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Dodge Dana 60 Swap

Big10

Big10

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Swapping in a dodge dana 60. Are the offset spring bushings that ORD sell necessary to accommodate the wider spring pads on the dodge or will the springs mount up the way they are? My understanding is there is a 1/2 inch difference overall. Has anyone else dealt with this?
 
It’s the easiest and most lined up way. You can slot the holes in the spring perch for the center pin. You can just slam it in there and not worry about it. You can trim your current bushings. You can probably bet on your frame being loose enough that it might just bolt in as is.
 
@Big10 I saw your "wanted" thread looking for a steering arm. If you have a Dodge arm and your truck is lifted, consider having someone redrill/re-taper the Dodge arm. The rise of the Dodge arm vs the GM drop is worth a couple of inches of steering correction.
 
nvrenuf said:
@Big10 I saw your "wanted" thread looking for a steering arm. If you have a Dodge arm and your truck is lifted, consider having someone redrill/re-taper the Dodge arm. The rise of the Dodge arm vs the GM drop is worth a couple of inches of steering correction.
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I do have the dodge arm, but i would be faced with draglink length issues correct?
 
Yeah, I believe the Dodge arm position needs the draglink to be about an inch shorter but you could trim the threads and/or the sleeve. Just throwing it out there, it may not necessarily be a cheaper option though since you'd need to mod the hole.

If you decide not to use the Dodge arm and want to sell it holler at me, it would work good with a couple of other wall hanger pieces I've collected.
 
I think i have a dodge arm flipped tapper already . Could make a deal with a swap .

And best to just do the ORD bushing kit .

Dodge used thinner rotors over gm . And if bolt on locking hubs there much weaker over internal hubs .

Gm hub/rotors swap right on the older style . And you also get 9/16 studs over dodge 1/2 .
 
Unless its from a Cummins truck the yoke will be the small 7260/7290 style, I agree on the keeping the Dodge arm if you can, I also agree with ORDs bushings, although if you have lift springs you can usually bow them in enough to get it to bolt up, but that seems hack to me.

I have both a Chevy 60 and a Dodge 60 so if you need draglink measurements I can measure.
 
And dodge knuckles put the tie rod 2" higher up than gm does . Benefit for offroad protection more .

If you need tie rods tho go aftermarket like a ord or ruffstuff or others for the massive beefy unit and dont look back .
 
I just put the axle in mine by spreading the springs first. It ate up the frame shackle bushing pretty quick. I now use the offset bushings. It rides better with the springs not bowed as well.
What size tires are you running?
 
sweetk30 said:
I think i have a dodge arm flipped tapper already . Could make a deal with a swap .

And best to just do the ORD bushing kit .

Dodge used thinner rotors over gm . And if bolt on locking hubs there much weaker over internal hubs .

Gm hub/rotors swap right on the older style . And you also get 9/16 studs over dodge 1/2 .
Click to expand...
I’m gett’n old and cloudy minded but isn’t the stub axle also longer than GM stuff v/s the external Dodge open knuckle D60’s stuff - meaning if swapping to GM stuff it would have to be damn near everything knuckle outwards plus the stubs swapped out if GM parts were to be used instead of Dodge external items.

unless it’s a later internal hub Dodge D60 than it’s common components from knuckle out.
somebody please correct me if I am wrong - just want good tech for folks digging up this info in the future.
 
obijuank5 said:
Gm and dodge both use the same spindle and 12” stub. The dodge short side inner is the different shaft. Hubs swap super easy.
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Cool !
It’s tuff gett’n old and trying to recall info from 35 yrs. ago…. Thanks
 
I installed a 1991 Dodge 60 in my Crawlabago.
The rotors and calipers were identical to all of my Chevy 60s but I have heard some are thinner.
ORD bushings is money well spent as far I am concerned.
Brake lines were modified similar to what Chevy uses.
The bigger 9/16 wheel studs are NAPA part #641-2794. Very easy to install.
The single sheer shock mounts do not want to play well with Chevy uppers so I picked those up from ORD as well and burned them in.
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90-93 dodge used internal hubs, same as gm thru all years. 89 and earlier used the external hubs.

Like @Capt Ron said, dodge runs their hard lines on the axle itself with short rubber hoses to the calipers.

Also of note is that dodge uses 10mm banjo bolts on their calipers where Chevy used 7/16 in the earlier trucks (pre 78 I believe) but if you already have Chevy lines that take a 7/16 just order calipers for the earlier Chevy as all 60 calipers interchange aside from that difference.
 
Info overload! thanks! I am ordering the ORD busing kit today. Shock mounts will be burned in after install because the old ones have been unburned. I have already installed the GM swap kit from ruffstuff...rotors, 9/16 lugs, K30 calipers, external hubs. I hadn't considered the brake line issues at this point so thanks for that input. @sweetk30 if you have a flipped taper dodge arm I will swap if the freight isn't crazy.

I plan on running 37-38 tires, but have not bought anything yet. Lift is about 5-6 inches. I suspect the front springs are superlift or skyjacker as the front eye is 1 1/8 but I can't verify. This truck will not see much rough play, there is only mud in my area and im not a fan of building a bog truck, but i have always liked the idea of building a crawler and wanted to attempt something in that line of sight. It will likely only serve me as piece of mind and education.
 
My experience.. 37 12.5 tires on 4.25 back spacing got into the springs a bit.
With 37 13.5 on 17x8, 3.5 back spacing it didn't hit the springs turning or under compression.
38 14.5 on same 17 x 8 wheels hits the springs turning/ under compression.

The narrow width of the dodge unit does have a few little quirks.
Just an fyi as you set things up.
 
I have found that the dodge caster points the pinion down a little more than Chevy does….both my dodge trucks have worse u joint angles than my Chevy does with the same lift.
 
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