difference between chevy and ford D60?

[ashman]

I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on buying some new gears, but I'm looking into just buying new axles instead if I can get them cheap enough.

there aren't many chevy D60's around, but I've found several ford versions. what are the differences? for that matter, I think I've seen a few dodge versions too.

while we're on the subject, I have found a few duelly d60's, but my understanding (such as it is ) is that I'd have to change out the ends anyway, and that would be expensive. true?

I guess what I'm really asking is, if I'm looking for a D60 and don't want a lot of cost involved in making it fit my 1st gen blazer, what should I be looking for?

 

[6.2Blazer]

Ford versions have the differential on the driver's side, while Chevy and Dodge versions are on the passenger side. Dodge versions are a little narrower in overall width and the spring pads are slightly off, but generally can be made to work.

You are correct on the dually versions. The wheel hubs are much wider on the dually versions to compensate for the dually wheels that have very deep backspacing.

 

[Fordum]

You could put a Ford on a Chevy, but you would have to either swap out the transfer case or get really creative with the drive shaft angles..........

 

[meanboyjr]

I'm pretty sure that all GM and pre-'94 Dodge front D60s have a passenger side drop with standard rotation gears, while the Ford version has a driver's side drop with reverse gears.

If it's a kingpin D60, I think all the parts from the knuckle on out interchange between versions. Ford went to ball joints instead of kingpins in '90 or '91, IIRC. Dodge swapped to a driver's side drop and ball joints for the '94 model year.

I've come across a few threads about folks running a Ford D60 under their Chevy, but I can't seem to find them. My Google-Fu is weak today.

This is just my layman's understanding. I'm sure that someone will more technical knowledge will chime in and give you a better breakdown.

EDIT: Not only is my Google-Fu weak, but I'm posting slower than molasses running uphill in the middle of a January freeze.

 

[ashman]

Ford versions have the differential on the driver's side, while Chevy and Dodge versions are on the passenger side. Dodge versions are a little narrower in overall width and the spring pads are slightly off, but generally can be made to work.

You are correct on the dually versions. The wheel hubs are much wider on the dually versions to compensate for the dually wheels that have very deep backspacing.

ok, so it sounds like I REALLY don't want a ford version unless my goal is to make my life suck and my pocketbook smaller.

on the dodge version, how much is a "little narrower"? if I move the spring perches is it something I can just run with, but would need wheel spacers at some point, or is there more to it than that?

 

[xenomarine]

on the dodge version, how much is a "little narrower"? if I move the spring perches is it something I can just run with, but would need wheel spacers at some point, or is there more to it than that?

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/60_front/

looks like they come in at about 67.5", which is 2" less than the chevy 69.5" wms-to-wms. the above link can answer any and all of your questions, i've used it a TON.

oh and the perches are .5" narrower, so .25" each side, which isn't a big deal unless you're running flat leaf springs. on my 6" rough country's all i had to do was push the spring over by hand a tiny bit to get the pins to drop into the axle, it was a closer fit than the rear leafs now that i think of it.

 

[ashman]

thanks man, that was a great article!