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Hey I have a 81 F250LD 2wd with the dana 61. I was looking for gears and a locker but cannot find much. are parts interchangeble? or do I need to swap rear ends?
I don't believe they are interchangeable. The 61 is a semi-floating axle with c-clips while the 60, which every locker I've seen is for, is full floating. I know a guy who tore apart his 61 just to find out the locker he ordered for a 60 wouldn't fit.
The D60 can be semi or full floating
The D61 can be semi or full floating also
Ford did not put a full floating D60 axle in a Ford Pick-up after 1979
If it's 1980 or newer full floater, it's a D61, D70 and aft. 85.5, it,s a Sterling rear
If you are set on a gear change and a traction aiding differential, your best bet would be a full floater D60 from a late 70's 3/4 ton Ford truck
What ratio and locker are you contemplating?
Steve G.
Stang,
You are exactly right about the lack of parts. I got a detroit locker for a 61 off ebay last year by accident, but haven't seen one since. The guy didn't know it wasn't for a 60, then wouldn't take it back. I still have it in my shed. PM me if you're going to stay with the 61.
I do think that the gear diameters and bolt patterns are the same for both axles. I don't know about the pinion diameter and seating depth. You could check those dimensions on the Dana Spicer website, or call the tech line at Driveline or Randy's R&P. Good luck, and follow up to let us know whether the gear sets are interchangeable.
Hey thanks for the info. 8 Lugs I not really sure what gearsI want yet but i do want a locker. I may look into doing a sterling swap. the dana's are not cheap! This truck won't see that much heavy duty use.
Don't even bother with the 61, i would get either a dana 60 FF(i believe these were avaible in the 80-85 years, as the 70's weren't widely used and i haven't seen many 61's FF as well), dana 70FF or a 10.25 FF. And no the gears are not interchangable-the carier's are different, as the danaa 61 allows for gear ratios faster (like 3.28) than 3.50's, and to my knowledge the dana 60 does not.