finally got my '60 F250 to be a reliable daily driver but the question still remains: how the hell can i get a normal rear end ratio in this thing?! its a pain not being able to go over 50mph.

some people helped me out in the past on here about what trucks i could pull a rear out of that will bolt into my truck but i looked for a while & called a ton of salvage yards to no avail.

right now its a 4.56. id like to go to a 3.73 so i took it to my local speed shop & they looked into what they could do for me thinking they could redo my rear with new gears. they informed me that the 4.56 has a larger carrier that wont work with a lower (numeric) ratio. they tried to find a used carrier but said they couldnt find any that would accept my 16 spline axles. they couldnt do it so im back to the drawing board.

the major drawback is that this truck is pretty rough so i do not want to spend a ton of cash, but everything works & shes a reliable daily driver that can haul my motorcycles & parts whenever i need to. (and haul my *** around in the nice heated cab when its too cold & wet to ride) the fact that i have to avoid all highways is my only issue.

can someone point me in the right direction?

 

Although I don`t know how well it would work out I would consider the possibility of an F100 complete rear axle if heavy loads aren`t a factor. This means two spare wheels/tires and smaller rear brakes.
If you could do the switch over yourself and if it would work with out too many modifications you would have a wide variety of gear ratios including 3.73 as well as 3.50.
A lot of if`s I know but this is one possible solution to look into.

 

B5D-4235-A 16 spline axles were only used thru 1964, and the only ratios available that match these axles are: 4.10-1; 4.56-1; 4.88-1.

4.56-1 & 4.88-1 use one carrier, the 4.10-1's use another. You could change the carrier and go with 4.10-1's, but that won't help the top speed much.
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However,

1965/72 Dana (Spicer) 60's offered ratios of 3.54-1 and 3.73-1 in addition to the above ratios. Find one of those Dana 60's and swap it in.

1961/72 F100's offered as an option, the Dana 60.2 with the same ratios as above, but these 60's have 5 lug wheels and are very hard to find.

 

thanks for the replys - when i was hunting for rears at the junkyard, i noticed the later 60s, early 70s rears had the huge rear drums & they were a bit wider. can i just swap the carrier, ring & pinion from the later rear into mine?

also, im pretty mechanically inclined but ive never worked on a rear (other than brakes & u-joints), can i do something like this on my own or will the cost of specialty tools exceed the price of having it done by a pro?

 

1957/69 F250's (thru serial #F30,000) use the same brake drums. After that cutoff, the later 1969's and 70/72's drums are different, but the brakes are the same width.

1973/79: The Dana 60 2WD's rear ends are too wide, but the 4WD's thru 1977 (before #Y20,001) are about the same width as 1957/72. Parts catalogs don't list rear end widths...so measure first.

> > FTE member IBuzzard (Steve) is planning on swapping his older style Dana 60 R&P for a later style with better gears. Talk to him about the process. He has a 1959 F250 4WD.

Rear axle work is specialized, because the lash must be set. How EZ is this to do? Dunno, I'm just a numberdummy.

 

I very much doubt anything will interchange between these two very different rear end assemblies.
Depending on what you have for tools at present, mainly a larger set of sockets, wrenches plus a good jack and stands is usually all that`s required unless there are frozen U-bolts from rust.
Most of the time it`s not a very complicated job but can be some what time consuming. A handy friend or neighbour will come in very handy to help out through some tricky problems that may arise.
A rear axle from a 57 to 72 F100 is what I`d first check out, the correct width is a must.

 

One member here (I mentioned him above) has spoken wth a rear axle specialist, who says the later Dana 60's R&P's can be utilized in the 1957/60's. Dunno what else in involved, but I know the carrier is different, as are the axle shafts. The axle shafts while 30 splines as opposed to 16, are the same length from 1965 thru early 1977 on some models.

While the rear springs are the same width/length 1957/72 F100/250, the 9 inch rear axles wheels are 15" 5 lug, 5.50 bolt circle. The F250's are 16" 8 lug 6.50 bolt circle. That would mean carrying two spare tires. Still, it's something to consider.

NOTE: 1966/72 Dana 60's came with two brake shoe widths. 12 1/8 x 2 // 12 x 2 1/2.

 

hey - thank you guys for the info. hopefully i can come across the parts i need to get this done so my truck can be a little more useful.

can anyone recommend a junkyard within reasonable distance from the philly area that may have what im looking for?

 

Harry's U-Pull-It is located in Hazelton, PA not real far from Philly...... about the cheapest place that has a selection of rear full-floater 60's...

I've swapped a few rears, and i would just look for any make (chevy, IH, dodge, Jeep truck) rear 60 that is the width you want. then start looking for one with the gear ratio you desire. changing the spring pads and shock mount isn't that difficult.
I've set up alot of Dana 60 gears, and many years have interchangable parts. buy even with used parts it's still pretty costly to have work done. always cheapest to find a complete axle that is exactly what you want.

 

I hope that the rest of you out there appreciate Bill's, numberrdummy, help as much as I do. He is simply the best!

Thanks Bill from all of us for your help!!

 

yessir , he is greatly appreciated . when the parts counter maroons cant get it done super number dummy to the rescue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!