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Is a Dana 60 worth the effort?

eodcoduto

eodcoduto

We could have been closer.
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Fire away with smart ass answers and opinions. My '85 K20 Suburban has a 6.2l with a th400 (originally a 700r4), and factory 4.10s. I have a Dana 60 and 14 bolt FF from a CUCV that I have been intending to swap in. So here is the dilema, I have orders to Maryland and I am leaving California on March 1st. I will be living in DC so the Suburban will not be doing much off road duty; east coast is mostly mudding anyway which is a waste of time in my opinion, so I really don't "need" the one tons for an occasional driver.
Bottom line, the 4.56s with my Th400 and 30" tires I will be spinning the engine too hard, and I am moving into a townhouse with a 1 car garage with a 3 car garage worth of tools and parts so storage is limited. I don't want to leave the axles here and go to waste and the move screws up my plans. I have 45 days until the move, what would all of you do?
 
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try to get enough money for them that you can turn around later and find a pair for the same or less
 
Burnouts. I'd do burnouts...


4.56's and 30's should at least chirp with a 6.2 right?
 
Sell, you can get them much cheaper back there and don't have to rush to do the swap now.





EDIT..........

just noticed you had a 6.2...... swap to 10 bolts they are way beefier than you'll ever need anyway. :surepal:
 
so you think its all mud around the north east or east coast do you . . . . .

boy do you need some more info on this .

there is a lot of trails / rocks / yes mud / seasonal roads .

look up roush creek and a few other places to get ideas .

your axles are worth more on the west coast . so you will be money ahead with sale there and no transport coast to east coast .
 
Are the axles ready to swap in?

Are you ever gonna lift the truck?

Will you easily be in a situation where you can buy another set?

Me personally I'd likely swap em in.

But I waited years before I could afford one tons and my truck was already lifted etc.
 
1) You don't need 1 tons for just 30s. That 14 bolt be like an anchor dragging over stuff w/ anything less than 37s.
2) 4.56s are way too deep unless you're swapping bigger tires, too. 35s+
3) Where in MD? There's a lot of wheeling w/in a couple hours drive, especially in VA, NC and PA, everything from mud bogs, hill & hole, tough truck courses and heavy rock trails. I've covered 90% of Paragon and Rausch Creek in my blazer on just a 2" lift and 35s. I just stayed on main trails or took bypasses around the extreme rock sections while my friends flogged their built up rigs.
 
Let's see.... BigDogs, Rausch Creek, AOAA all within three hours. A little farther away you have George Washington State Park, Delaware, Virginia and North Carolina have beaches you can drive on and fish. West Virginia has a bunch of places.
So you're right....Only mud out here.

If you do sell them, sell them in Cal their worth twice as much there
 
runamok151 said:
1) You don't need 1 tons for just 30s. That 14 bolt be like an anchor dragging over stuff w/ anything less than 37s.
2) 4.56s are way too deep unless you're swapping bigger tires, too. 35s+
3) Where in MD? There's a lot of wheeling w/in a couple hours drive, especially in VA, NC and PA, everything from mud bogs, hill & hole, tough truck courses and heavy rock trails. I've covered 90% of Paragon and Rausch Creek in my blazer on just a 2" lift and 35s. I just stayed on main trails or took bypasses around the extreme rock sections while my friends flogged their built up rigs.
Click to expand...

I may have to adjust my "mudding" quote. I lived in Jacksonville NC for six years and that is all I saw, so challenge accepted on heading up to the spots mentioned above. The front axle is ready to swap in and I'd have to move the spring perches on the rears. I may do a 2"-4" lift in the future but that future would be a year or more away since it isn't that important now. The Suburban is my get out of town vehicle so reliability is my #1 priority.
 
sell it all and buy a prius...

I bought a prius but still have everything else...

FWIW.... I had 33's, SB350/SM465/NP205 and 4:56's... it was just too sweet... when you say spinning the engine too hard...no way... oh and I had a turbo 400 in the truck before the manual and it was just fine.. would rip your head off when it shifted (b&m stage ii shiftkit)...

would be like running 40's and 5:13's LOL...

I say hurry, install the axles, sell old axles... and then store the truck...
 
Its an 8 lug with the 14 bolt SF rear and 10 bolt front. If I was running a SBC I would entertain the high rpm, but I'm around 2700rpm in a 6.2l diesel and I don't like it! If I rebuild my nv4500 I would be good with 4.56s. So many choices!
 
I say keep it all man. I know you're trying to sell the trans but it would be a sweet combo to have 1 tons, nv4500 and you'll already be set for when you do decide to lift it and go bigger. Unless you're needing the money, I say keep them...but what do I know..I'm just a kid with limited funds.

Btw thank you for you're service.
 
MetalMulishaMarcus said:
I say keep it all man. I know you're trying to sell the trans but it would be a sweet combo to have 1 tons, nv4500 and you'll already be set for when you do decide to lift it and go bigger. Unless you're needing the money, I say keep them...but what do I know..I'm just a kid with limited funds.

Btw thank you for you're service.
Click to expand...

No problem, it pays the light bill. Do you still want this transmission?
 
Are you married? I was considering selling my dirt-bike when I got engaged and one of my married friends recommended against it... and he was right, my wife would never let me buy another one. Same idea here I guess is what I'm getting at.
 
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