Dana Big Hubs

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Dec 23, 2022 | 10:31 PM

73 hi-boy 428 fe

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Laughing Gas

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Dana Big Hubs

Ok, I had a front end out of a F250 4x4 1976 that had big hubs along with disk brakes open knuckle ect. My center cap with the open end slid right over it. My new rebuilt front end out of a 1976 F250 4x4 has the exact same set up with the exception of having track lock. I sold the other front end and know that I am getting ready to put the new shoes on it I find out the same center cap now will not slide over the hub. The hub measures 4.5 inches or so. Did they they make different size hubs? What am I missing that this Front end will not except the center cap with the open end like the other one. As I look at this one it does seem to get wider as it reaches the end.

Dec 23, 2022 | 10:44 PM

440 sixpack

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Yes. the 7700 GVW had the big hubs and the standard had the 1/2 ton size hubs.

these are the cutouts I had to make for the big hubs.

Dec 23, 2022 | 11:00 PM

73 hi-boy 428 fe

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Laughing Gas

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First two are of the one that the center cap will not fit and the third is the one it did. Don’t have the old one to measure the diameter.

New front end

Old front end

Dec 23, 2022 | 11:01 PM

73 hi-boy 428 fe

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Laughing Gas

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 440 sixpack

Yes. the 7700 GVW had the big hubs and the standard had the 1/2 ton size hubs.

these are the cutouts I had to make for the big hubs.

So the 7700# hubs look like the others but are bigger diameter?

Dec 24, 2022 | 10:23 AM

440 sixpack

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Those are all big hubs, the small hubs are completely different.

Ford and GM used the same big Spicer hubs and all years and parts interchange except for the color of the dial. I have read the Dana 60 used different hubs but I doubt that , and I've never seen parts listed differently. but I can't say for sure.

I don't know what to tell you, maybe they used a different casting at some point, same hub but slightly different OD.

Dec 24, 2022 | 03:31 PM

Westcoast Highboy

Tuned

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From: British Columbia

I agree those are all large hub axles. Only difference between Ford and GM at the time is Ford used red selector dials and GM went with blue.

I think the Dana 60 hubs were slightly larger ie no slight taper from inside to outside as evident in photo of your original axle. Maybe you actually have a Dana 60 axle that some previous owner swapped into your donor truck? That would be a nice problem to have!!!

If you ever take it apart, maybe there is a part number some where that would shed some light on this?

By the way, that is a nice Highboy!!!

Dec 24, 2022 | 04:41 PM

440 sixpack

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It's hard to imagine Spicer would tool up to make an ever so slightly larger assembly for basically no reason. but I don't have a 60 front end to compare with I can't say.