I have a '77 F250 2wd Camper Special with a Dana 61 rear axle with 3.07 open gears. I want to swap it with a '78 2wd Dana 60 with 3.54 open gears...swapping only the housing w/gears, and reinstalling the Dana 61 brake backing plates, brake drums and axles that are in the truck now, onto the 60 housing. Will the Dana 60 axle shafts work in the 61? Are the wheel bearings and seals the same from Dana 61 to Dana 60?

I guess what I'm asking is...what parts do and don't swap between the Dana 61 and the Dana 60?

Thanks all.

 

Are both semi-float or full float? It would be much easier to simply swap the whole axle over, without shuffling parts back and forth between the two. Is the D60 missing some parts?

 

Yes...they are both full-floaters.The 60 is missing the backing plates,axles and drums. I was hoping to use these parts from the 61 on the 60.

Thanks for the reply.

 

It really depends on what exactly the axles are and what they are from then- Some were different widths, and the spline counts could also be 30 or 35, or less if it's a really old 60.
Also, if it's been sitting out with the axles out, then chances are really good it's rusted inside. If the entire hub is gone, and the spindle is rusted, it won't be worth it to try and swap.

 

The 61 is in, and came factory in, my '77 F250 2wd Camper Special 400 engine. The 60 came from a '78 F250 2wd SuperCab Lariat- 460 engine. I'm sure they are the same width. The 60's been sitting in my heated garage for about 2 years left over from a previous project, and I know its a good rear end. Nothings rusted (gears turn over fine...been full of oil the whole time...housing ends covered in oil and plastic wrapped....(I have the back cover off the 60...looks great inside). Both rears are in excellent shape. I just want to change to a more towing-friendly ratio of 3.54 as opposed to the 3.07 thats in the truck now.