D60 poss purchase...

[broncoman6524]

ok im gonna look at a d60 either tomorrow or sat...250 HEHEHE! anyway it supposedly has 5.13s... now what exaclty should i look at? i know ot pull the diff cover, and check the gear ration on the ring gear to confirm ratio...and that kingpins are "better" than BJs. what exactly is the diff? ya i know noobish question... anything else i should check for? Its sposed to be a ford axle taht had the perches moved to fit out years chevies.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Just make sure that it is what they claim it to be make make sure that its not a dana 50. Kingpins are stronger than balljoints and last longer, but if the balljoints are in good shape they will work fine.

 

[broncoman6524]

are there any sure fire ways to tell a diff? i did a quick search and they appear to be the same...whats the diff in a d60 and d61?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

The dana 61 exists so that the OEM's could run very high (numerically low) gears. I think 3.73 is the lowest you can run in that housing, though I think some have kinda cheated (spacers) and run 4.10's or something like that. Do some research on the differences between a 50 and a 60.

I would imagine it is pretty apparent whether it is a 50 or a 60. The only reason I warned you about it is I have heard of some people trying to sell an axle as a 60 when it is actually a 50. Early 90's Ford front ends are often dana 50's.

 

[atho]

The only reason I warned you about it is I have heard of some people trying to sell an axle as a 60 when it is actually a 50. Early 90's Ford front ends are often dana 50's.

No.

The dana 50 solid axle didnt show up til the Super Duties. The D50 TTB has been around since 1980, but not the solid axle.

The D50 has a smaller ring gear and different axle shafts than a 60, but i dont know how you could tell the difference by just looking at it, other than possibly running the BOM.

 

[broncoman6524]

ok...i guess illl pop the cover like i said, confirm gear ration and kinda eyeball measure the ring gear to figureout what kinda dana it is. the 50 would have smaller in diameter tubes in the housing would it?

 

[K588]

Never dealt with a 50 but if its like other Dana axles it will have a "50" or "60" cast into the housing usually in the web area around the diff.