2005 dana 60 front.
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2005 dana 60 front.
OK, so who's seen one in the flesh? How feasible would it be to buy a diff housing, steering knuckles, axles and stubs for the new model and use old model bits to build a dana 60 front for a 78?
Infidel
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Elkhorn WI
I think the length is different in the newer models....why not just buy an older dana 60 front axle? The only thing you would have to do with it is bolt it in after getting it (and making sure there the same gears)
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Being in Australia can make finding some second hand parts difficult, to say the least. I'm not even sure that models with D60 fronts were ever released here. The extra width (up to a point) would be OK, because I'm using a 78 F250 rear end in a 77 F100 already, and I'm thinking about 2" wheel spacers on the rear to clear my Firestone airbags with wider tyres. As far as gears go, I'm looking at using Land Rover Salisbury diff centres (4 pinion spider gears), with 4.7 crownwheel and pinion. But that's another story!
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Ford released the Super Duty in Australia a couple of years ago, but only with the Dana 50 front diff. I'm not sure that a 50 would be much of an improvement over a 44.
Radius arms is what I have, the first 4X4 F100s here were released in late 1977. Earlier than that were just a few F250s, with leaf springs and D44s. Just to confuse things a bit further, I think that what we call F100s are actually F150s in the US.
At present I'm using the original D44 from the F100, with 76 F250 outer axles, brakes, hubs etc, but I want to go to 38" tyres and I'm a bit worried that the front end won't like them.
Radius arms is what I have, the first 4X4 F100s here were released in late 1977. Earlier than that were just a few F250s, with leaf springs and D44s. Just to confuse things a bit further, I think that what we call F100s are actually F150s in the US.
At present I'm using the original D44 from the F100, with 76 F250 outer axles, brakes, hubs etc, but I want to go to 38" tyres and I'm a bit worried that the front end won't like them.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Ohio
The newest D60 is wider. 2-4 inches I think. Wouldn't be a problem depending on what you're doing and what tires/ wheels. Another thing would be getting leaf springs on it if you didn't use the radius arms and coils. The diff. placement is closer to the knuckles in relation to the 78/79 60. With the narrow spring placement of these older trucks, the leaf would be on top of the casting. You could build new spring hangers and shackle mounts though.
I think you'd be best to find a complete axle and use it rather than try and piece it together. Ford had a display at the SEMA Off Road show in Indy back in Feb. They had a couple of the 60s there (1 for the 3/4 ton and 1 for the 550). Nice axles. Especially since it's the strongest light duty truck axle to ever come as OEM. (35 spline 1.5" shafts all the way through) The Ford rep said they are planning on offering the axle assembly through the Motorsports catalog. It will still be pricey, but they said much less than a custom new one from say Dynatrac. Very cool.
I think you'd be best to find a complete axle and use it rather than try and piece it together. Ford had a display at the SEMA Off Road show in Indy back in Feb. They had a couple of the 60s there (1 for the 3/4 ton and 1 for the 550). Nice axles. Especially since it's the strongest light duty truck axle to ever come as OEM. (35 spline 1.5" shafts all the way through) The Ford rep said they are planning on offering the axle assembly through the Motorsports catalog. It will still be pricey, but they said much less than a custom new one from say Dynatrac. Very cool.
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Interesting, that the short side is shorter than the old ones. But how would that compare to the diff-to-knuckle distance on a 78 F100 D44? Weren't they narrower than the D60s in the bigger trucks?
I'd like to stay with the standard F100 radius arms that I have now, so I'm resigned to having to weld the whatsisnames for the radius arm mounts onto the diff tubes whatever I end up with. Is there enough room for them? Looking at the picture on this site, there may not be.
http://www.truckworld.com/Truck-Test...uperduty2.html
I did a web search for the Ford Motorsport D60, but didn't find anything. I think you're right though, that would be the go. I'm guessing that it would have metric wheel stud spacing, so I'd still end up doing a mix and match.
I'd like to stay with the standard F100 radius arms that I have now, so I'm resigned to having to weld the whatsisnames for the radius arm mounts onto the diff tubes whatever I end up with. Is there enough room for them? Looking at the picture on this site, there may not be.
http://www.truckworld.com/Truck-Test...uperduty2.html
I did a web search for the Ford Motorsport D60, but didn't find anything. I think you're right though, that would be the go. I'm guessing that it would have metric wheel stud spacing, so I'd still end up doing a mix and match.
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From: Ohio
I think it'd be easier to use the 05 Radius arms and build brackets from the frame to fit your chassis. The SD radius arms are stronger anyways. Then attaching to the housing wouldn't need any modifications. Or you could combine the arms using the SD front portion and your F-100 rear section by fabricating them together. I'd rather the first way though.
The axle isn't available from Motorsports yet, but in the works according to what the Rep. said. I think it will go over pretty well.
The axle isn't available from Motorsports yet, but in the works according to what the Rep. said. I think it will go over pretty well.
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Using the 05 radius arms was an option I'd automatically shied away from, because I assume that the rear mounts are further apart (wider chassis) than on the 78. That would mean that fabricated mounts would have to be made outboard of the rails, which may put some pretty horrible stresses on the chassis. I wouldn't even consider cutting and welding the radius arms themselves; I'd like to at least pretend that my truck is engineeringly sound! I already have illegal modifications (3" extension sections welded into the coil spring towers), but I don't want to make it obvious.
Another thought I had was to use the front end from a mid 70s International truck (maybe a C1300), but I'm having trouble getting information on them.
The Motorsports axle is the most likely choice, but I'll probably have to import it myself. At least I'll have some time to save some pennies!
If I knew exactly what old model parts I needed to import and what is the same as localy released parts, I'd go that way. The trouble is, I don't know what's compatible.
Another thought I had was to use the front end from a mid 70s International truck (maybe a C1300), but I'm having trouble getting information on them.
The Motorsports axle is the most likely choice, but I'll probably have to import it myself. At least I'll have some time to save some pennies!
If I knew exactly what old model parts I needed to import and what is the same as localy released parts, I'd go that way. The trouble is, I don't know what's compatible.
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From: Ohio
The frames are about 4" wider on an SD if I recall correctly. It really wouldn't be much of a problem to make it fit even with brackets having to be outside the frame a couple inches. The new arms use a press in bushing with a double sheer bolt like a leaf spring and would be much better than the stud style older ones. Good luck with it.