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Help me identify this axle

A

AR_K5

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Ok I ran across somebody on craigslist who has a pair of axles for sale, they don't really know exactly what they came out of but have them listed as being for "73-87 chevy". I sent them a text to see if they knew what the gear ratio was and for pics. This is what I got. I know they have some weird sepia filter thing going on but it's all I have.

I know the front axle is a Dana, but when I noticed the kingpins I got to wondering if this might by chance be a D60. I was hoping one of you guru types might be able to tell me if this is just a D44 with kingpins or if maybe I stumbled on a d60? The real reason I want to know is that the offered me both axles for $400, and if that's a D60 I'm on my way.

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Thanks in advance
 
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You know what, I hadn't noticed the diff being on the drivers side.
 
****, for $400 I'd buy it and flip it for $750-ish. Especially if you get everything pictured - lift springs, crossover steering arm and 14 bolt with rear disc and aftermarket cover (may indicate other work like gears or locker).

The only drawback I see is someone ground a groove in the web of the 60 housing for a u-bolt. OE u-bolts would go down, not up.
 
I could use the Ford front. Wanna go in on it together?
 
I already have a 14 bolt ff with 4.56 gears that I'm going to use, so I really don't need them. They are in Tulsa, OK
 
Well I bought them both (to flip) for $300, I hope I didn't screw up.
 
Just for curiosity sake, how hard would it be to use the Ford D60 in my 83 K5, or is it even possible? And how desirable are the Ford D60's? Are they worth as much as a GM version?

I'm running a TH350 with an NP208 (I know it would have to go).
Would a TCase swap and crossover steering link and 2wd box be all that I would need?
Can I turn the steering arm that's on it around backwards, or would I even need to?

Obviously I've always overlooked and failed to study up on anything Ford.
 
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I did some more searching and found another forum on here where someone else said to just swap the NP208 PD out with an 88+ NP241 DD (same adapter) and that's all there is to it.

Can anyone verify this to be a true statement?
Does anyone have experience at such a swap?

I'll have a lot more information about the D60 to work with tomorrow after I get them home.
 
The 77-79 Ford Dana 60 is virtually a direct bolt in.

The 85-92 Ford Dana 60's aren't even close, their spring pad spacing is almost 5" wider (36.5" for the later Ford axles, GM is 32" and the early Ford's 31.5" is close enough that they bolt in).

If it's the early one, you can use it. If it's the later, you can sell it for way more than you paid for both axles. You did well :thumb:
 
As mentioend above I would verify the gear ratio and maybe a locker or limited slip in either. Both axles have been modified as shown by the disc brake conversion on the rear, aftermarket diff cover, and crossover steering arm on the front. While these are common mods on this and other off-road forums they are not real common for mall-crawlers.

As mentioned above you need to determine whether it's an older or newer version axle. Don't think you could use the newer version without substantially modification to the front suspension because the driver's side leaf spring would come down in the middle of the pumpkin.
 
So here it is.

So I managed to get make the trip and pick up these axles I found on craigslist.
Originally they were listed for $500 as just 8 lug axles anyway as I was talking to these people via text message and email trying to figure out exactly what they had. I got the above pictures, and got some help from you guys. At first I wasn't all that interested unless they just happened to have 4.56 gears but they kept dropping their price without me even haggling with them. When they said they would take $300, I said SOLD!

I figured even if I'm buying some mystery ford axle at least it's a D60, it shouldn't be to hard to recover my money no matter which one it is.

I found the casting numbers 620093R and ran a quick search it turns out this axle must have came out of a 78-79 Ford F250 "snow fighter" and F350. (Any more info would be great)

Both axles have 3.73 gears

I also got these leaf springs. The red arrow is a set of stock 52" rear K5 springs that I threw down for comparison.

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The 14 bolt had this sweet thick aluminum diff cover, and the disk brake conversion. And I'm not sure but I think it has posi. The diff looks a lot like my other 14 bolt (open) diff but no little windows where you can see spider gears (?). I forgot to take a pic. Will post one tomorrow.

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The funny part was the guy showing up with all of this piled in the back of a mini van saying he loaded them himself. I think he may have had some chemical help. I know it was a freakin load in the back of a Chevy Colorado.
 
My flipz

And I thought I might throw in a gratuitous picture of the shackle flips that I built out of 3"x1/4" square tubing and 3"x3/16" flat bar.

What do you think?

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Yes I still have to drill holes for the shackle bolts.
 
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I have no idea, and don't care to know if they are.
All I know is I had planned on running 4.56 gears with 37" tires, and I bought these for the purpose of reselling to cover other costs in this axle swap project.
I even scored a flat top passenger D44 knuckle at the U-Pull It for $30 and was getting ready to build a super cheap Frankentenbolt, but having a D60/14bff set that I can use is making 3.73 gears awful tempting. It would surely be better than the 3.08 gears that were in it when I bought it.
 
AR_K5 said:
And I thought I might throw in a gratuitous picture of the shackle flips that I built out of 3"x1/4" square tubing and 3"x3/16" flat bar.

What do you think?

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Yes I still have to drill holes for the shackle bolts.
Click to expand...

I'd make them so they wrap around the frame and bolts to the underside of the frame as well.
Other than that, they look good:waytogo:

Great score on the axles btw :thumb:
 
AR_K5 said:
I have no idea, and don't care to know if they are.
All I know is I had planned on running 4.56 gears with 37" tires, and I bought these for the purpose of reselling to cover other costs in this axle swap project.
I even scored a flat top passenger D44 knuckle at the U-Pull It for $30 and was getting ready to build a super cheap Frankentenbolt, but having a D60/14bff set that I can use is making 3.73 gears awful tempting. It would surely be better than the 3.08 gears that were in it when I bought it.
Click to expand...

I agree with you I`d use them, you got a supper deal on the set just saying.
I `ll be watching the rest of the build. :thumb::popcorn:
 
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