Dana 70 build up
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Dana 70 build up
So I found a cheap Dana 70 last week and snatched it up. Only problem was that it wasn't a D70U so the ground clearance sucked. I got my shiney new sawzall in the mail today and went to work on it . . . things have improved a little bit. It was basically like having a giant hook on there before as you can see from the second picture. I chopped about a half inch off the bottom and then trimmed a quarter inch out of the sides. When I finished hacking away I took a grinder and smoothed it all together, tapering the front facing edges. The plan now is that it should slide over rocks without getting caught up on everything. I also removed the shock mounts and started pulling my spring perches to set the new width, but I decided to eat dinner instead of finishing. 
In any event I thought this approach looked easier than building a skid plate and it also gains me about 3/4" clearance by the time I'm done.
So that's where I am for now, need to get some disc brakes, 5.13's and ARB in there so it'll be ready to throw on the truck.
Before
After
In any event I thought this approach looked easier than building a skid plate and it also gains me about 3/4" clearance by the time I'm done. So that's where I am for now, need to get some disc brakes, 5.13's and ARB in there so it'll be ready to throw on the truck.
Before
After
Last edited by ivanribic; Aug 23, 2004 at 11:08 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
where you find a D70 for cheap? lol. only thing i don't like about them is their excessive weight! but disc brakes are a plus! great find man!
i thought about trimming my sterling but the oil wells in the bottom won't allow me to trim too much! so it wouldn't be worth it!
-cutts-
i thought about trimming my sterling but the oil wells in the bottom won't allow me to trim too much! so it wouldn't be worth it!
-cutts-
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Yeah, it was a back breaker to pull but I found it in our local yard. I'd been looking for one for months but they're rare around here for some reason. I stumbled across this in a 77 E350 and went back the next morning to get it. Cost me under $100. I fugure the discs will shed a bit of weight off it but to be honest I'm not too worried either way. If I wanted to make my truck light I'd lose my bed. 
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
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From: Oregon
I found this outfit here http://members.aol.com/blackbirdstrucks/index4.html through Pirate and in turn let Ivan know about them. These are the guys we are thinking about going with. Ironically, it turned out that they are in Spokane so they're local to the Ivanator.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Looks right about 58" from backing plate to backing plate. I don't remember exactly what's on the truck but I know I measured them before I pulled it and they were really close.
Yeah, I gave up on the perches last night. I need to pull the drums and backing plates to get in there with the grinder. Just didn't feel like pulling the axles and all that last night . . . maybe this weekend. I'm trying to see if I can keep the perches in one piece so I can reuse them but if not they sell some on ebay for $20.
I still have to call Blackbird's a call and see what kind of a deal I can get. $450 still isn't too bad, hopefully I'll have enough $$ saved by October to get them.
One note for disc brakes: You'll often see "kits" for dirt cheap offering you the brackets and then you round up the rotors and caliper and all that. Unless you blindly stumble into a streak of dumb luck it gets very expensive to go this route for the D60, ESPECIALLY if you plan to keep your e-brake. Save yourself the nightmare and buy a complete setup.
Yeah, I gave up on the perches last night. I need to pull the drums and backing plates to get in there with the grinder. Just didn't feel like pulling the axles and all that last night . . . maybe this weekend. I'm trying to see if I can keep the perches in one piece so I can reuse them but if not they sell some on ebay for $20.
I still have to call Blackbird's a call and see what kind of a deal I can get. $450 still isn't too bad, hopefully I'll have enough $$ saved by October to get them.
One note for disc brakes: You'll often see "kits" for dirt cheap offering you the brackets and then you round up the rotors and caliper and all that. Unless you blindly stumble into a streak of dumb luck it gets very expensive to go this route for the D60, ESPECIALLY if you plan to keep your e-brake. Save yourself the nightmare and buy a complete setup.
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