Re-Tubing a Dana 60 for Open Knuckles
#1
Re-Tubing a Dana 60 for Open Knuckles
Could anyone tell me how or what type of machine shop I would need to re-tube my dana 60 closed knuckle axle? I really would like to have open knuckle axles, the closed knuckles are just to weak and I would like to put disc breaks on, cant do that with closed. I just need to know how to convert it to open knuckle if possible. I cant find a front dana 60 with open knuckles where I am at. I wish I could just buy a donor truck and take the axle but thats not an option. The only ones currently avail are DANA 44 and i'm pretty sure that will not swap right on. Any help would be great.
#2
By the time you buy them and don't forget, all the pieces you will need from there out to the lockins plus find and pay someone who knows what they are doing to do all the work you will have way too much money into a low pinion axle. A '77.5-'79 3/4 ton Dana 44 open knuckle will work for you if you can find one.
#3
After market inner C’s and knuckles are available but are not cheap.
it may be possible to take your closed kunckle stuff off and put on open knuckle stuff without having to take the tubes out of the housing.
Your best bet is to just buy a 78-79 Dana 60 and swap it in.
You could also buy a 80-97 Dana 60 and shorten the long side and lengthen the short side. This can be done with specific cuts in the axle tubes, pressed sleeves and welding it back together.
it may be possible to take your closed kunckle stuff off and put on open knuckle stuff without having to take the tubes out of the housing.
Your best bet is to just buy a 78-79 Dana 60 and swap it in.
You could also buy a 80-97 Dana 60 and shorten the long side and lengthen the short side. This can be done with specific cuts in the axle tubes, pressed sleeves and welding it back together.
#4
#5
#6
https://reidracing.biz/off-road-products/. This link may give you an idea to be able to use your existing axle. There are other companies that also have similar products for sale. By the time you source everything to utilize your existing axle you are going to be in the $2000.00 range if not more. Also the down time for your truck is going to be a while too. I know from one of your previous posts you said you wanted to run 42" tires. Now on to the weak points of your current axle. Low pinion; that means the ring and pinion are driving on the coast side of the gear, which is not as strong as a high pinion, which drives on the drive side of the gearset. If you could find a 78-79 kingpin Dana 60 that would be a direct bolt-in swap. Even if you had to pay $2000.00 to purchase and ship it you would probably be money ahead. Or you can do like I mentioned on your first post about doing this swap and find a high pinion Dana 44 from a 77.5 to 79 F250, which is also a direct bolt in swap. Because of the fact that a HP axle runs on the drive side of the gearset, if you changed to a stronger (alloy) ring and pinion the strength would be close if not equal to the LP 60 you have now. The other option I can think of is just throw a Rockwell under the front end, then you would really have something to brag about. I've seen a couple of our era trucks with those under them. 42" tires are nothing to a Rockwell.
Mark.
Mark.
#7
Thank you everyone very much for all your suggestions, I'm in the Arctic Oil fields right now and I am itching to get home and start work. There are 3 1975-1979 f-250s for sale right now close to me. I will have to go check each of them out and see what front axle they have. My truck currently has 38's on it, but I think I wanna drope the 6 inch lift down to 3 inches and then run 35s instead. I want it as my daily driver. I dont mind the fuel cost but with the 38s it just wouldn't be a smart choice. Specially with fishing season in alaska coming up. should be a sweet weekend fishing truck. Thanks again everyone. Since I found this forum everyone has been crazy helpful.
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