the same way, with one of the ubolts going through a cast hole in the diff housing. It never occured to me to cut the hole out. Gonna have to take a look this weekend.

 

I wouldn't cut that web on the dana 44. . .I think he is talking about the bottom web on the 60 that the u-bolt would need to sit in. By cutting that web, are you weaking that side in any significance?

DWO, that is one nice truck you have and some excellent fab work on your front end I have some 3/8" plate, might give it a shot this weekend pending me getting u-bolts. What size did you use? Isn't it like 9/16" stock?

 

maybe this will help



That's what my 44 looks like.

 

Thanks for the comments Franken-Truck!

9/16" is stock, but I went with 5/8" just like the rear. Good luck!

~Dave

 

Are there any benefits to going to 5/8"? Mine are 5/8" in the rear as well, but that was what was stock for the D61 I have back there (I just brought the plates to the guy and he made them) and the D70U I'm gonna swap in. The D60 plates are 9/16. . .I really don't want to open one up to 5/8", becuase the hole would have to be offset. . .and its one less plate I would have to make

If the 9/16" is prone to breakage, I will, but I'm feeling really lazy right now

Unrulee, my current 44 is like that as well. I wouldn't cut that webing. You'd have to cut that and the bottom one, which my be bad lol. My D60 doesn't have the web. . .and its dinner time

 

There is no bottom hole, that's the bottom spring plate that's held on by the ubolts.





Anyway looks like I have another excuse to spend $1000 on a 60!

 

Ah! But the bottom web is where the notch is cut/hole is drilled

As for the Dana 60, keep an eye on ebay. There is a 1979 4x4 F250 parts truck that looks like it has a Dana 60 thats still cheap. And keep an eye out on all the no reserve dana 60 axles, some go for cheap if you pay attention. I've lost many a bid by just few dollars on those axles. A few went for under $500, and one 79' in good condition in PA went for just $610, lost it by $2 Got mine for a little more than $500, in better condition than most that sell for $1000

 

I think you will be fine with 9/16" u-bolts. 5/8" is the largest size my local "ranch and home" stores carry. They also have a great selection of 5/8" u-bolts, making it easier to design around.

~Dave