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Dana 60 and crossover Questions

reddog64

reddog64

1/2 ton status
Joined
Nov 9, 2000
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Location
Federal Way, Washington
OK,
So i'm getting everything i need in order to swap in a dana 60 into the 78 K5, had a dana 44 in it.

I want to do crossover with Hydro assist shortly after the swap...
I hava a donor 1-ton right now i'm stripping parts off, but it will be hauled away shortly, so i need to make sure i get everythign i can while i have it.

- I plan on ordering the ORD (or other vendor) arms and links i need for the crossover.
- I'm gonna order the ram and hoses needed from a vendor.
- I'm gonna order the diff guard with ram mount from DIY4x
- I need a 2wd steering box from a 73-87 truck correct? And i can tap it...
- I need to grab the brake lines off the 1-ton (dana 60) as they will bolt to my hard lines in my K5.
- I need to grab the draglink from the 1-ton to hook my steering up as stock for now till the crossover is done.
- grab the u-bolts and plates as the 44 ones wont work...


Can i run the crossover without the hydro assist for a while (no wheeling) and leave the steering box tapped, but plugged off? or just not tap it...

Has anyone made their own crossover setup.. just buying the steering arms...
 
reddog64 said:
OK,
- I plan on ordering the ORD (or other vendor) arms and links i need for the crossover.
Click to expand...

I have the ord setup and love it.. I also have the steering brace kit

- I need a 2wd steering box from a 73-87 truck correct? And i can tap it...
Click to expand...

I had a 2wd box but couldnt get my lines off.. so I simply swapped out the shaft in mine with the 2wd one and all is good...

also a tid bit.. if you have a spare d60 front pinion nut.. you can use that for the pitman arm nut... alot thicker and same size as in threads...

- grab the u-bolts and plates as the 44 ones wont work...
Click to expand...

ubolts are 1 shot use.. please dont drive on them if you swap them over.... I know people have done this.. but you should never reuse ubolts.... safety thing..... :crazy:



Can i run the crossover without the hydro assist for a while (no wheeling)
Click to expand...


I have the crossover and no hydro assist... and love it.. I have not got out to wheel in a while but hell.... no problems yet :wink1:
 
But the 2wd box or swap the shaft is needed woth teh crossover conversion becuse the 4x box only goes forward/backwards and cnat be re positioned... correct...

If i just buy anew 2wd box i'm good to go after i re-position the arm...
Will any 2wd box off a 73-87 chev truck do (2 wd)?
 
reddog64 said:
But the 2wd box or swap the shaft is needed woth teh crossover conversion becuse the 4x box only goes forward/backwards and cnat be re positioned... correct...

If i just buy anew 2wd box i'm good to go after i re-position the arm...
Will any 2wd box off a 73-87 chev truck do (2 wd)?
Click to expand...

There are 3 different GM Steering Boxes, 68-76, 77-79, and 80-87. They differ in the PS line fittings. I believe the pre 76 differ from the 77-79 in spline, and the 80+ are a different type PS box fitting.
If you can stick to 76-79, you will have less potential hiccups.

Give me a call/PM if you'd like a quote on your steering kit, or at least have a look on our products page: www.northwestfab.com

Thanks,

-Kyle.
NWF.
 
just get a 2wd shaft from a 2wd box. that's all you need.

i made my own x-over steering. i just bought the arm. i used a jeep yj pitman arm, reamed out to use 1-ton tie rod ends. i bought the reamer. i used a dana 44 tie rod, cut one end off, the right hand threaded side and re-threaded it with the tap i also bought, for the drag link. you can also buy a heavier piece of DOM tubing and buy weld-in inserts. the only probalem with this is you may need a different engine x-member because the drag link won't be bent like the ones you buy.

the jeep yj arm gives you more clearance from the spring plate during compression with soft springs.
 
I honestly don't know, but if it does it should not be hard to find a 2wd truck that is about the same year as yours.
 
I can find a truck no issues...
I guess it sounds like the boxes are all the same, except for the fittings...

I'll hit the yards this weekend and see what I can find...

Anyone know what tools i need to rip this thing apart and remove the shaft...?
Can i do it on the truck...?
 
reddog64 said:
I can find a truck no issues...
I guess it sounds like the boxes are all the same, except for the fittings...

I'll hit the yards this weekend and see what I can find...

Anyone know what tools i need to rip this thing apart and remove the shaft...?
Can i do it on the truck...?
Click to expand...

Just have to remove the pitman arm from the box then remove the 4 bolts on the top of the box. The shaft will pull straight up out of the box after you remove those 4 bolts.

Word of warning. After you remove the shaft from the box in your truck, mark the position of the steering (straight ahead would be best) and dont move the wheel at all so you get everything all reinstalled and set up straight. Probably a good idea to replace the seals on the bottom (output) on the steering box while you have the shaft pulled anyways too.
 
I bought the parts mike high steer arm a used 2wd steering box a used pitman arm from a ford, and no hydro assist and with 44" boggers... its great for mud but it might suck for rockcrawling. I can turn the wheel with 1 finger on pavement, but that isn't the same as pushing rocks out of the way...
 
you might have to get the whole box. sometimes the pitman arm is pretty hard to get off the shaft. might be easier at home. the fittings go into the box, not the cap.
 
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