rear diff question

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Jun 20, 2014 | 12:36 AM

dagomachining

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rear diff question

i have a 1971 ford f250. i think it has the dana 60 rear end in it. the diff cover is the traditional 10 bolt pattern. my question is this: the axles are 16 spline, not 35, or 30. i want to install a spool. do i need to upgrade to 35 spline axles, or if i find a 16 spline spool, would it be worth it to go that route?

Jun 20, 2014 | 07:48 AM

nkf

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From: SW Idaho

I looked into this a years or so ago as I have the same setup. You can pull the axles and measure them and try and find newer axles that will fit or replace the rear end. Is this something you are going to race?

Jun 20, 2014 | 10:53 AM

dagomachining

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Yeah every once in a while I'll drag it at the 1/8th mile. But its mostly going to be a street rod. I realize that going 4130 chromoly 35 spline axles and spooling or locking it would be the best way. But I have a 9" I plan on building ,and don't want to dump loads of money into a diff I'm not going to keep long term. I just want to beef it up you know. I'm peg legging it right now with a 557 stroker...that's gay.

Jun 21, 2014 | 09:11 AM

crazed87bronco

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Instead of putting any money into the Dana 60 why not just start building the 9" to be bomb proof? To find 35 spline axle shafts that fit, buy and install not sure on the condition of your d60 probably will need a bearing and seal job while the 60's apart. a spool and reassembly your at how much cost? Think how much farther that'd get you on the 9" build. That's just my thought of what I'd probably do. But if the 9" build won't be for some time then possibly refreshing the 60 for now would be best.

Jun 21, 2014 | 01:38 PM

dagomachining

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yeah, i was thinking of just using the d60 as a -get around- for now until the 9" is built. to build that 9 that i have it would still cost a pretty penny. chromoly axles, weld on leaf perches, clean and powder coat, cneter section rebuild kit, a spool or locker, and a disc brake conversion. then i still dont know how to install the rear end. my friend who does suspension says theres a great deal of math involved to get pinion angles right, and making sure the housing is centered under the chassis. he could be full of **** saying all that though. trying to make it sound harder than it really is to glorify his knowledge base. how hard could it be to figure out where to put leaf perches on a housing???

Jun 21, 2014 | 02:41 PM

crazed87bronco

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Yea I know what you mean on building an axle. I got a lot into my Dana 60 chromoly axles powder coat ect.. and still need gears and a locker to finish it. I'm assuming your f250 is 8 lug? What lug is your 9"? What vehicle did you get it from? You can pick one up from a 60's-70's f100 and it should be a bolt in install only downside is they are 5 lug. Leaf perches won't need to be welded on. But if your doing a non bolt in 9" it's fairly easy to center the axle hard part would be getting the pinion angle right. But that will vary depending on how much you lift/Lower your truck

Jun 22, 2014 | 08:49 AM

nkf

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From: SW Idaho

Your friend is right it is a lot of math. If he does this for a living he should be no big deal to him. Are you still going to use leaf springs or are you building a 4 link out of it?