Dodge Dana 60 vs Chevy front

[elks]

OK. So summarize the differences nice and easy between dodge dana 60s vs chevy. What I have figured out, but am not sure on:

1. Earlier Didge d60s were king pins, not sure the year

2. dadge dana 60 has the spring perches 1/2" wider center to center...

3. Most parts are interchangeable?

I am have a line on a dadge dana 60 front for a project. It is for a jeep, so no matter what I am out boarding springs. I tend to find more dodge d60 fronts around here than the chevy. And they are usually slightly cheaper. So what are major differences. I looked up the Pirate4x4 dana 60 bible... And saw that info, but want moer on opinons....

Also what is the lug pattern? I am running a GM 14 bolt rear out of a van. It is the chevy 8 lug pattern do they match?

 

[jms]

I sure hope your spelling is better when you're dealing with your students...

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

88 and earlier dodge dana 60's have external hubs that are more failure prone and can't be upgraded to 35 spline outers, you'd have to get chevy style internal hubs if 35 spline outers are in the works

 

[nvrenuf]

Things I know for sure...

The lug pattern is the same, 8x6.5".

The biggest difference is the external locking hub design. All Chevys use internal locking hubs, whereas, most Dodge axles use external locking hubs. From 89-93 Dodge switched and used internal type locking hubs.

There is no option to upgrade the external style to 35 spline outers using locking hubs. This is only possible with drive flanges or changing the bearing & locking hubs to the internal style.

The outer stubs axles are interchangable.

The Dodge D60 gears, carriers and yokes are totally interchangable with Chevy's.

Beware of the Dodge axles with 3.07's as these are D61's and may not accept the larger ratios (4.56+).

 

[ryoken]

pad spacing is a bit wider on the Dodge, but it fits with persuasion...

 

[Duntz00]

The dodge d61 can have 4.56+ with the right carrier(706400x carrier) and a regular ring gear spacer, running a d61 in the front of my GMC. Ive swapped in a 4.10 carrier in and all I need to do to run 4.56+ is the thin ring gear spacer.

 

[elks]

I sure hope your spelling is better when you're dealing with your students...

There fixed it for ya... Yes, it is better since I do not try and teach with a 2 year old all over my lap playing trucks. But thanks for the usefulness of your post it help tremendously.

Thanks to the others for posting. I believe I will be holding out for a chevy dana 60. The whole 35 spline issue is not a big deal now, but I can foresee it becoming an issue.

As put on finding Nemo: "Just keep swimming"... I will find a 60 sooner or later...

 

[jms]

...But thanks for the usefulness of your post it help tremendously...

You made it clear that you really can't afford a 60 anyways, so why bother?

 

[scottishdave]

Is this Pirate or CK5???

I thought we were a tad bit more friendly than this around here.

No tech advice to add man, But good luck.

 

[elks]

The dodge d61 can have 4.56+ with the right carrier(706400x carrier) and a regular ring gear spacer, running a d61 in the front of my GMC. Ive swapped in a 4.10 carrier in and all I need to do to run 4.56+ is the thin ring gear spacer.

So here is what I found on the 61... Interesting none the least. I guess a little creativity can make a 61 work. I know they can be had for pretty cheap, but hardly see them as well... I am wondering what a person can look at to tell the difference? I know that there is an axle tube difference, so what would it be?

From the pirate bible and a dodge sight:

What's the deal with the Dana 61?
With mileage and emissions concerns rising, at some point Dodge and / or Ford decided they wanted to be able to offer gears higher than the current highest ratio of 3.54 available in the D60. However, because of the design of the D60 the pinion head could not be made big enough to achieve a higher ratio. Hence, the birth of the Dana 61, which has a different casting that moves the pinion over 0.25"-0.437" (conflicting reports) - this allowed for a 3.07 axle ratio. The Dana 61 also uses 3.5" axle tubes. Other than that, it is very similar to the Dana 60. The Dana 61 was common in Dodge front ends and Ford van rears.

The difficulty with the Dana 61 is very limited gear and locker choices. However, you can use a combination of ring gear spacer and thick gear set to allow the use of differentials and gear sets intended for the Dana 60.

Slagburn reports: to run a 4.88 I had to go with series 3 carrier, series 1 being 4.10 and down, series 2 being 4.56 and up, then the series 3. PLUS a .160" spacer. That's the problem, nobody makes a full case locker for a 61, but it could be doable with a thick ring gearset AND a spacer.


Reider racing< Randy's R&P, and other sources make ring gear spacers for the Dana 61 .

http://www.reiderracing.com/ringspacer.htm

 

[sweetk30]

also dodge runs 1/2" wheel studs and gm runs 9/16" studs.

and wasnt dodge spring pads narrower than gm ? as guys say thay ratchet strap the spring together to bolt them in ?

 

[Duntz00]

It will say 61 on the housing where it usually will say 60.

As far as the difference between 61 and a 60, only thing I've found is the carrier. I gave $200 for the 61 and have maybe $300 more in it. It's the only way I could afford a d60.

I used a ratchet strap to get mine bolted up in my gmc.

 

[TPIK20]

-You can run a dodge dana60 front. Yes the differences have already been mentioned by others. On other "big" difference is that the pinion is about 5 degrees lower than a chevy front. If you are running more than 6" lift and a 1350 pinion joint, you may have some clearance issues.
-I have a '79 dodge front end in my 80 chevy. The front end I found had factory 4.88 gears and an open diff. It also had external "full-time" hubs. I couldnt pass up the deal, getting the axle for a few hundred dollars. I changed out to chevy outer hubs, 35 spline stubs, and warn internal locking hubs. I have had the front end in my truck for 3 years, and put about 10K miles on it, with 38" tires. The spring bushings seems to take up the 1/2" difference in spring pad spacing. I have not had any issues with the axle in my truck.
Best of luck on your decision.